Jeremy Baker
Baker Law - Design & Construction Counsel
Jeremy S. Baker is a Chicago-based construction attorney. From 2006-2019, he served clients at Schiff Hardin LLP, where he was a partner and a member of its national Construction Law practice. Previously, he was an attorney at Cozen O’Connor PC. Jeremy founded Baker Law Group LLC in 2019. An Adjunct Professor of Law at The John Marshall Law School, he taught an elective Construction Law course though the Center for Real Estate Law (Fall Semesters 2016, 2017, 2018). Jeremy helps his clients to complete challenging projects by emphasizing dispute avoidance and early, cost-efficient resolution of claims. He represents developers, lenders, design professionals, owners, and contractors in all aspects of design and construction. Jeremy’s practice involves project structuring across many project delivery methods, plus contract review and negotiation. Jeremy has prosecuted and defended lawsuits in well over 30 state and federal court venues – but he prefers to resolve disputes using cost-efficient alternative dispute resolution. Jeremy is a graduate of the Tulane University Law School and the University of California, Santa Barbara. He can be reached at https://buildchicagolaw.com or 312-621-7184.
Link to website bio: https://buildchicagolaw.com/jeremy-s-baker/
- Tulane University Law School
- J.D.
- cum laude, Chief Judge Emeritus U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
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- University of California
- B.A.
- Santa Barbara , honors
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- Founding Attorney
- Baker Law Group, LLC
- - Current
- Jeremy S. Baker serves the design and construction industry with “end-to-end” counsel. Jeremy helps clients realize their vision on mixed-use, hospitality, multi-family, tall tower, retail, education, industrial, utility, government and other project types. He uses creative project structuring, thoughtful contracts, and long experience avoiding and resolving disputes, all to achieve his clients’ goals.
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Construction Law
- The John Marshall Law School, Center for Real Estate Law
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- Jeremy S. Baker taught “Construction Law,” RE 612/JD 612, a two-credit elective course and study of the various aspects of construction law offered through JMLS’ Center for Real Estate Law, in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 fall semesters. The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) acquired JMLS in fall 2019.
- Partner, Construction Law Group
- Schiff Hardin LLP
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- Focusing on transactions and dispute resolution, Jeremy S. Baker served over 13 years with some of the highest caliber national design and construction attorneys. U.S. News rated Schiff Hardin the #1 Construction Litigation firm in the U.S. in 2011. Chambers USA’s annual rankings consistently recognize Schiff Hardin for having a premier Construction Law practice. In 2019, it earned a prestigious spot among Law360’s Construction Groups of the Year. Founded in 1864, Schiff Hardin has 300-plus attorneys in seven offices.
- Associate, Subrogation Group
- Cozen O’Connor PC
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- An aggressive litigator, Jeremy S. Baker prosecuted dozens of design and construction defect and products liability claims – on a 100% contingency fee basis – as lead counsel in state and federal court, and in arbitrations and mediations, in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa. To assess potential claims, he investigated hundreds of property loss casualties involving boiler, machinery, equipment and materials failures, fires, explosions, collapses, gas and water leaks, natural disasters, and shipping losses. Cozen O’Connor has over 750 attorneys.
- Judicial Extern
- Honorable Morey L. Sear, Chief Judge Emeritus, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans
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- During his third year at Tulane Law School, Jeremy S. Baker assisted the late Judge Sear, a member of the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (MDL), with the centralization of mass litigation involving air disasters, intellectual property, antitrust, products liability, securities, sales, and employment practices. In addition to MDL matters, Jeremy helped to dispose cases pending on Judge Sear’s general civil docket.
- Law Clerk
- The Office of the Attorney General, Washington DC (formerly named Office of the Corporation Counsel)
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- The Office of the Attorney General – formerly named Office of the Corporation Counsel – conducts all law business for the District of Columbia, and handles all suits made by and against the government including state, local, and county matters, and the child support program. Jeremy S. Baker worked in the Criminal Section and assisted with the prosecution of crimes committed in the District.
