Dennis J. Powers

Representative Matters

• Defended claims relating to the design of the Phoenix airport Sky Train system
• Representation of a university foundation in litigation against a developer and contractor for defective construction of residence halls
• Representation of a power plant owner in litigation involving two power plant projects and $50 million dollars in delay and additional compensation claims
• Representation of the owner of a Michigan Avenue high rise building in Chicago, Illinois in litigation against a general contractor for defective precast concrete
• Defended claims relating to the failed sale of a former steel mill in West Virginia
• Preparation and negotiation of design and construction agreements for university stadium complex
• Defended claims for alleged defective steel supplied in connection with O’Hare Airport expansion
• Successfully defended a national retailer in litigation seeking to stop construction of retailer's signature gallery in New York City
• Have handled multiple commercial and industrial landlord/tenant disputes
• Preparation and negotiation of construction contracts, and acted as project counsel, for downtown Chicago hotel
• Preparation and negotiation of design and construction agreements for university residence hall and retail complex
• Defense of a curtainwall contractor in multi-million dollar delay and defect claims involving a downtown office building
• Defense of a wastewater engineering firm in claims for defective design and construction of a municipal wastewater treatment facility
• Defended a developer of a housing development in the South Loop area of Chicago, Illinois against claims by a general contractor for a multi-million dollar claim for extras and delay claims. Also prosecuted owner's defect claims
• Successfully represented a commercial equipment manufacturer against a motor manufacturer for defective motors supplied and incorporated in the equipment
• Obtained a dismissal of all claims made against a copper tube manufacturer by air conditioner coil manufacturers for alleged defective copper tube
• Representation of mezzanine lenders in disputes arising from the foreclosures of large horizontal residential projects in California
• Representation of a general contractor in a minority participation compliance arbitration arising from the construction of a major league baseball stadium
• Representation of a hotel in claims against architectural firm for defective design of electrical systems
• Defended a developer in litigation brought by a condominium homeowner association for alleged construction defects arising from the conversion of an office building to condominiums
• Representation of lenders in foreclosures against owners of diverse properties and defense of lender liability claims
• Representation of a lender in the foreclosure of a downtown office building arising from exterior facade failures

• "ADA Compliance in the Commercial Context: Whose Job Is It Anyway?," The Construction Lawyer, Journal of the ABA Forum on Construction Law (Volume 39, Number 3, Summer 2019)
• "Construction Litigation," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Ch. 13, Sources of Evidence (Discovery)
• "Commercial Real Estate," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Ch. 17, Mechanics Liens
• "Traditional Shop Drawing Liability and Liability That Arises From Shared or Delegated Design," Ch. 8, Shared Design, Aspen Publishers (2011)
• "The Owner's Role," Ch. 3, Construction Law, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry (2009)
• "Design Professionals Liability to the Contractor," Ch. 6, Architect and Engineer Liability: Claims Against the Design Professional
• "Mechanics Liens in Illinois," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Ch. 5, Sub-Subcontractors Lien: Requisite for and Perfection Of

• Presenter, "Construction Disputes," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (October 21, 2020)
• Presenter, "Illinois Mechanics Lien," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (October 14, 2020)
• Presenter, "COVID19 & Construction: Touching All the Bases Now," (March 14, 2020)
• Speaker, Commercial Tenant Defaults, Chicago (January, 2018)
• Speaker, Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, Confirmation of Arbitration Awards, Chicago (January, 2017)
• Speaker, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Critical Issues in Construction Litigation, Chicago (October, 2013)
• Speaker, Avoiding Construction Claims. Practical Legal Advice for Construction Owners and Developers. Lien and Payment Claims, Washington, DC (October, 2012)