Paul M. Lurie
Partner
Paul M. Lurie has been business and legal counsel for major owners, developers, design and construction firms for more than 40 years. His experience includes providing counsel and advocacy for contract negotiation and dispute avoidance and resolution. His ability to get deals done and disputes resolved stems from his broad knowledge of the business of real estate, design and construction and from his many years of experience as a construction arbitrator and mediator.
According to Who's Who Legal: Illinois 2008, Mr. Lurie has "helped define the construction Bar in Illinois," and was repeatedly identified by peers as a "dean of the Bar." He is ranked #1 of Top Ten Leading Construction Lawyers in Illinois (2010) based on the peer surveys conducted by Leading Lawyers Network.
He is also a member of Schiff Hardin's Construction Industry Ownership Transition Team.
Publications
"Drafting Alternative Dispute Resolution Terms in Construction Contracts," (Co-Author with Stanley Sklar) Ch. 10 in Construction Law: Transactional Considerations, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2010)
"United States Construction Contracts," Chapter 18 in International Business Transactions, Kluwer Law and Taxation Publishers (2008)
"Arbitration and the Unauthorized Practice of Law," (Co-Author) The Construction Lawyer (Winter 2007)
"The Importance of Process Design to a Successful Mediation," chapter in AAA Handbook on Construction Arbitration and ADR (August 2007)
"Removing Roadblocks to Arbitration," chapter in AAA Handbook on Construction Arbitration and ADR (August 2007)
"The Revised Uniform Arbitration Act: Choice of Law Issues Litigation," ACCL Journal of the American College of Construction Lawyers, Vol. 1 No. 2 (Summer 2007)
"Lump-Sum v. Cost-Plus Contracting: U.S. Practice," International Law Office Newsletter (October 2006)
"Dispute Resolution Under American Institute Of Architects Documents," International Law Office Newsletter (July 2006)
"Using Screening Walls and Advance Waivers To Manage Mediation Conflicts of Interest," Alternatives, Vol. 24, No. 3 (March 2006)
"Factors Influencing a Successful Mediation," Construction Lawyer, American Bar Association Forum Committee (Summer 2002)
Ownership Transition, Options and Strategies (3rd ed.) (Co-Author) American Council of Engineering Companies (2002)
"The New Revised Uniform Arbitration Act," Journal of International Arbitration (January 2001)
"Ethics and Mediation," ADR Currents (December 2000-February 2001)
"Limitations on the Ability to Obtain Discovery in International Arbitration from Non-Parties Located in the United States," Journal of International Arbitration (June 2000)
"Mediation as a Risk and Cost Control Tool," Structure (Summer 2000)
"Arbitral Subpoena Powers and Prehearing Discovery," ADR Currents (December 1999)
"Removing Roadblocks to Arbitration," The Punchlist (May 1999)
"The Importance of Process Design to a Successful Mediation," The Punchlist (Winter 1996/1997)
Arbitration of Construction Disputes, Wiley Law Publications (1990)
"Computer Aided Mistakes," Software Law Journal (Summer 1988)
Speeches and Presentations
“Construction Industry Controversies: Analyzing and Preventing Contract Provision Disputes,” Avoiding Common Construction Industry Problems (Webcast), West LegalEd Center (August 26, 2009)
"Meeting the Construction Industry's Demand for Rapid Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration and Other Effective Methods," (Panelist) Resolving Construction Law Issues Across the 49th Parallel, Chicago, Ill. (May 28, 2009)
"Making Mediation and Arbitration Work," Law Bulletin Seminars 2008 Real Estate Conference, Chicago, Ill. (November 12, 2008)
"Navigating the Arbitration Roadmap," American Arbitration Association Construction Conference, Chicago, Ill. (November 6, 2008)
"Mediation and Arbitration of Real Estate Disputes," Law Bulletin Seminars 2007 Real Estate Conference, Chicago, Ill. (October 4, 2007)
"Preventing and Managing Claims and Disputes Without Formal Adversarial Proceedings," Lorman Education Services Seminar: "What To Do When Construction Projects Go Bad In Illinois," Itasca, Ill. (September 15, 2006)
"Significant Developments In ADR," ADR State of the Union: The Changing Role of the Lawyer and the Use of ADR in Practice Seminar, Chicago Bar Association (May 2006)
"Ethics: Multi-Jurisdictional Practice," ABA Forum on the Construction Industry 2006 Annual Meeting: "Arbitration and the Unauthorized Practice of Law - Swimming With The Sharks," San Diego, Calif. (May 19, 2006)
"Construction Mediation — A View From the Mediator's Chair," (Panelist) The Court Annexed Mediation Program, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago (April 13, 2006)
"Arbitration Update: Revised Uniform Arbitration Act, Uniform Arbitration Act, Disclosure And Diversity Jurisdiction," ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Conference, Atlanta, Ga. (April 5, 2006)
"Why Commercial/Construction Mediations Succeed or Fail," American Bar Association, Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution Seminar, Washington, D.C. (April 2001)
"A Comparison of the Major Differences Among the Latest Versions of the EJCDC, AIA and FDIC General Conditions," Conference on International Law and Dispute Resolution, Salzburg, Austria (June 1998)
Awards and Honors
Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators
Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators
Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers
Member, Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys
Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators
President's Award for Leadership in Conflict Management — American Arbitration Association
Illinois Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Leading Lawyer — ADR Law: Commercial Litigation; ADR Law: Commercial Real Estate, Environmental and Construction; Construction Law, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network
Top 100 Business Lawyers in Illinois, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network
Past Presidents Award, American College of Construction Lawyers
Leading Lawyers/Illinois
Best Lawyers in America, Construction
Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Construction (Senior Statesman)
Distinguished Service Award – American Institute of Architects (Chicago)
Who's Who Legal — International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Construction
Who's Who Legal — Illinois, Construction, Arbitration
PLC Which Lawyer? — Chicago — Construction Lawyer
Top Lawyers in Illinois, Commercial Real Estate — Midwest Real Estate News
Education
University of Michigan Law School
(J.D.,
1965)
University of Michigan
(B.A.,
1962)
Professional Certifications
Certified Mediator, International Mediation Institute
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
Forum on the Construction Industry
Section of Dispute Resolution
Section of Litigation
Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
Illinois State Bar Association
Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
Construction Law Special Committee
International Bar Association
Dispute Resolution Section
Arbitration Committee
Mediation Committee
Chicago Bar Association
Real Estate Committee
Chicago Council of Lawyers
International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR Institute)
Construction Advisory Committee
Arbitration Committee
Construction Panel of Distinguished Neutrals
American Arbitration Association
Large Complex Case Panel
National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee
Midwest Regional Mediaton Panel
Construction Contracts Law Report (Thomson/West)
Editorial Board
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (not a member)
Journal for the Performance of Constructed Facilities
Editorial Board
Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction
Editorial Board
Civic and Charitable Memberships
Northlight Theater (Skokie, Ill.)
General Counsel
The Family Institute, Northwestern University
Executive Committee Member
Board of Trustees
Former Chair