- ACCESSIBLE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS: WORTHY AIMS, HUGE RISKS FOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
- https://buildchicagolaw.com
- AIA’S NEW 2019 CMC AND CMA CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
- https://buildchicagolaw.com
- ARBITRATOR-DIRECTED ARBITRATION: A PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION ARBITRATION
- https://buildchicagolaw.com
- BEWARE THE “ONE YEAR” WARRANTY: CONTRACTOR CALLBACK PERIODS V. WARRANTIES OF QUALITY WORK
- https://buildchicagolaw.com
- Practical Considerations and Concerns in Basic Construction Contracting
- Lorman Education Services Webinar (Nov. 2, 2010)
- Essential Concepts in Construction Contracting
- Lorman Education Services Webinar (Apr. 11, 2012)
- Legal Strategies for Controlling Project Costs: Managing the Risks of Mechanics Liens
- Private Event at Schiff Hardin LLP (Jun. 28, 2012)
- Essential Concepts in Construction Contracts and Administration
- Lorman Education Services Webinar (Mar. 18, 2014)
- Negotiating Contract Dispute Resolution Clauses, Five Keys for Negotiating Business Contracts
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Webinar (Mar. 21, 2014)
- Super Lawyer, Construction Law
- Thompson Reuters’ Illinois Super Lawyers
- Leading Lawyer, Construction Law
- Law Bulletin Publishing Company
- Super Lawyer, Construction Law
- Thompson Reuters’ Illinois Super Lawyers
- Leading Lawyer, Construction Law
- Law Bulletin Publishing Company
- Leading Lawyer, Construction Law
- Law Bulletin Publishing Company
- Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys (SOICA)
- Member
- - Current
- Activities: SOICA facilitates and encourages the association of outstanding Illinois lawyers who are distinguished for their skill, experience and professional conduct in the practicing or teaching of construction law, who are dedicated to excellence in construction law practice and who subscribe to SOICA’s goals and ideals. http://www.soica.org
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- AIA Contract Documents Committee
- Liaison
- - Current
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- AIA Contract Documents – Train the Trainer Program
- Trainer
- - Current
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- Chicago Bar Association, Construction Law & Mechanics Lien Subcommittee
- Member
- - Current
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- American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry
- Member
- - Current
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- State Bar of Illinois # 6277065
- Member
- - Current
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- CityPAC Board of Directors
- Member
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- American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Chicago Young Leadership Council Congressional Key Contact Committee Co-Chair
- Member
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- Illinois
- Supreme Court of Illinois
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- Minnesota
- Minnesota Supreme Court
- ID Number: (inactive status)
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- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Construction Law
- Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
- English: Spoken, Written
How Do Construction Attorneys Help Deliver Successful Projects?
Construction attorneys can help manage the risk of design and construction and help their clients meet their expectations for their projects. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL.
Why is insurance so important in design and construction contracts?
Good insurance terms are an essential part of every Design and Construction Contract - because the risks encountered in Design and Construction typically outstrip the assets of the parties involved. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Why Can Owners Be Forced to Pay Twice for the Same Construction Work?
Many Owners of construction projects in Illinois may be flabbergasted to learn that after they fully pay the General Contractor for the work it provides they can be forced to PAY TWICE for the exact same work in the event the General Contractor has failed to pay its Subcontractors. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
What Should Project Owners Know before Embarking on a Design and Construction Contract?
There are many things that a Project Owner should consider carefully before embarking upon a Design But here are few in particular that come to mind... https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
What Makes Good Contracts for Design and Construction Projects?
What makes a good contract for a Design or Construction project really depends upon the project type the Project Delivery Method that the Parties have selected and the identity of the Parties to the contract. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
What Common Mistakes Do Owners Make in Construction Projects?
I see Project Owners make quite a few mistakes in Design and Construction projects But a few come to mind One is failure to consider the range of options available to the Owner for Project Delivery Methods. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Should I Start Contract Negotiations Using My Own Contract Form?
When negotiating Design and Construction contracts one of the first issues to arise is whether you are going to propose a form of your own creation as the basis for contract negotiations or whether you are going to be providing comments in response to a contract form that somebody sends to you Now, I am perfectly willing to use either my own forms or somebody else's forms because it really is just a starting point for negotiations. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Should Designers' Proposals Have Terms and Conditions on the Back?
Architects and Engineers should strongly consider preparing Proposals that have not just the Scope of Work and the Fee on the front side of the Proposal but also the Terms & Conditions under which they propose to do the work on the back side of the Proposal. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
How Can Owners Motivate Contractors to Complete Construction Projects?
The common concern that Contractors may be slow to finish their Projects - or maybe not come back to finish their Projects at all is comparatively easily addressed through a Construction Contract concept called "Retainage" or "Retention" that is frequently agreed to in the industry by Contractors. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Can Owners Prevent Design and Construction Defects?
