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Attorney, Founder the Bauer Law Group, LLC, Hamden, CT
The Bauer Law Group, LLC is family-focused, offering legal services for divorce, custody and mediation. Ms. Bauer prides herself on building a business that brings hope to people in one of their darkest times. She presents legal education seminars to peers. Ms. Bauer has appeared on WTNH, as well as the radio, to comment on current legal topics. Recognizing that people need reliable information about divorce, she organized informational sessions at local libraries about the divorce process and alternatives to litigation so that people can make informed decisions for their families. Ms. Bauer penned the book Divorce in Connecticut (Addicus Books) which can be found in every library throughout the state. She also authored a children’s book about divorce, Percy’s Imperfectly Perfect Family (Archway Publishing) as a resource for parents and children going through the divorce process. In addition, Ms. Bauer authored, The Ultimate Guide to Solo and Small Firm Success (LawFirst Publishing) to help other attorneys open their own practice.

Office Manager, the Bauer Law Group, LLC, Hamden, CT
Ms. Bessel attended Stony Brook University and brings her extensive experience in business management to the Bauer Law Group, LLC. She is well-versed on the art of best billing practices. But, perhaps more importantly, she brings a steadfast loyalty and dedication to all of the firm’s cases. It is not uncommon for clients to stop by the office to hug Leslie good-bye when we wrap up a case.

Attorney the Bauer Law Group, LLC, Hamden, CT
Mr. DiSilvestro dedicates much of his legal practice to advocating for children as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child. In this role, he helps families look past their conflict to a resolution that is best for the children. He believes that while children might have the smallest voice in the family, sometimes they have the most to say. In addition to family law, Mr. DiSilvestro is an experienced practitioner in the following areas: bankruptcy, motor vehicle law, personal injury, real estate, criminal law and probate. He currently serves as co-chair of the Family Law Committee of the New Haven County Bar Association. This committee brings continuing education to the legal community.

Paralegal, the Bauer Law Group, LLC, Hamden, CT
Ms. Donlan graduated from Quinnipiac University with a bachelor of arts degree with a concentration in Legal Studies. She got her feet wet interning at Cantor Colburn LLP as a legal administrative assistant, work that solidified her continued desire to work in the legal field. At BLG, Ms. Donlan tackles every project with enthusiasm and welcomes challenges head on.

Paralegal, the Bauer Law Group, LLC, Hamden, CT
Ms. Haggerty graduated from University of New Haven in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice- Investigative Services and obtained her master’s degree in Criminal Justice- Victim Services from the University of New Haven in 2013. After graduating, she began her career as a domestic violence advocate and became certified as a domestic violence counselor by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Ms. Haggerty brings her expertise working with clients experiencing domestic violence, divorce and child custody conflicts to her role as paralegal for the Bauer Law Group. She currently attends law school at Quinnipiac University School of Law.

Attorney, the Bauer Law Group, LLC, Hamden, CT
In 2016, Ms. McGrath was recognized as a Connecticut Law Tribune New Leader in the Law. This honor is bestowed to only a small group of attorneys each year based on a proven track record of success. She also has been named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for multiple years. Ms. McGrath believes the best resolution in any family matter is the one the client crafts. Under this premise, she works tirelessly to help clients reach settlements outside of court. However, she is prepared to litigate and has successfully tried fully contested divorces, custody actions and post-judgment matters. She is a certified mediator as well as a certified guardian ad litem (GAL) and attorney for the minor child (AMC). Ms. McGrath has represented children of all ages in custody matters. Now that she is a mother, she is passionate about giving children a voice in this capacity.

Ms. Berthelot is an Assistant Professor in Residence and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies for Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) at the University of Connecticut. She is also the Editor and Chief for NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) News. Her research and advocacy is primarily about access to healthcare for people who are over sixty-five and for people with disabilities. She earned her Master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University, after which she designed, implemented, and then coordinated a Joint Commission Accredited hospice program in the Mississippi delta. Finding herself fascinated by the legal and ethical questions surrounding death and dying, Ms. Berthelot pursued her law degree at the University of Mississippi. After graduating, cum laude. She joined the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a national not-for-profit law firm. As a senior attorney, Ms. Berthelot oversaw the Center’s advocacy efforts. She also provided legal advice and representation to Medicare beneficiaries unfairly denied Medicare coverage or access to healthcare, wrote articles for national publications, produced educational materials, engaged in educational outreach activities with a particular focus on the Medicare hospice benefit, was a contributing author to the Medicare Handbook, and served as co-counsel for federal class action lawsuits challenging improper Medicare policies. Also while with the Center, Ms. Berthelot was the lead Medicare trainer for Connecticut’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program and for Connecticut’s Medicare Senior Patrol. She is a former chair of the steering committee for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ Health Care Section and she is the former Connecticut liaison for National Healthcare Decisions Day. Ms. Berthelot is currently a member of the Mansfield Town Council.

