Construction projects have many complicated layers to them, and the legal profession is always close by this industry. Whether a contractor needs help reviewing contacts or trying to settle a dispute, it helps to have an experienced construction attorney on their team. Below is our list of the top construction lawyers in Boston and nearby.
Contracts, disputes, and lien enforcement
Construction lawyers provide many services to contractors, such as helping them to draft or review a construction contract. They can also help contractors or suppliers with foreclosing on a mechanics lien, litigating a breach of contract claim, managing work disputes, and maneuvering the specifics of their particular region’s regulations.
The top construction lawyers in Boston, MA
These attorneys on this list were selected because they meet a significant number of the below criteria:
- Members of the Development & Construction Law Practice Group from the Massachusetts Bar Association
- Actively seek to help answer contractor questions about getting paid in Massachusetts
- Focus their practice on the construction industry
- Work on cases in Boston and throughout New England
- Are thought leaders in construction law
David McGlone
David McGlone is an experienced first-chair trial litigator at Eckert Seamans. David has over 26 years of experiene handling a broad range of commercial litigation matters with a primary focus on construction law.
He practices in all phases of trial work in federal and superior courts as well as in arbitration, assisting clients by developing creative pre-trial remedies and results-oriented trial strategies.
David regularly represents clients in:
- Acceleration and inefficiency claims
- Assertion and perfection of mechanics liens and bond claims
- Collections
- Bid protests and claim arbitration
- Defective plans and specifications claims
- AIA drafting contracts
- Direct pay claims
David is an active member of the Levelset community and regularly answers questions from construction professionals. Here are two of his recently answered questions:
- Is it legal to have a undisclosed lien placed on a property?
- Can one owner place a lien on a jointly-owned property in Massachusetts?
Andrea Goldman
Andrea Goldman is the founding partner of the Goldman Law Group, which focuses on construction law. Construction companies in Boston work with Andrea to draft contracts and handle disputes. She’s also a thought leader in construction law, having presented on contracts, mechanics liens, green construction, permitting, and the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule.
While working with general contractors, subs, suppliers and designers, Andrea has handled disputes involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and the formation and dissolution of businesses. Andrea is a graduate of Brown University, and she earned her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.
She is also involved in several professional legal groups, including:
- Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Women’s Bar Association
- American Bar Association
With over 30 years of construction law experience in Boston, Andrea can help answer questions from contractors struggling with payment. Here’s a sample of the questions Andrea has answered recently:
- With no bonding on a private job, what are my options besides filing a mechanics lien?
- What lien waiver form can I use in Massachusetts to reflect payment in full?
Nicholas Holmes
Nicholas Holmes has represented contractors, owners, and engineers through many construction cases in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He is a shareholder with Devine Millimet, and is a member of the firm’s construction practice group. Nicholas focuses his practice on construction litigation, mediation, and other types of alternative dispute resolution.
He received his B.A. from Cornell University and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin, School of Law. Throughout his career, Nicholas has given speeches on construction contracts, construction delay claims, and other legal issues.
Nicholas is also affiliated with several professional construction groups:
- Governing Committee member of the ABA Forum on Construction Law
- Massachusetts Bar Association, Development & Construction Law Practice Group
- Member of the American Arbitration Association Panel of Construction Arbitrators
- Fellow with the American College of Construction Lawyers
Using over 35 years of construction law experience, Nicholas can help contractors answer their payment questions in Boston and throughout New England. He’s also written about succession planning in the construction industry, as well as other articles covering construction law in New England.
Wendy Venoit
Wendy Venoit is a partner with Hinckley Allen, where she is a member of the firm’s Construction & Public Contracts Group. Wendy’s practice specializes in construction litigation and arbitration for domestic and international construction disputes. Through the dozens of construction cases she’s handled, some of her settlements have reached in excess of $1 billion. Wendy typically represents EPC contractors, GC’s, and construction managers.
Before joining Hinckley Allen, Wendy was the Vice President of General Counsel & Secretary for Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. Today, Wendy is a member of the Board of Directors for the Panel of Construction Neutrals with the American Arbitration Association. She has also served as a committee member with the ABA Forum on Construction Law.
Wendy has received several awards and honors for her work in the construction industry, including:
- Best Lawyers of America for Construction Law and Litigation-Construction
- International Who’s Who of Construction Law
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation
- Martindale Hubbell – AV Preeminent Rated
Sally Sauer
Sally Sauer was previously handling construction payment and performance bond claims for four sureties before becoming a construction lawyer in Boston. Now, she’s a partner at Sauer & Sauer, a construction law firm that represents material suppliers, subs, GCs, and owners with commercial and public construction issues. Sally concentrates her practice on construction law and contract law issues.
