Construction

Legal Services

Construction

Kerr Russell is well known for the scope and success of our representation in both public and private construction law matters. Our attorneys represent clients in all aspects of the construction process, including owners, lenders, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, involved in commercial, industrial, public construction and residential projects.

Our reputation has been earned through our speed and responsiveness in bringing successful closure to contract negotiations and preparation, contract administration, and construction claims and disputes, as well as our recognized cost-effective resolution of disputes, whether through private or third party-administered mediation or arbitration, or, when necessary, through litigation.

With extensive construction projects being undertaken throughout metro Detroit, and Michigan more broadly, it’s more important than ever for clients to have skilled, experienced legal counsel in place to protect and maximize their investments. Kerr Russell’s construction practice helps clients confidently approach all phases of their construction projects and resolve issues to minimize delays and expenses.

Our capabilities include:

  • Structuring joint ventures and limited liability companies among design professionals or contractors for specific projects
  • Preparation and negotiation of construction contracts, professional services contracts and related construction documents
  • Negotiation and resolution of disputes during the design and construction process
  • Assistance in the preparation, analysis, negotiation and resolution of construction claims
  • Advising suppliers on credit management programs
  • Preparation of and foreclosure of construction liens and claims on payment bonds
  • Defense of design professionals in claims for negligence/malpractice
  • Arbitration and litigation of construction disputes
+Practicing Attorneys & Staff

Attorneys

Michael D. Carroll
Michael D. Carroll

Member

Daniel J. Ferris
Daniel J. Ferris

Member

Jacquelyn A. Klima
Jacquelyn A. Klima

Member

Mark M. Cunningham
Mark M. Cunningham

Of Counsel

Robert R. Nix, II
Robert R. Nix, II

Of Counsel

Kurt R. Vilders
Kurt R. Vilders

Of Counsel

+Related Insights

May 4, 2020

Construction Industry to Resume May 7, 2020, per Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order

On Friday, May 1, 2020, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-70 (“EO 2020-70”). This EO allows additional industries, including those in the construction industry, to resume work on May 7, 2020.

January 26, 2018

Download Kerr Russell's updated firm brochure and overview of services

Kerr Russell is proud of Detroit. We are proud to have had a seat at the table here since 1874. Our exceptional attorneys understand the unique challenges facing business leaders. Our legal solutions are prompt, accurate, economical, and focused around your needs in every area. We know Michigan business like the back of our hands.

January 15, 2018

Honoring the legacy of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and every day, we at Kerr Russell honor Reverend King’s leadership and his legacy as well as the critical importance of diversity and opportunity in this great land of ours. Strength comes from difference; a multiplicity of voices brings positive change; understanding and inclusion inspire creativity and innovation.
+Related News

August 17, 2023

Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized By Best Lawyers In America© 2024 And Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch

Twenty Kerr Russell members were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024. In addition, six Kerr Russell attorneys were recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch.

November 3, 2022

Kerr Russell Ranked As U.S. News “Best Law Firm” 2023

Kerr Russell is once again ranked as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News and Best Lawyers. Firms included on the list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.

August 18, 2022

Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America© 2023 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Eighteen Kerr Russell members were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023. Notably, fourteen of the named attorneys have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for more than five years.

August 12, 2022

Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Eleven Kerr Russell members have been included among the 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers.

August 19, 2021

Kerr Russell Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® List

Kerr Russell is pleased to announce that 17 lawyers have been included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

November 16, 2020

22 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness 2021 Top Lawyers

A total of 22 lawyers from Kerr Russell are named as DBusiness Magazine 2021 Top Lawyers. The attorneys are selected through a peer review process.  DBusiness polled more than 18,000 attorneys across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties. 

November 9, 2020

Kerr Russell Ranked As U.S. News “Best Law Firm”2021

Kerr Russell is once again ranked as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News and Best Lawyers.  Firms included on the list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.

September 18, 2020

Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2020 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Super Lawyers named 11 Kerr Russell members to the list of 2020 Michigan Super Lawyers and included four Kerr Russell attorneys on the list of 2020 Michigan Rising Stars.

August 20, 2020

Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America© 2021 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Seventeen Kerr Russell members were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. Notably, twelve of the named attorneys have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for more than five years.

July 14, 2020

15 Lawyers From Kerr Russell Recognized as Leading Lawyers 2020

A total of 15 lawyers from Kerr Russell are named to the 2020 list of Leading Lawyers in Michigan. Only those lawyers who are most often recommended qualify for this honor.

