"Calfee, Halter & Griswold attorneys are responsive to and understanding of client needs; they have a highly professional staff and are very knowledgeable in construction law."
Calfee client, U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” report
Overview
Calfee’s Construction attorneys provide construction transaction services and construction dispute resolution services. We are experienced in providing such services in relation to private and public construction projects and disputes, and we frequently are involved with projects and disputes that are outside the State of Ohio.
Calfee’s construction transaction services include drafting and providing assistance in negotiating the terms of essentially every type of construction contract and other related documents, which are used in relation to various project delivery methods. The numerous types of contracts and documents we have prepared and negotiated on behalf of clients include the following:
- General Contractor Agreements
- Design-Build Agreements
- Construction Manager Agreements
- Architect Agreements
- Agreements for Professional Services
- Subcontract Agreements
- Letters of Intent
- Lien Waivers
- Change Orders
- Certificates of Completion
In addition to providing construction document drafting and negotiation services, Calfee’s construction transaction services also include counseling and assisting clients with respect to other issues relating to construction projects and transactions. For instance, Calfee frequently counsels and advises clients about project planning and development issues as well as performance and administration issues relating to construction projects.
Calfee’s construction dispute resolution services include representing our clients in relation to claims and disputes that arise out of and relate to construction-related projects, transactions, and/or products. Calfee’s Construction attorneys have extensive experience prosecuting and defending the claims of clients in federal courts, state courts, arbitrations, and mediations in Ohio and other jurisdictions. We also are adept and experienced at assisting our clients with addressing and often resolving construction-related disputes before a lawsuit or other formal dispute resolution process is commenced.
Calfee’s core team of construction attorneys is augmented and further supported by experienced attorneys from other Calfee practice groups, including Calfee’s Real Estate Group, Public Finance Group, Environmental Group, and Government Relations Group. Calfee’s ability to deploy skilled attorneys from multiple disciplines enables us to provide a more comprehensive and coordinated scope of services in relation to construction transactions, projects, and/or disputes when necessary and applicable to best represent and protect the interests of our clients.
Clients
We represent clients from the private sector and public sector in matters involving construction law. Our clients include all types of participants in construction-related projects and transactions, including the following:
- Private Project Owners
- Public Project Owners
- General Contractors
- Construction Managers
- Design-Builders
- Subcontractors
- Architects
- Engineers
- Consultants
- Owner’s Representatives
Noteworthy
Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2025 "Best Law Firms" rankings in Construction Law (Regional Tier 2 Cleveland).
Professionals
Professionals
Experience
Experience
- Regularly represent a multi-million dollar erection services subcontracting company that works for general contractors and construction managers, commenting on contract language and proposed revisions and, as needed, to pursue liens on projects where payment has not been made.
- Representing a large Midwestern university in relation to the client's expansion of its medical center and campus. The University began the construction of a new energy plant, which will generate cooling and heating for several new buildings, including a new cutting-edge medical center. Due to the size, complexity, and regulatory issues impacting the project, the University selected Calfee’s construction practice to help advise and guide the project through construction and completion. Calfee has been asked to prepare materials for Board approval, draft construction documents and addendums, prepare regulatory filings, and take part in strategy sessions with the University’s project team.
- Represented a state-wide coalition of construction-related trade associations to provide constant updates on legal developments in the construction industry. We also provide government relations support and routinely interface with relevant state agencies on the client’s behalf. Recently, the client and Calfee have partnered on preparing a Midwestern region for the construction of a major new manufacturing plant, which is anticipated to create thousands of jobs.
- Assisted a joint venture formed by local developers focused on a $100 million project, with drafting and negotiating a construction management agreement with a national construction company and an architect agreement with the architecture firm for the construction and design of a 200,000+-square-foot, mixed-use development comprised of a multi-story tower and multi-story above-grade parking garage. The tower includes multiple lobbies, 100+ residential units, rooftop amenities including a restaurant, and 100+ hotel rooms.
- Drafted documents for a large Midwestern county, relating to the design and construction of a unique healthcare facility. The documents Calfee drafted included request for qualification documents for the provision of project commissioning services as well as the consultant agreement for the provision of commissioning services for the project. The County also utilized other documents for the project, which Calfee previously prepared for the County, including a set of documents for projects involving the construction manager at-risk project delivery method applicable to public project owners under Ohio law. The prior set of documents included requests for qualification, requests for proposals, other front-end bidding documents and forms, the construction management agreement, an owner’s representative agreement, and other consultant agreements. The County has used the documents prepared by Calfee for major infrastructure projects. Calfee drafted the documents in such a way that the County will be able to utilize them for other projects in the future with fairly limited modifications.
- Represented a large transportation and logistics company, in the drafting and negotiation of a design-build agreement with a commercial and residential construction company, for the design and construction of a trucking terminal facility.
- Assisted a management group with oversight of numerous aquatic facilities, with negotiating and drafting a general contractor agreement between the project owner and the construction company for the construction of an aquatic facility.
- Represented a private real estate development and management company, in drafting an architect agreement with an architecture firm for a new mixed-use project (i.e., residential apartments combined with retail and commercial spaces).
- Assisted a nonprofit healthcare organization, with drafting contracts relating to the design and construction of a new 10,000 square foot healthcare facility. To date, we have assisted with reviewing, negotiating, and drafting agreements with the architect for the project and the interior designer.
- Represented owner in the selection of design professionals, preparation of contract documents, bidding process, construction administration, and project closeout in a theater complex and a historic office building renovation – both multi-million-dollar projects finished on time and under budget.
- Prepared and negotiated subcontracts on behalf of both subcontractors and contractors.
- Represented design professional in the preparation of services agreement with the developer.
- Prepared and negotiated design-build agreements on behalf of owners and developers.
- Prepared bid and construction documents for water, sewer, and road projects.
- Prepared bid and construction documents for projects as small as the renovation of a township hall and as large as a 30-story office building.
- Represented design professionals in contract dispute matters and in matters alleging deviations from generally accepted standards of performance.
Services
Services
- Selection of contract documents
- Contract draftsmanship
- Contract administration
- Negotiation of change orders
- Construction arbitration and litigation
- Real property ownership insurance and transfer litigation
- Complex commercial foreclosures and receiverships
- General Services Administration lease administration and litigation
News & Events
News
Events
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