Steven C. Swanson | Shareholder

Mr. Swanson, who formerly practiced as a licensed architect, concentrates his practice in the areas of construction law, professional liability defense and mechanics lien litigation. He regularly practices before Illinois state, federal and bankruptcy courts, state regulatory/licensing agencies, and in arbitration and mediation proceedings. Mr. Swanson often negotiates construction industry contracts for his clients. He also developed and presented legal seminars on AIA Owner-Architect and Owner-Consultant agreements, building codes, risk management issues, and document retention policies.

Mr. Swanson represents architects, engineers, surveyors, construction managers, owner representatives, general and sub-contractors and insurance companies in a wide variety of construction-related claims. Representative cases include:

• Defending a construction manager in an $84,000,000 construction defect claim at a major international airport;
• Defense of a structural engineer in a multi-million dollar wrongful death/property subrogation claim arising from a roof collapse at a steel foundry;
• Defending an architect in a design/construction defect claim involving premature failure of the brick veneer in the masonry bearing wall system of a nine-story residential building.

Mr. Swanson has successfully resolved numerous professional liability claims through dispositive motions including early dismissals of construction accident, property damage subrogation and implied warranty claims against architect and engineer clients. Examples include a $5,000,000 wrongful death claim arising from a boating accident near a temporary causeway at a bridge replacement project. The decedent's estate voluntarily dismissed its claim against Mr. Swanson's civil engineer client in response to a summary judgment motion without further briefing. In another example, Mr. Swanson's architectural experience enabled him to elicit key deposition testimony based upon his analysis of structural design drawings and shop drawings that exonerated his client from personal injury claims brought by an iron worker without incurring the cost of expert fees or a summary judgment motion. He has also negotiated numerous settlements on advantageous terms, often below the professional's insurance deductible. Mr. Swanson was also the senior associate attorney representing an owner's representative involved in a high-profile scaffolding collapse resulting in three deaths, numerous injuries and extensive property damage. Mr. Swanson took more than 85 fact and expert depositions in that matter which resulted in a favorable settlement for his client.

Architectural Experience

As a practicing architect, Mr. Swanson worked for a prominent Illinois firm specializing in educational projects, and for an international architecture/engineering firm working on transportation and government projects. His professional experience covers all aspects of architectural service including design, preparation of construction drawings and specifications, coordination of engineering sub-consultants, public bidding and negotiation, contract administration, payment applications and construction observation. Mr. Swanson has international construction experience including design of industrial projects in China and Russia for a Fortune 200 pharmaceutical company. He also has surveying experience including field work and plat drafting.