Gregory R. Meeder

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. His 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 is 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 is also an approved mediator for the Circuit Court of Cook County Major Case Court, Annexed Civil Mediation Program.

Mr. Meeder is a member of Holland & Knight's National Construction Industry Practice Group. He was named the 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation – Construction in Chicago by The Best Lawyers in America guide. The group's Construction practice was ranked seventh among The Top 50 Construction Law Firms™ for 2020 by Construction Executive magazine, and received a top-tier ranking by The Legal 500 United States guide for 2020. In addition, the group was named the 2019 "Law Firm of the Year" for Construction Litigation by U.S. News – Best Lawyers.

As part of his practice, Mr. Meeder served as lead project counsel for an owner's construction of a $200 million 25 megawatt hydroelectric power plant in Texas. Mr. Meeder currently serves as project counsel representing a developer of a 220 unit apartment complex in Illinois which is experiencing critical design, construction and delay claims. Mr. Meeder  recently 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. In another recent matter, Mr. Meeder 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 has the authority to issue priority certificates for tenant improvements that will supersede mechanics lien claimants prevailed on appeal. The Second District Appellate Court ruling is a landmark decision in Illinois for mechanics lien cases where a receiver is appointed. Mr. Meeder 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).

His 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, 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.

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.

Mr. Meeder served on the Municipal Board of the Village of Palos Park from 1995-2003 as the elected public works commissioner. As commissioner, Mr. Meeder was directly responsible for all executive, legislative and departmental policies relating specifically to utilities, cable, fiber optic, water, stormwater, sewer and the supervision of public construction contracts (multimillion-dollar construction projects were in design or under construction during his eight-year term). Mr. Meeder served on the board of directors of the 192-member UCA from 1996-2000. He also was a special assistant attorney general for representation of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority with regard to the installation of fiber optic lines along the right-of-ways adjacent to the Illinois Tollway system.

Mr. Meeder has served as an arbitrator and mediator in 70 to 80 mediation and arbitration matters involving construction disputes, delay claims, differing site condition claims, terminations for default, construction defect claims, mechanics lien cases and geotechnical claims.

Mr. Meeder's mediations and arbitrations have included cases involving parties such as national physics laboratories, national general contractors, large material suppliers, specialty contractors and sophisticated owners of commercial, retail and public projects, including national developers. He has held key positions within the industry, including past president (2011-2013) of the Chicago Building Congress (CBC), 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 CBC to serve as president in the CBC's 80-year history. He also has served as a past board member of UCA and general counsel to the UCA.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training 

• 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

Representative Engagements

• Alternative Dispute Resolution