Mr. Bickford is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Connecticut School of Law. From 1974 through 1981 he was employed by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. During his last three years there he was director of the Senior Citizens Law Project covering North Central Connecticut. From January 1982 through October 1992 Mr. Bickford was a partner in the firm of Weed & Bickford (formerly Weed, Kerrigan & Bickford), engaged in the general practice of law. On November 1, 1992 he opened the Law Offices of George B. Bickford as a sole practitioner in East Granby, Connecticut and, as of July 1, 2009, the firm is known as the Law Offices of George B. Bickford, LLC. The office consists of two attorneys and a highly trained paralegal staff concentrating in elder law issues. For many years he has been a guest speaker before bar, medical, social service and public groups on the topics of Social Security, Medicaid and estate planning for the elderly with long-term medical needs, the area in which he currently limits his practice. Mr. Bickford was a member of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimers Association Connecticut Chapter for many years, and he continues to provide them counsel and assistance. He is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.

Michael Bontje B. Laing Associates
Mr. Bontje has been a practicing wetlands and mitigation scientist for more than 38 years. For NYCEDC, he has been involved in marine habitat assessment, and in permitting and mitigation for the New York Yankees Minor league baseball stadium in Staten Island and the Bush Terminal inter-pier solid waste fill in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. For other clients, Mr. Bontje has been involved in impact assessment, mitigation, restoration construction and permitting in New York City and throughout Long Island. Mr. Bontje is not only familiar with planning and permitting of freshwater and tidal systems, but has also been involved in their construction and monitoring. He has delineated or reviewed projects in both freshwater and tidal situations. Successfully completed mitigation sites range from a 0.25 acre tidal wetland site in Staten Island; an 8.0 acre freshwater site in Rockland County, New York; and a 3.2 acre freshwater site in Waterbury, Connecticut; to a 158 acre tidal wetland site in Bergen County, New Jersey. He is known for both creative and cost effective problem solving. Mr. Bontje is certified by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) as a wetland delineator (#WDCP94MD031301333). He is also a certified professional in soil erosion and sediment control (CPESC #5347) and a certified professional in storm water quality (CPSWQ #0578).

Mr. Fleischer is the founder and principal of Capital Environmental Consultants, Inc. He is an environmental scientist and professional wetland scientist with more than 15 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry. Mr. Fleischer has conducted wetland and ecological investigations at properties throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley. His areas of expertise include all aspects of federal, state, and local wetland analysis including freshwater and tidal delineation, specializing in comprehensive determinations for routine, atypical, and problem wetlands. Mr. Fleischer has extensive experience developing solutions and providing strategic advice for a wide range of clients and projects. He holds a BS degree in Biology from SUNY New Paltz and an MS degree in Environmental Science from Pace University.

Murtha Cullina
Ms. Olson represents clients in the area of municipal and land use litigation, general commercial and creditor’s rights litigation and probate litigation. She regularly represents municipalities, businesses, and individuals in all phases of local land-use approval and litigation. Her land use practice encompasses property boundary disputes, zoning, planning, subdivisions, inland wetlands and water pollution control authorities. She frequently has represented planning and zoning commissions and developers at both the local and appellate level. She earned her B.S. degree, with high honors, in 1985 from the University of Connecticut, and her J.D. degree, also with high honors from the University of Connecticut Law School in 1998.

Mr. Zemba is a certified ecologist, soil scientist, and hazardous materials manager. He assists private clients, federal, state, and local agencies and NGOs in natural resource management, ecological risk assessment, habitat restoration, and biodiversity conservation. Mr. Zemba has managed the Connecticut Wetland In Lieu Fee Program for Audubon Connecticut since 2016. 