March 17, 2020

Coronavirus/COVID-19 Business Continuity:  A Message to Our Community, Clients and Friends

Kerr Russell is committed to its community, clients and people. As the world navigates through the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we want to assure you that Kerr Russell is committed to supporting our community, clients and people as effectively as we have through every other crisis our Nation has encountered over our firm’s nearly 150-year history. Our firm is fully operational: We have made sure that our lawyers and staff are able to safely and effectively serve our clients’ needs and continue operations on an uninterrupted basis. Most of our people

November 15, 2019

19 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness Top Lawyers for 2020

A total of 19 lawyers from Kerr Russell are named as dBusiness Magazine 2020 Top Lawyers. The attorneys are selected through a peer review process.  dBusiness polled 19,000 attorneys across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties.

November 4, 2019

Kerr Russell Ranked as U.S. News “Best Law Firm”2020

Kerr Russell is once again ranked as a "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News and Best Lawyers.  Firms included on the list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.

September 3, 2019

15 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized on the 2019 Michigan Super Lawyers List

A total of 15 lawyers from Kerr Russell are named as Thomson Reuters, 2019 Michigan Super Lawyers. The award is given annually to attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

August 15, 2019

15 Lawyers From Kerr Russell Are Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America© 2020

A total of 15 lawyers from Kerr Russell are named to the prestigious 2020 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America©. The award is given annually in recognition of being named as part of the “top legal talent in the U.S.”

August 9, 2019

Kerr Russell Attorneys Prevail in Case Before the Michigan Court of Appeals

William C. Blasses and Daniel G. Beyer recently obtained a favorable opinion from the Michigan Court of Appeals, affirming and upholding a Macomb County Circuit Court judge’s decision. 

September 20, 2018

Kerr Russell recognizes our 2018 dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees

Kerr Russell recognizes this year’s dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees - 21 attorneys, many for multiple practice areas.

September 5, 2018

Daniel Ferris serves as editor of "Damages and Remedies in Michigan" (4th edition) for Institute of Continuing Legal Education

Kudos to Kerr Russell member Daniel Ferris who served as editor of the recently published Damages and Remedies in Michigan, a leading litigation treatise published by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Fellow editors included Barbara A. Patek, Mark Granzotto, and David H. Freedman.

August 24, 2018

Kerr Russell member Mike Carroll (construction) ... one of Detroit's Real Men (who) Wear Pink

We are certainly proud of Kerr Russell member Mike Carroll (construction) who has been chosen as one of the American Cancer Society’s “Real Men (who) Wear Pink.” The kickoff event was held at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit on August 23, and, while Mike had a conflict, his “campaign manager” Roy Sexton represented. You can show your support here.

July 9, 2018

Kerr Russell - DBusiness Magazine's "Faces of Corporate Law 2018"

Kerr Russell is proud to serve as DBusiness Magazine's "Faces of Corporate Law" 2018. Partners pictured: Jackie Klima (construction/surety), Mike Carroll (construction/surety), Miroslava Orduno Rincon (immigration), and Rich Buslepp (corporate).

February 15, 2018

Jason Bank, new member of Detroit Athletic Club

Congratulations to Kerr Russell member Jason Bank (bankruptcy, restructuring) on becoming a member of the Detroit Athletic Club. Other Kerr Russell partners who belong to the DAC include Mark Cunningham, Dan Schulte, and Kurt Vilders. Associate Stephen Reaume is also a member.

February 9, 2018

Kerr Russell supports "Life is a Cabaret" American Cancer Society Relay for Life event

On February 7, Kerr Russell turned out in force to support Life is a Cabaret: LIVE Musical Fundraiser for Relay For Life of Canton and Plymouth, MI. Director of Marketing Roy Sexton performed a number of songs during the show and served as a co-emcee alongside Christopher Tremblay, Ed.D.. Kerr Russell attendees (pictured) included Angie Lyons-Hincks, Candice Hadley, Brandy Mathie, Ashley Racette, Sue Smith, Cindy Villeneuve, Jan Clarey, Jeffrey May, Kathleen Westfall, Gail Showler, Laura Evans Jones, Karen Schumer, Debra Behrmann, Heather Kalfayan, Kristina Kalfayan, Kelly Hinojosa, Jackie Klima, Susan Willis, and their friends and family.

January 3, 2018

Kerr Russell highlighted in Best Lawyers - Business, Winter 2017 issue

Look for Kerr Russell attorneys and advertising (pages 92-95) in the Best Lawyers - Business, Winter 2017 issue. Earlier in 2017, a number of Kerr Russell's attorneys and practice areas were honored with U.S. News and World Report Best Lawyers recognition.

December 18, 2017

Kerr Russell team makes holiday donations to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Wigs 4 Kids, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, and Children's Hospital of Michigan

One of our traditions here at Kerr Russell is to hold a holiday raffle to benefit three local charities as well as to conduct a toy drive for local children. This year's raffle (many of the beautiful and festive prizes picture here) raised a record total of $3,450 which will be divided equally among three organizations: Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan, Inc., and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor.

