Overview

Gregory R. Meeder is a nationally recognized construction attorney who handles civil trial matters in state and federal courts on a local and national basis, proceedings before governmental and administrative agencies, and arbitration and mediation proceedings.

Mr. Meeder's legal career focuses on complex construction procurements, litigation and the representation of public owners, property developers, underground contractors, construction companies, commercial banks, corporations, partnerships, not-for-profits and individuals with regard to multimillion-dollar construction matters.

Mr. Meeder was named the 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation – Construction in Chicago by The Best Lawyers in America, but his practice is national in scope. Notably, Mr. Meeder has 10 years of experience handling construction conflicts in Texas. His neutral experience and training, together with his relationships with key subject matter experts throughout the country, bring added value to his representations.

General Construction. Mr. Meeder's general construction experience includes structuring project delivery methods and reviewing, structuring and negotiating construction, design and construction management contracts; advising clients on contract interpretation and contract and project administration for commercial, institutional and public building projects and public works projects; claim avoidance counseling; public procurement laws and bid protests; construction industry labor and employment issues; Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) matters; change order management; project close-out management; assessment, preparation and defense of claims; litigation and arbitration of construction-related disputes; and providing general business advice to premier construction industry clients. Mr. Meeder has handled projects including fast-track office buildings, commercial and residential buildings, nationally known golf courses, highway construction, hospitals, wastewater treatment plants, airports, senior housing projects, tollway systems, underground utility, cable, electric, gas, fiber optic, telephone, water, stormwater and sewer projects, including tunneling, horizontal boring, directional drilling and other specialty work related to underground infrastructure projects.

Construction Defects. Mr. Meeder has developed a niche in handling construction defect and design matters involving geotechnical issues involving hydroelectric power plants, industrial developments, transportation terminals, high-rise building and underground infrastructure. He also handles preliminary injunction matters on an emergency basis on behalf of construction clients involving asbestos regulation and environmental issues, seal orders and remediation actions brought by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

Construction Disputes. Clients turn to Mr. Meeder to resolve construction disputes throughout the country, as he is known for his ability to quickly identify and address complex legal and business issues at the contract level prior to litigation, including multimillion dollar projects. As a member of the Panel of Neutrals for the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Industry and ADR Systems of America, acting as an arbitrator and mediator in construction disputes, he has served as an arbitrator and mediator in 120 to 150 matters involving construction disputes, delay claims, differing site condition claims, terminations for default, construction defect claims, mechanics lien cases and geotechnical claims. His mediations and arbitrations have included cases involving parties such as national physics laboratories, national general contractors, large material suppliers, nationally known golf courses, specialty contractors and sophisticated owners of commercial, retail and public projects, including national developers.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Meeder has authored legislation on behalf of the Underground Contractors Association (UCA) and the Illinois Construction Industry Committee (ICIC) requiring differing site condition clauses in public construction contracts in excess of $75,000. See 30 ILCS 557/1 et seq. Mr. Meeder co-authored the first-ever strategic partnership agreement between OSHA and the UCA. The agreement employs a third-party administrator to significantly reduce exposure of construction companies and their employees to safety risks. Further, Mr. Meeder has held key positions within the industry that have provided him with strong personal and professional construction industry ties, experience and knowledge. He holds the distinction of being only the second attorney member of the Chicago Building Congress (CBC) to serve as president in its 80-year history. He also has served as a past board member as well as general counsel to the Underground Contractors Association.

Representative Engagements

Representative Experience

  • Served as lead project counsel for an owner's construction of a $200 million 25-megawatt hydroelectric power plant north of Houston
  • Regularly represents owners and real estate developers in Texas projects that have early construction defect and design failures, often involving geotechnical issues or complex construction and design defects
  • Represented a nationally known golf course owner in one of the largest renovation and expansion projects in the country

  • Served as project counsel representing a developer of a 220-unit apartment complex that was experiencing critical design, construction and delay claims
  • Served as special counsel to a receiver in a multiparty mechanics lien matter for the collection of $35 million in damages from a defaulting data center tenant
  • Represented specialty contractors in an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) asbestos litigation involving the closure of a nationally known grocery store, special damages and a consent decree
  • Served as co-counsel for two HVAC contractors, the appellees, in a mechanics lien case before the Illinois Second District Appellate Court; appellee counsel's collective argument that the receiver had the authority to issue priority certificates for tenant improvements that would supersede mechanics lien claimants prevailed on appeal; the court's ruling was a landmark decision in Illinois for mechanics lien cases where a receiver is appointed

  • ACE 22 – Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrations, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2022
  • Advanced Mediation and Impasse Management Strategies in the Digital Age, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2021
  • Advocacy Practitioner – Today's Strategies for Negotiation Success, American Bar Association (ABA) Construction Forum, 2019
  • Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor: Meeting Participant Expectations, Arbitrator Continuing Education (ACE), 2018
  • Construction Mediation and the User Experience: Pathways to Settlement and Satisfaction, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2017
  • Consolidation and Joinder in Construction Arbitration: Ignorance Is Not Bliss, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2016
  • Forum on Construction Law, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2015
  • Principled Deliberations, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2014
  • Managing the Arbitration Process for Efficiency & Economy Following the Preliminary Hearing, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2012
  • Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards (ACE001), American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2011
  • 40-hour Performance-Based Skills Training, Center for Conflict Resolution, 2011
  • Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association (AAA), 2011
  • Highlights of the New Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, Holland & Knight Institute, 2010

Credentials

Education
  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D.
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., English
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Illinois
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • All State Courts in Illinois
Memberships
  • American Arbitration Association Dispute Resolution Journal, Board of Editors
  • Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, Member
  • Deep Foundation Institute
  • American Bar Association, Construction Industry Forum
  • Chicago Building Congress, President, 2011-2013; Board Member; Immediate Past Chair of CBC Annual Merit Awards
  • Chicago Bar Association, Past Chair, Mechanic's Lien and Construction Law Committee
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Illinois Road Builders Association
  • Builders Association
  • Cook County Court, Annexed Mortgage Foreclosure and Mechanics Lien Division Programs, Arbitrator and Mediator
  • International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Construction Committee
Honors & Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Litigation – Construction, 2015-2025; Construction Law, 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Chicago Litigation – Construction Law Lawyer of the Year, 2023
  • The Legal 500 USA, Real Estate – Construction (Including Construction Litigation), 2022
  • Leading Lawyers Magazine, Construction Law, 2017, 2019
  • Distinguished Service Award, Chicago Building Congress, 2013
  • Leading Lawyers Magazine, Commercial Real Estate, Environmental & Construction, January 2013
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Construction Law, 2009
  • Certified E-Discovery Neutral for ADR, American College of e-Neutrals and Loyola University College of Law

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News