Halloran & Sage
Mr. Zizka’s career has been that of a lawyer, a scientist, a town selectman, an author, and an educator. He brings all those skills to bear for his legal clients. His focus has been on issues related to government agencies (often municipalities) and on the use and development of land. He holds both bachelor of science and master of science degrees in Geology, and he mapped the glacial geology of the Columbia topographic quadrangle (an area of about fifty-five square miles) for the Connecticut DEP (now DEEP). He later spent five years as a hydrogeologist for DEP, where he helped dozens of municipalities and landowners analyze the potential consequences of different land uses. As a practicing lawyer since 1982, Mr. Zizka has advised or represented 60 different Connecticut municipalities, as well as a host of private landowners, both as counselor and litigator in state and federal courts. His cases have involved issues such as affordable housing, subdivision development, wetlands activities, nonconforming uses, zone changes, environmental pollution and inverse condemnation (“takings”). As a municipal counselor, he has drafted groundbreaking regulations and ordinances on a wide variety of topics. His written works include the widely used and well regarded, What’s Legally Required? A Guide to the Legal Rules for Making Local Land Use Decisions in the State of Connecticut (CT DEP, 7th Ed. 2004), as well as State and Local Land Use Liability (West Group), an annually updated national treatise on land use regulation. He is also a frequent speaker and lecturer on land use and environmental topics.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, PC, PortlandMr. Anderson is a creative problem solver with experience in all levels of the dispute litigation cycle. He has resolved and assisted in the resolution of cases in the mediation stage to the trial stage and on to appellate and Supreme Court review. Mr. Anderson’s substantive experience covers commercial litigation and construction litigation, and it includes representing financial institutions, general contractors, and land owners in the commercial context. Prior to joining Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Mr. Anderson served a term as a clerk to the Hon. Robert Wollheim of the Oregon Court of Appeals. In doing so, he gained experience behind the scenes assisting a judge in deciding cases before the court.

Partner with Cosgrave Vergeer Kester Mr. Burns is the chair of the firm’s construction practice group and a former managing partner of the firm. His practice focuses on providing advice and counsel to contractors, developers, architects, and engineers; litigating construction defect disputes; and handling construction-related professional negligence claims. He also has significant experience in defending personal injury, products liability, environmental, and premises liability litigation.

Mr. Gibson is a construction business litigator who helps his clients build successful projects and negotiate and resolve disputes. A partner in Stoel Rives’ Real Estate, Construction, and Design Practice, Mr. Gibson drafts and negotiates all forms of project documents, from the design phase through construction, and regularly navigates clients through the tricks and traps of contracting and insurance coverage issues. Licensed in California, Oregon, and Washington, Mr. Gibson is a veteran of all formal legal proceedings and has successfully pursued construction defect claims, delay claims, insurance and bond claims, bid protests, mechanic’s liens, real estate disputes, and collection actions through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

Stewart Sokol & Larkin, LLC, PortlandMr. Wagner’s practice emphasizes design and construction law, business law, real estate law, commercial litigation, insurance law, and surety law. Among others, he represents business owners, property owners, developers, contractors, design professionals, appraisers, material suppliers, insurers and sureties. Mr. Wagner handles all areas of development, design and construction disputes including lien claims, bond claims, and design and defect claims, as well as all aspects of commercial litigation. He also represents individuals and entities in various business and real estate matters. In addition to helping clients resolve disputes, Mr. Wagner assists his clients to negotiate and close commercial, design/construction, and real property transactions; helps corporate clients to efficiently maintain and operate their businesses; and advises clients regarding various insurance matters. Mr. Wagner was selected by his peers for inclusion in The BestLawyers in America and Super Lawyers.

Mr. Clase holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning and a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Ohio State University’s School of Public Policy and Management. With expansive professional experience, he has been previously employed as a public employee in city, village, township and county governments throughout Delaware and Union counties. As an experienced public official, Mr. Clase established the business in 2013 with the primary mission of helping clients to develop a local quality of life through smart growth and sustainable planning. Today, he has brought together a team of professionals who provide start to finish assistance on client projects. Mr. Clase is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He has also served as a member of regional planning commissions, public works committees, public safety committees, appeals board, zoning commission, health board, transit board, along with various other boards and committees. Since 2013, Plan 4 Land has been focused on providing high-quality, professional land use planning and public policy assistance to local governments, small businesses and land owners. The company uses the expertise of those trained as, or who have served as, local government officials and small business owners, executives and managers to help provide assistance in the fields of conservation, development, policy and zoning. Plan 4 Land strives to blend conservation and development to better the quality of life for its clients. With a focus on conservation development, the firm strives to educate clients on the success of Randall Arendt’s vision for a farm village that provides smart growth opportunities as published in Rural by Design.  