November 30, 2017

Merry and bright ... Kerr Russell welcomes the holiday season

It's a time to celebrate, reflect and remember. However you mark the holidays, we hope your days are filled with warmth and thankfulness, good times, and endless cheer. As another year draws to a close, we at Kerr Russell are grateful to you. You give purpose to our work and add meaning to our relationships. Your trust is a cherished gift. Enjoy these images as we get our offices ready to celebrate the holiday season. Design by Mandy Lark of Lark Interior Design.

November 27, 2017

Jacquelyn Klima and Mark Cunningham present “Payment Bond: Beyond Labor and Material – Prompt Pay Act Liability, Interest, Service Charges, Time-Price Differential, and ‘Other’ Damages; and When is the Surety’s Consent Required..."

Jacquelyn Klima and Mark Cunningham presented “The Payment Bond: Beyond Labor and Material – Prompt Pay Act Liability, Interest, Service Charges, Time-Price Differential, and ‘Other’ Damages; and When is the Surety’s Consent Required for Additions to the Bonded Contract Obligations” at the Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference (July 2017) in Chicago, Illinois.

November 16, 2017

Michael Carroll named Fellow of Construction Lawyers of America

Kerr Russell's Michael Carroll has been selected as a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA). The CLSA is an invitation-only international honorary association composed of preeminent lawyers specializing in construction law and related fields.

November 16, 2017

Culture of Connection - new Kerr Russell ad to appear in Michigan Lawyers Weekly and dbusiness

Kerr Russell introduces the second ad in the new "Est. in Detroit 1874" series: "A culture of connection." The piece emphasizes the firm's 143-year presence in Detroit as part of the larger business and legal community. "We are relationship focused. We know our people and our clients are the lifeblood of our firm."

November 4, 2017

Daniel Ferris appointed Chair of the Drafting Committee of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly

Daniel J. Ferris, member, has been appointed Chair of the Drafting Committee of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly. In 1971, the State Bar Board of Commissioners requested the Supreme Court create a "representative assembly".

November 3, 2017

Kerr Russell launches new advertising in upcoming issues of dbusiness and Crain's Detroit

With this month's issue of dbusiness, focused on Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Kerr Russell launches its new brand advertising with "A Track Record of Results." Working with Identity Public Relations and Marketing, Kerr Russell's marketing team developed the creative to emphasize the firm's longstanding place in Detroit's legal and business history.

November 3, 2017

Kerr Russell recognizes this year’s dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees

Kerr Russell recognizes this year’s dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees:

November 1, 2017

Kerr Russell ranked in the 2018 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" list nationally in 1 practice area and regionally in 17 practice areas

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, for the eighth consecutive year, announce the "Best Law Firms" rankings.

October 21, 2017

Mike Gibson and Jim Case, members, play in US/China Auto Cup golf classic in Shanghai

Mike Gibson and Jim Case, members, played in the US/China Auto Cup golf classic in Shanghai October 21 and 22, and Team USA ended up winning the cup! Congrats! Looking good, gentlemen!

October 16, 2017

Kerr Russell supports Detroit Athletic Club (October 2017 DAC News)

From the October 2017 DAC News ... We are proud of Detroit. We are proud to have had a seat at the table here since 1874. Our exceptional attorneys understand the unique challenges facing business leaders. Our legal solutions are prompt, accurate, economical, and focused around your needs in every area, including business law, labor and employment, immigration, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and construction, healthcare, medical practices, tax, contract negotiation, restructuring, automotive, manufacturing, and commercial litigation.

September 27, 2017

business Magazine covers Kerr Russell's participation in Detroit Chinese Business Association International Golf Outing

Kerr Russell was well-represented at the Detroit Chinese Business Association (DCBA) International Golf Open.

September 12, 2017

16 Kerr Russell attorneys recognized as 2017 Super Lawyers

Congratulations to the following attorneys who have been designated "Super Lawyers" by Thomson Reuters.

August 24, 2017

Jim Case and Mike Carroll featured in Associated General Contractors of America's Constructor Magazine

Michael Carroll and James Case are featured in the latest issue of “Constructor Magazine” - www.constructormagazine.com - from Associated General ...Contractors of America - www.agc.org

November 7, 2016

Kerr Russell attorneys named 2017 Top Lawyers by dBusiness Magazine

Kerr Russell counts 11 attorneys among this year’s Top Lawyers as recognized by dBusiness magazine. The 2017 Top Lawyers were selected based on a peer review survey of 19,000 attorneys in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties. Attorneys are asked to nominate lawyers among 48 legal specialties.

November 1, 2016

Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2016 Super Lawyers

Kerr Russell attorneys have been named SuperLawyers for 2016, two have been named to the Michigan Top 100 and four have been named as Rising Stars.