Some of Sally’s areas of practice include mechanics liens, payment bond claims, contract disputes, bid protests, and more. She attended DePaul University in Illinois for her B.A., and she earned her J.D. from the Massachusetts School of Law. Between Sally and her husband, Johnathan Sauer, their firm has over 50 years of combined legal experience in construction.
Sally is an active member of the Expert Center, where her 35 years of experience in the construction industry can help answer contractors’ payment questions. She can also help with surety bond questions, having most recently worked with CNA in Chicago before becoming a lawyer.
Jason A. Webber
Jason A. Webber handles construction and real estate litigation for Nathanson & Goldberg, where he serves as an associate. He typically advises construction party members on public projects through issues such as contract administration, construction defects, and bid protests.
Before joining Nathanson & Goldberg, Jason worked as a construction litigator for two other firms. During this time he not only worked with GC’s and subs, but also the City of Boston as his main client. Jason authored the “Massachusetts Construction Law Handbook” in 2017, has been honored by Super Lawyers as a top-rated construction attorney in Massachusetts.
After he attended Tufts University for his B.A. and earned his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, Jason began working on construction projects involving condominiums, residential subdivisions, schools, commercial developments, municipal buildings, and more.
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Michael P. Sams
Michael P. Sams is the co-founder of Kenney & Sams, which specializes in construction law and real estate disputes. Because of his extensive work in the construction industry, he’s been named in Best Lawyers for construction law and litigation in Massachusetts since 2015. Michael is a trial lawyer and risk manager for all job participants across the construction industry.
Michael has experience working on both public and private construction projects, where he manages projects involving:
- Contract drafting and negotiation
- Payment claims
- Change order and delay disputes
- Construction defect disputes
- Mechanics lien and bond claims
- Insurance coverage
With the Boston Bar Association, Michael served as a Co-Chair on the Construction Law Committee from 2013-2015. Michael was also on the Board of Directors with the Construction Financial Managers Association from 2006-2013. He received his B.A. from the University of Rhode Island and his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.
Stanley A. Martin
Stanley A. Martin has been involved in the construction industry for over 45 years, from attaining a degree in architecture, to working as a contractor, and now as a construction lawyer. Stanley earned his B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his J.D. from Boston College Law School, and founded Common Sense Construction Law over 35 years ago.
Over the years, Stanley has consulted on project delivery choices, drafted and negotiated construction contracts, provided counsel on project issues, and has provided legal advice on contract rights and obligations.
Because of Stanley’s dedicated service as a construction lawyer in Boston, he’s received several honors, including:
- Boston’s Best Lawyers for Construction Law since 2007
- American College of Construction Attorneys Fellow since 2010
- Massachusetts Super Lawyer since 2005
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated
Stanley has also authored the third edition of the “Construction Law Handbook” in 2018. He holds bar admissions in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, along with the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.
Deborah S. Griffin
Deborah S. Griffin is a practicing construction lawyer in Boston, and a partner with Holland & Knight. She focuses her practice on distressed construction projects, contracts, and contract disputes. Deborah also manages construction claims and the entire dispute process.
Her expertise in construction law has earned her recognition with Best Lawyers in America for construction law since 2013 and with Super Lawyers for construction litigation in Massachusetts. Deborah is OSHA 10-Hour Safety Program Certified, and she also has a five-star rating with Martindale-Hubbell.
Deborah is a part of several distinguished construction organizations, such as:
- Associated General Contractors of America
- A Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers
- National Construction Panel of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association
- Chair of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry (1990-1991)
Bruce Tribush
Bruce Tribush is the chair of Goodwin Law’s Design & Construction group. He’s also a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in commercial real estate transactions. For most of Bruce’s career, he’s been representing a range of clients in design and construction matters. He’s assisted contractors with construction loans and new project delivery methods, as well as provide counsel on:
- Mechanics liens
- Payment issues
- Contract defaults
- Project changes
- Project close out management
- Warranty and defect claims
- Claims assessment
- Indemnification
- Insurance
Because of Bruce’s service to the construction industry, he’s been to Best Lawyers of America for construction law since 2018. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association and the American Bar Association, where he’s currently a member of the Forum on the Construction Industry.
Robert J. Kaler
Robert J. Kaler is also a partner at Holland & Knight in Boston where he handles commercial contract and construction disputes. He is an experienced appellate lawyer and is a member of his firm’s firm’s litigation section.
Robert earned his B.A. from Dartmouth College and his J.D. from American University. His career highlights include multiple engineering and construction delay and disruption claims. Robert has represented clients in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, Third and Fourth Circuits, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and the New York State Appellate Division.
Since 2008, Robert has been named to Best Lawyers of America for commercial litigation and construction law. He’s also been recognized by Super Lawyers for business litigation in Massachusetts since 2004.
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