President and Founder of JA Cost Engineers and Advisors, Inc., Pennsylvania
Mr. Ortego is a licensed mechanical engineer with over 24 years of experience in all phases of the design-construction process and extensive involvement in the project controls, project management and engineering management of industrial and commercial projects. Prior to starting JACEA, he served as the vice president of construction consulting for Commercial Cost Control, Inc., Mr. Ortego also held a position with Deloitte’s Construction Advisory Group and spent more than seven years in consulting engineering with Eichleay Engineers and SNC-Lavalin in Pittsburgh, PA. During this time, he spent two years managing an engineering office in the Philippines that focused on new construction and facility upgrades for commercial and institutional work. Mr. Ortego also has significant experience in project controls, including schedule management, cost engineering, progress audits and bid evaluations. He has prepared and published numerous white papers and presentations on construction auditing and controlling construction costs. Mr. Ortego has conducted management and financial controls assessments of significant capital projects with a goal of improving performance and mitigating strategic and operational risks for projects ranging from the millions to over $7B.

Mark T. Coffin is the founding partner of The Law Office of Mark T. Coffin. His practice includes business, real estate, and tort litigation. His trial experience includes jobsite accidents, construction defect cases, contract claims, property disputes, product liability, auto collisions, and professional liability litigation. Mr. Coffin has served on the boards of the American Association of Architects Santa Barbara Chapter, Santa Barbara Contractor’s Association, Ventura Contractor’s Association, and the Montecito YMCA. He is a past director of the Santa Barbara Bar Association and Barristers’ Club. He regularly speaks and publishes on a variety of legal topics, and serves as a mediator and Judge Pro Tem for the Santa Barbara Superior Court. Mr. Coffin is admitted to practice in all California courts and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

Christopher E. Haskell is a partner at Price, Postel & Parma LLP. His practice involves complex business litigation focused on construction and real estate disputes. Construction matters involve both private and public works, and include a full range of claims involving architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, project owners, public agencies, lenders, and bond sureties. He has also counseled general contractors, design professionals, and project owners on preventive construction practices, the drafting of contracts, and other construction documents. Mr. Haskell has taught numerous seminars on construction matters, including on construction contracts, mechanic lien remedies, and green/sustainable construction.

Mr. Knight is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Daniel J. Knight, APLC. As a practicing attorney in California and Hawai’i, university lecturer, California contractor and California real estate broker. Professor Knight can truly be considered something of a “renaissance man” in real property-related matters. His law practice focuses on construction law and real property-related legal services with an additional focus on providing expert witness services in disputes ranging from initial consultation, to mediation, arbitration and/or trial. He is an adjunct professor in the Construction Management Department at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, where he instructs, among other courses, Construction Law and Construction Accounting. Professor Knight holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Walden University and a juris doctor degree from the Santa Barbara Colleges of Law. Prior to passing the bar in California and Hawai’i and starting his own law practice, he worked his way through college and law school as the owner/operator of a successful construction, house lifting and moving business. 

Mr. Lindborg leads the firm’s construction practice. Lindborg and Mazor acts as general counsel to private entities and as outside counsel to private and public entities. The firm specializes in all facets of real estate and construction, from the negotiating and the documentation stage, through project completion and beyond, including the counseling of clients in claims avoidance and mitigation techniques and the mediation, arbitration and litigation of claims. He has been lead counsel in numerous trials and arbitrations involving the prosecution and defense of multi-million dollar construction and real estate claims. Mr. Lindborg has also represented clients before various state and federal administrative agencies and has appeared in a number of state and federal courts throughout the United States. He is a member of the American, California, New Mexico and Los Angeles County Bar Associations.

Peter M. Williamson is the founding partner of Williamson Law Firm. He has over 38 years of trial experience and has obtained multiple million-dollar verdicts and settlements (several of them record setting) for his clients. His practice emphasizes litigation involving business matters, construction disputes, the defense of wage and hour claims, and catastrophic injury claims. Mr. Williamson obtained his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his juris doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles. He is currently a member of the State Bar of California, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, and American Attorneys for Justice. He has served as an adjunct professor of law at Southwestern Law School. He is also a trained mediator and received part of his mediation training at Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Mr. Williamson has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2010.

Director at Coats Rose, P.C.Mr. Lund’s practice focuses on construction and surety litigation and arbitration; business, insurance, and products liability defense litigation; contract drafting and negotiations; telecommunications; and land use law. He regularly lectures on construction law topics, including Louisiana lien law, zoning and land use planning, and general Louisiana and Federal construction law. Mr. Lund has received the “Top Lawyers” recognition in the fields of alternative dispute resolution and construction by New Orleans Magazine since 2012, has been selected for inclusion since 2014 in The Best Lawyers in America publication in the areas of construction law and construction litigation, and has been honored since 2010 in the Louisiana Super Lawyers publication in the field of construction litigation. He earned his J.D. degree from Tulane University Law School, his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of New Orleans, and his Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Duke University.