There is really no way for Project Owners to 100% prevent design and construction defects on their projects Even the most reputable Architects and Engineers almost never produce a perfect design. It is also common for even the most reputable Contractors to fail to produce perfect results. So there is no way to 100% prevent defects The question Property Owners should be focused on is what can they do to protect themselves contractually. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Can Contractors Charge More than Their Written Estimate or Promise to Owners?
Many project owners would be surprised to learn that contractors can on occasion charge more than they've promised the owner in writing their project is going to cost. And that's because design and construction contracts are really unlike any other. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Can architects help protect owners from construction project problems?
Architects can play an important role in protecting Owners from Construction Project problems particularly during the Construction Phase but only if the Owner hires the Architect directly That is one of the major advantages of the traditional method of project delivery in which the Owner separately contracts with the Contractor and the Architect. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Can Architects and Contractors Better the Odds of Being Paid by Owners?
Contractors and Design Professionals can increase the odds of being paid for their work by Owners if they take the time to assess the "creditworthiness" of the party who is going to be signing their contracts Now many in Design and Construction fail to appreciate that when they do work one month send a bill out the next month and expect to get paid the following month what they are really doing is "extending credit." https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Why Are Project Delivery Methods so Important for Construction Projects?
The first thing that parties should consider when embarking on a Design or Construction project - before they sign their contracts - is which Project Delivery Method is going to be best for their project? For the particular type of project? And for the goals of the participants? In construction law, the phrase "Project Delivery Method" refers to the many ways the parties who are involved in the project can structure their relationships. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Why Are Good Contracts Important for Design and Construction Projects?
There are many reasons why good Contracts are important for Design and Construction projects but one of them is that some of the considerations are really best addressed early in the Project and in fact, many of them can't be addressed later in the Project. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL.
Why Are Design and Construction Projects so Dispute-Prone?
There's many reasons why claims tend to arise on Design and Construction projects but I think at its root is that development of real estate is inherently complicated and risky business. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL.
What Risky Contract Terms Concern Smart Architects and Engineers?
I often negotiate contracts for Architects and Engineers, and there are lot of risks that they need to be concerned with. But a few in particular stand out in particular. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL.
What Is Your Approach to Negotiating Design and Construction Contracts?
The way I negotiate Design and Construction contracts is really project-specific and client-specific And there are some instances where it is appropriate for me to negotiate a contract that is one-sided in my client's favor But all things being equal I typically prefer to see fair and commercially reasonable Design and Construction contracts where the risks and responsibilities are not just pushed away but rather allocated properly. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
What Contract Terms Promote Early, Inexpensive Dispute Resolution?
At the beginning of Projects there is an opportunity for parties to include in their Design and Construction contracts terms that would tend to promote Early, Cost-Efficient dispute resolution. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Is Pursuing My Design and Construction Claims a Worthwhile Investment?
When things to wrong on Design and Construction projects people are always confronted with the question of whether to pursue their Design and Construction claims. And that is a difficult question to answer. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL.
Why Do Design and Construction Disputes Spawn Years of Litigation?
Design and Construction disputes do not have to lead to years of painful and expensive Litigation Early cost-efficient dispute resolution is possible. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL.
Is Arbitration or Litigation Best for Design and Construction Claims?
I frequently use arbitration and litigation to resolve design and construction disputes. And while I think there's a time for each, I do think arbitration has a lot of advantages that can't be ignored. Both arbitration and litigation are forms of binding dispute resolution. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Can Mediation Help Resolve Design and Construction Disputes?
I am a big proponent of Mediation as a means to resolve Design and Construction disputes and I think Mediation is an essential tool in the arsenal of all Construction Attorneys whose clients want to achieve Early, Cost-Efficient dispute resolution. Mediation is a flexible, confidential and Non-Binding form of dispute resolution. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Can a Lawsuit save Me from Bad Design and Construction Contracts
A good Contract is an essential part of every Design and Construction project And if you enter into a bad one you should not expect a Court to save you from a bad business deal The Courts that resolve business disputes - like Design and Construction disputes are typically going to try to enforce your Contract - not rewrite it - because they are in the 'predictability' business not necessarily the 'justice' business. https://www.buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Baker Law Introduction
I'm Jeremy Baker. I'm a design and construction attorney. I represent design professionals like architects and engineers, as well as real estate developers and owners of projects like big corporations, smaller companies, and homeowners in all aspects of design and construction, from project planning to contract negotiation, to project management, and proactive dispute avoidance, and when necessary, dispute resolution. https://buildchicagolaw.com ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL