US > Real estate and construction > Construction: Northeast
Construction: Northeast
PRACTICE: It is difficult to find a major construction practice in New York that does not have a Peckar & Abramson client involved. By way of example, the practice has advised on all five of the new major sports stadiums and arenas being built in New York and New Jersey, and has been involved in Ground Zero projects such as the Freedom Tower. The team may possess ‘top-notch litigation capabilities’, but it is especially adept at helping clients overcome substantial risks so as to enjoy profitable projects without resorting to litigation. This ten-office firm expanded in 2008 to include the attorneys of New York’s Berman, Paley, Goldstein & Monte LLP, a move that gave it a stronghold on the civil and heavy construction side of the business in relation to major infrastructure projects such as bridges, tunnels, highways and power plants.
CLIENTS: The practice sets itself apart from other firms by focusing on top building and civil contractors, and construction managers, as opposed to developers, subcontractors and design professionals. The practice also acts as counsel to a raft of industry associations.
INDIVIDUALS: New York-based Steven Charney is known for his representation of contractors, his experience including advising the owner and developer of a $350m project in the Bahamas, and acting for the developer of the largest private building construction project ever to take place in New York City. Founding partner Robert Peckar is famed for having obtained substantial recoveries in litigation and arbitration, yet is also widely recognized for his ‘formulation of creative solutions’ to complex construction problems.
PRACTICE: Construction law is a primary focus for Manhattan-based law firm Mazur Carp & Rubin. The practice is recommended for its ‘authorative delivery of advice, top contract drafting’, and assistance with contentious design and construction law issues.
CLIENTS: Contractors, private and public owners, developers, construction managers, subcontractors, sureties, architects and engineers instruct the firm at all stages of negotiation.
INDIVIDUALS: Sayward Woody Mazur is a ‘construction law veteran’, who is strongly recommended for litigation, mediation and counseling. The ‘highly attentive’ Gary Rubin is frequently appointed as an arbitrator in construction disputes, while Ira Shulman primarily acts for owners, contractors, subcontractors, sureties and school districts in disputes and contract negotiation.
PRACTICE: Manhattan-based Zetlin & De Chiara LLP has regional offices in New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut and California. Representative contentious work includes defending of an engineering firm in relation to the alleged flawed design of a bridge. Examples of the practice’s non-litigious work are acting for major financial institutions when establishing their headquarters, negotiating contracts for major projects in California and Arizona, and the advising on design agreements for a multi-billion dollar casino, hotel, condominium and commercial project in Las Vegas
CLIENTS: The construction group’s clients include design professionals, owners, developers, government agencies, engineers, architects, construction managers and general contractors that come from all over the US, including Cherokee Northeast, Arup, Handel Architects and Alexico Management.
INDIVIDUALS: New York-based Michael Zetlin has pursued multi-million dollar contract-related claims on behalf of a performance bond surety, but on the transactional side, he has also advised major developers in relation to high-end condominium projects. The ‘excellent’ Michael De Chiara is applauded by clients for his expertise in architecture-related matters, and he has represented a world-renowned architect in numerous World Trade Center litigations. Carol Patterson advised a design team in connection with a major educational institution in Miami, Florida, and acted for another design team in relation to the modernization of a performing arts center located outside of New York.