Partner at Salley Hite Mercer & Resor LLCMs. Mullenbach Cunningham is a partner at the firm and has a civil litigation practice handling cases in the areas of business and professional liability (architects and engineers), construction defects, toxic torts, insurance coverage and defense, and general civil litigation. She is admitted to practice in Louisiana, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. She received her law degree from Tulane University Law School, where she was a member of the Tulane Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property, and authored the Comment entitled “The Influence of Disease on the Evolution of U.S. Patent Law and Policy towards Foreign Patent Laws in the Late Twentieth to Early Twenty-First Century,” which has been cited in several briefs filed before the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Mullenbach Cunningham earned a professional certification in European Legal Studies while at Tulane Law. She is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Partner at Salley Hite Mercer & Resor LLCMr. Rutledge is a partner in the firm, and his primary areas of practice include business and professional liability (architects and engineers), construction defect litigation, products liability and toxic tort cases, and commercial litigation. He heads up the firm’s Mississippi practice and has made appearances in 39 of Mississippi’s 82 counties. Mr. Rutledge is admitted to practice before all Mississippi and Louisiana state and Federal courts.He graduated cum laude from Creighton University and received his Juris Doctorate degree from Tulane University Law School. Mr. Rutledge is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the Louisiana Bar Association. He is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association Public Information Committee. Mr. Rutledge also regularly volunteers time with the Tulane Moot Court Programs. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Managing Member of Smiley Law FirmMr. Smiley handles all aspects of construction cases from initial contracting all the way to final payment once work is complete. Other areas of focus include mediation, commercial collections, landlord/tenant law, personal injury law, corporate/business formation and insurance property damage claims. Mr. Smiley is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and California. He earned his J.D. degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

Mr. Vicknair worked as a software engineer for a major medical manufacturer and as an electrical engineer for a major chemical manufacturer prior to entering law school. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS degree in both Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Mr. Vicknair has taught Louisiana Construction Law at Loyola law school as an assistant adjunct professor. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas and New York and is a licensed patent attorney. Mr. Vicknair regularly uses his prior work experience as a part of his legal practice. He is one of the founding partners at D’Arcy | Vicknair, L.L.C. His primary practice areas include construction law, construction litigation, surety law, and all phases of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional matters. Mr. Vicknair also practices in commercial litigation and claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, subcontractor claims, owner claims, and claims by general contractors. He lectures on construction law topics such as Louisiana lien law and general Louisiana construction law as well as intellectual property law topics, including trademarks, patents and copyrights.

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, ColumbusMr. Buzby is a trial attorney with more than 40 years of experience representing clients in court, arbitration, and mediation on a wide range of business disputes. His trial practice emphasizes construction, representing project owners, contractors, and design and engineering professionals on construction projects. Mr. Buzby counsels clients in the areas of real estate, energy, and general business counseling and litigation. He has experience throughout the construction industry in the negotiation and preparation of construction contracts, project performance and the resolution of construction claims and disputes.

Senior Counsel, Ice Miller LLP
Mr. Devine is senior counsel and a construction attorney in the firm’s Litigation Group. His emphasis is public construction contracts, project delivery methods, competitive bidding issues, prevailing wage compliance, and DBE/MBE requirements. In addition, he litigates cases and administrative actions on behalf of contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. Mr. Devine has authored numerous articles on construction and administrative law issues.

Mr. Holthus’ primary areas of focus are the defense of construction, governmental liability, and employment and general liability claims. He has tried, advocated and arbitrated nearly one hundred cases before civil juries, administrative licensing and other boards and arbitration panels throughout Ohio, as well as Illinois and California, in both state and federal courts. Among his other professional and civic positions, Mr. Holthus is past Chair of the Columbus Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee and is a member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation. 

Partner, Lane AltonMr. Hutson has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He is the past chair of the Construction Law Committee of the Columbus Bar Association and a member of its ADR Committee. He serves by assignment as a referee in the Ohio Court of Claims. Mr. Hutson is a member of the American Bar Association and its Forum Committee on the Construction Industry. He is a member of the Commercial and Construction panels of the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Hutson has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer in Construction Law by Law & Politics Media Inc. (current) and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in personal injury litigation.

Of Counsel, McNees Wallace & NurickMr. Passella’s broad litigation practice focuses on public and private construction law, commercial litigation, real estate, and oil and gas. He represents developers, owners, architects, engineers, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and sureties in a wide variety of construction-related disputes, including contract negotiation, litigation, arbitration, and mediation. Mr. Passella has extensive experience with insurance coverage litigation on behalf of construction industry and other policyholder clients.

Mr. Sherman is a partner in Porter Wright’s litigation department and co-chairs the firm’s construction practice group. He concentrates his practice on complex commercial disputes, with a particular focus on construction matters. Mr. Sherman regularly represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and architects/engineers in contract matters, disputes, and litigation. He has been recognized by Chambers USA as a “Leader in the Field” for general commercial litigation, which described him as “one of the next generation of leading Ohio litigators.” Mr. Sherman has also been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2009. He received a B.A. degree from The Ohio State University and a J.D. degree from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law. Mr. Sherman is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law, the Columbus Bar Association’s Construction Law Committee, and the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio.

Ms. Boyd’s practice focuses on estate planning, transfer tax planning, and charitable giving. In particular, she advises clients regarding sophisticated wealth transfer strategies, business succession planning, and the formation and taxation of private foundations and other charities.

Ms. Boyd was a member of the inaugural 2022-2023 class of the Southeast Fellows Institute of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the 2022-2023 class of the Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute. She has previously served as the Secretary of the State Bar of Georgia Fiduciary Law Section Code Revision Committee and currently sits on the boards of two Atlanta charities.

Associate at The Cromeens Law Firm, PLLCMr. Phillips is an attorney with The Cromeens Law Firm. His primary areas of practice are real estate and construction law. He is a graduate from South Texas College of Law in Houston. He grew up in Carthage which is in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Mr. Phillips has a Political Science and International Relations degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Phillips worked in Washington, D.C., with the non-profit American Council of Young Political Leaders helping to promote business and political interests of the United States abroad.

Associate at The Cromeens Law Firm, PLLCMs. Townsley is a highly-experienced attorney in commercial, construction, general business, litigation, and insurance law, with 18 years law firm experience. She joined the Cromeens Law Firm after running her own private practice, where she practiced plaintiff personal injury and insurance coverage law. Previously, she was special counsel with Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale LLP, where she practiced in the areas of insurance defense, insurance coverage and commercial Litigation. Prior to joining Hailey Mcnamara in 2012, Ms. Townsley served as general counsel and director of risk management for Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc., a major general contractor in the Gulf Coast Region. Her current practice consists primarily of construction, insurance coverage, and general business matters. She achieved her Bachelors degree from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree from University of Houston College of Law.

Shareholder with Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & AughtryMr. Williams is a practicing litigation attorney specializing in construction/engineering/corporate law, oil and gas transactions, and maritime and international law. He is also a licensed professional engineer (civil). Mr. Williams received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, an M.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of West Florida, an M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California – Berkeley, and a J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Maryland. Bar admissions include Texas, Colorado, Maryland, and various federal courts. Mr. Williams is a member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, and the Houston, Texas, American Bar Associations.

Mr. Dixon is a highly regarded attorney in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in construction litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and real estate law. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for 2012 – 2026, reflecting his expertise and reputation in the legal field. Mr. Dixon graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1997 and has been practicing law since then. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Construction Law Forum and the Founding Chair of the Cleveland Metro Bar Association’s Construction Law Subcommittee, showcasing his commitment to professional development and community service. Mr. Dixon’s practice focuses on helping clients manage risk, resolve disputes, and navigate complex legal challenges in the construction and real estate sectors.

Partner at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & LewisMr. O’Rourke has successfully represented a broad range of subcontractors and suppliers in construction projects including public schools and universities across Ohio, large sporting facilities, water treatment facilities, high rise office buildings, and health care facilities. He represents construction subcontractors and suppliers in the areas of bidding, contract negotiation, change orders, claims and claims avoidance, dispute resolution, mechanics’ liens and bond claims. He has authored the seminal book Ohio Mechanics’ Liens and Materialmen’s Liens third edition, published by the Thompson/Reuters Publishing Company. Mr. O’Rourke speaks frequently on construction law topics for numerous construction trade organizations, both local and national, and for the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) and others providing continuing legal education credits to other attorneys. He is an adjunct professor of law at Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University. He was named a 2016 Super Lawyer in Ohio.

Partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLPMr. Remington serves as a member of Hahn Loeser’s board of directors; chair of HL Construction Law, the firm’s Construction Law Practice Group; and co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Area. He represents general contractors, subcontractors, owners, lenders, material suppliers, design professionals and sureties in a wide variety of construction-related matters. His practice includes acting as regional construction counsel to a Fortune 100 company and representing some of the largest privately-held contractors and owners in the United States. Mr. Remington has significant experience in all aspects of construction disputes, construction contracts, claims management and avoidance, green construction and construction insurance issues. He is a frequent speaker and author on a variety of construction-related topics. He has done extensive training for clients nationally on construction law topics, including construction contracts, claims avoidance and management, project documentation, mechanics liens, bonds, bond claims, and project delivery methods. Mr. Remington is listed in the 2004-15 editions of Chambers USA: Leading Lawyers for Business for Construction Law, the 2008-16 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the category of Construction Law and Litigation – Construction, and the 2004-16 editions of Ohio Super Lawyers. He is AV® Preeminent™ Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest available rating for legal ability and professional ethics.

Mr. Truax’s practice includes counseling and representing contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, owners, and developers in the negotiation and review of contract forms and front-end project documents, as well as bidding and bid protest matters. His previous experience working in the field for general contractors and specialty trades provides him with a depth of practical construction knowledge in advising and counseling clients in the management, prosecution, and defense of claims during construction projects. These claims range from extra work scope claims and insurance coverage issues to claims for differing site conditions, extended general conditions, lost productivity, acceleration and delay. Mr. Truax also routinely files and defends against mechanic’s lien, public lien, and payment bond claims in Ohio and other states. He’s spent the bulk of his career pursuing and defending construction cases in litigation and arbitration.

Partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLPMr. Wartko focuses his practice in the Construction Law Group and Litigation Area. As part of the HL Construction Law Practice Group, he has primarily represented owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in a variety of construction disputes both in the pre-litigation stage and in litigation, including handling mechanic’s lien and bond claims for public and private projects. Mr. Wartko also has experience drafting and negotiating construction contracts.

Donoghue Barrett & Singal, P.C.Mr. Dolan is a trial attorney practicing in commercial litigation, professional ethics and malpractice, bankruptcy, and construction law. His clients include state and governmental agencies, major cities and towns, fortune 500 companies, hedge funds, national retail chains, and others. Mr. Dolan’s best known work includes leading groundbreaking class action pension reform litigation in Rhode Island and obtaining multi-million dollar jury and bench verdicts in state and federal courts throughout the region. His efforts have been central to important cases involving governmental entities, tobacco companies, construction firms, national retailers, and financial institutions. Mr. Dolan has served as an adjunct professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Rhode Island and is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction and the Fidelity and Surety Subcommittee.

Mr. Fine represents and counsels clients in the construction industry, including owners and developers, general contractors and construction managers, specialty trade contractors, suppliers and manufacturers. He represents clients in adverse proceedings such as litigation and arbitration, and he consults regarding risk management, contract preparation and negotiation, and general business advice. Mr. Fine is the chair of his firm’s Construction Law Group and the past president of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Central Massachusetts. He holds several leadership positions in local, regional, and national construction trade and bar organizations. Mr. Fine was named a Massachusetts “Super Lawyer” by Boston Magazine every year since 2017.

Kenney & Sams PC in Boston, MA
Mr. Sams is a founding member and shareholder of Kenney & Sams, P.C. His primary area of practice is construction litigation. Mr. Sams has successfully tried numerous cases before the Massachusetts Superior and District Courts, the United States Department of Labor, the Division of Administrative Law Appeals, and the Department of Industrial Accidents. He has successfully tried bid protest matters before the Attorney General’s Office, and he has handled appeals before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the United States First Circuit. Mr. Sams has arbitrated matters with the American Arbitration Association and the Office of Consumer Affairs. In addition to his litigation and trial work, he spends considerable time consulting with clients regarding risk management policies and procedures, as well as contract analysis and preparation, all to lessen the potential for future litigation. Mr. Sams chairs the Defense Research Institute’s national Construction Law Committee, and he is general counsel to the Gould Construction Institute. He is former chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Construction Law Committee.

With more than 25 years of experience dedicated to the area of construction law, Mr. Baker focuses his practice on the representation of design professionals, engineers, general contractors, and public and private owners. His experience includes providing representation for business and contractual matters as well as disputes before arbitration panels, mediators, and trial courts. He has also acted in the capacity of mediator, arbitrator, and served on project dispute resolution boards on selected building programs and projects.

