Jeffrey L. Hamera

practices in the area of litigation with a focus on the construction industry. Mr. Hamera's clients include general contractors, design/builders, construction managers, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, architects, engineers and sureties. He represents clients on matters involving contract drafting and negotiation for design agreements, construction contracts, EPC contracts and design/build agreements. He also represents clients in arbitration and litigation of breach of contract claims, delay, disruption, loss of productivity, excessive change orders, out of scope work, mechanic's liens, errors and omissions, construction defects, and property damage and personal injury claims due to design errors and omissions or faulty construction.

Prior to entering the legal profession, Mr. Hamera worked as a professional engineer for clients in the nuclear power, pharmaceutical, petrochemical and manufacturing industries. In 2011, Mr. Hamera assisted Engineers Without Borders Chicagoland Professional Chapter (EWB-CPC) in an effort to provide the people of the remote town of Canchias, Honduras, with safe and efficient means to access vital farm and dairy land through the Canchias Agricultural Bridge Project . In 2009, Mr. Hamera was involved with EWB-CPC's Armenta project, which constructed a pedestrian bridge for the community of Armenta Lirios in Honduras.

Mr. Hamera is a 1994 cum laude graduate of Northwestern University School of Law and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (M.S., 1987; B.S., 1986).

Resume

Experience

•Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2008-present
- Associate, 2006-2007
•Jenkens & Gilchrist
- Counsel 2005-2006
- Associate, 2001-2005
•Baker & McKenzie
- Associate, 1996-2001
•Stein, Ray & Conway
- Associate, 1995-1996

Board Memberships

•Engineers Without Borders - Chicagoland Professional Chapter
•Chicago Building Congress (Past Member)

Civic and Charitable Activities

•Member of Engineers Without Borders - USA, Chicagoland Professional Chapter
•Sustainability Commission, LaGrange Park, IL, 2016-2019
•Habitat for Humanity Volunteer

Honors and Awards

•Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2020

•Listed in Leading Lawyers, 2011-2015
•Referenced in Legal 500 U.S.- Leading Lawyers for Construction 2014
•Listed in America's Leading Lawyers, 2008

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Selected Publications

•Co-author, CARES Act Impacts Engineering and Construction Sector, Duane Morris Alert, March 30, 2020
•Co-author, Jurisdiction Chapter: USA Construction Law, International Comparative Legal Guide to: Construction & Engineering Law 2016, July 2016
•Featured in Engineer, Builder and Sought-After Construction Lawyer by Mike Ramsey, Leading Lawyers Magazine, March 2016
•Featured in Lawyer-Engineer Builds Bridges Pro Bono by Jerry Crimmins, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, May 9, 2012
• Illinois Decision on Lien Priorities, Building & Bonding: The Construction Group Newsletter, Fall 2011
• Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies Rights of Lenders and Mechanics Lien Claimants to Proceeds of Foreclosure Sale, Duane Morris Alert, March 10, 2011
• Healthcare Facility Construction Project: A Post-mortem, Building & Bonding: The Construction Group Newsletter, Fall 2010
• Healthcare Facility Construction Project: A Post-mortem, Mondaq Business Briefing, November 2010
• 2007-2008 Construction Law Update: Case Law & Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry - Illinois, Winter 2008
• Illinois Gets Into The Act, Building & Bonding: The Construction Group Newsletter, Spring 2008
•Co-author, Subcontractors Dealt a Winning Hand by Nevada Legislature - Nevada's Prompt Payment Act, Construction Lawyer, Legislative Update, Spring 2007
•Co-author, Private Funding for Transportation Project, Road & Transportation Builder, July/August 2003
• New Laws and Retroactivity, Road & Transportation Builder, January/February 2003
• No Good Deed ... Assisting a Subcontractor Can Release Its Performance Bond Surety, J&G Construction Law News, June 2001

Selected Speaking Engagements

•Guest Presenter, Avoiding Construction Claims and Disputes, Baker Tilly Webinar, April 19, 2017
• 2016 Update of the Implied Warranty of Habitability in Illinois, Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, Chicago, Illinois, December 20, 2016
•Panelist, Avoiding Construction Disputes and Resolving Those that Occur, Roundtable presentation to Peer Group 31, September 20, 2016
•Speaker, Fundamentals of Construction Contracts in Illinois: Understanding the Issues, Lorman Education Services Seminar, Naperville, Illinois, June 18, 2014
•Speaker, Maximize the Benefit of Construction Damages Experts, CLLA 118th National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, May 3, 2012
•Speaker, Construction Damages, AICPA Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, September 22, 2011
•Speaker, Risk and Recovery 2009: The Changing Face of Bankruptcy in Today's Economy, ALI-ABA and Duane Morris LLP seminar, Chicago, Illinois, May 27, 2009
•Speaker, What to Do When Construction Projects Go Bad, Lorman Education Services seminar, Schaumburg, Illinois, March 11, 2008