Mr. Baker’s transactional experience in both construction and design-related matters includes drafting contracts related to project delivery methods as well as drafting building program management agreements and construction management agreements for building programs ranging from $200 million to over $1 billion on behalf of contractors, design teams, and owners. His experience as a trial lawyer is shown by having brought 20 cases to trial for decision or verdict, including venues in 11 different counties in the State of California and trials in multiple federal circuit court districts in California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Additionally, Mike has arbitrated numerous cases in private arbitration on behalf of contractors, owners, engineers, architects, construction managers involving building, and civil works. 

Mr. Baker is a member of the State Bar of California, the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the Southern California Chapter where he is a board member and past Chapter President (2013), and was a founding member of the CMAA, Southern California Foundation Board.

Anna M. Carno is president of Carno Law Group, a Professional Law Corporation. For over 25 years, her practice has focused on representing those in the construction industry. She has represented the legal interests of general contractors, developers, specialty subcontractors, engineering firms, design professionals, equipment rental companies, trucking companies, and various materialmen and suppliers. Carno Law Group has also developed a niche practice with respects to government contracts and SBE/WBE/MBE/VBE and SBA 8 (a) certification issues. Ms. Carno graduated cum laude from Loyola Marymount University, and she received her juris doctorate degree from Loyola Law School. She has spoken at numerous seminars regarding construction-related topics and has authored numerous publications regarding construction and litigation.

Kevin Dorse is the Managing Partner of Theodora Oringher, a law firm having offices in Costa Mesa and Los Angeles. Kevin has been representing business and government clients for over 30 years focusing on complex commercial litigation in a wide variety of industries and issues, including contract disputes, construction, class actions, intellectual property, product liability, insurance coverage, and health care. Kevin heads the Firm’s Construction Disputes Group specializing in heavy construction, school construction, tunneling, transportation, rail, highway, pipelines, and engineering disputes. Kevin has worked on some of the most noteworthy and complex infrastructure projects in Southern California and the country, including the Crenshaw/LAX light rail light project, Gerald Desmond Replacement Bridge Project, LAUSD School Bond Construction Program, Hollywood/Vermont Redline Subway Tunnels, Inland Feeder Project and Arrowhead Tunnels, Exposition Light Rail Line, 210 Freeway Extension, I-405 Freeway HOV lane and bridge project, North Hollywood Redline Subway Tunnels, and Prudhoe Bay Oil Field. While Kevin has extensive high-level experience in construction disputes, he also has substantial experience in day-to-day project issues, including with changes orders, change management, constructive changes, directed acceleration, construction scheduling and scheduling disputes. Kevin is admitted to practice in California and Florida and has been Southern California Super Lawyer in the field of construction litigation for each year from 2006 to the present as published in Southern California Super Lawyer Magazine and Los Angeles Magazine.

Mr. Luschei has represented private and public owners, design professionals, contractors and subcontractors for over 35 years in disputes and transactional matters.  He has tried, arbitrated or mediated many cases for clients such as the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the City of Long Beach, the County of San Bernardino and County of San Bernardino Flood Control District, and the Los Angeles Unified School District.  Erich’s experience with construction disputes lead him into contract preparation for A&E agreements, construction contracts, subcontract agreements, and many other agreements for construction industry participants.  He also has extensive high-level experience in construction disputes and substantial experience in complex day-to-day project issues, including with changes, change orders, change management, constructive changes, directed acceleration, construction scheduling and scheduling disputes. Erich is licensed to practice law in the State of California and has handled disputes across the country and internationally.  He is a frequent speaker on legal issues affecting the construction industry and has authored numerous topics concerning construction related topics.

Mary A. Salamone is a partner at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP. She has dedicated her 35-year career exclusively to the specialized area of construction law. Ms. Salamone has represented virtually every participant in the building industry on both public and private works of improvement, which affords her a unique perspective to assist in understanding and resolving claims in a cost-effective manner. She has handled multimillion dollar disputes on high-profile, complex construction projects. Ms. Salamone is an active member of various trade associations and serves as a neutral with the American Arbitration Association and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Ms. Salamone has received an AV Preeminent rating with LexisNexis/Martindale Hubbell, which is given to two percent of the lawyers in the country. She has also been repeatedly recognized by both Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and by Best Lawyers in America in the field of construction law. She was also selected as a Senior Fellow with the Litigation Counsel of America and a Charter Fellow with the Construction Lawyers Society of America.