Mike focuses his practice in the areas of construction law and litigation, public contract law and surety law, and is the firm’s managing partner. He has experience representing public and private owners and agencies, general contractors, construction managers, design builders, trade and specialty contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, design professionals and construction sureties.
Mike assists his clients on construction contract negotiations and drafting on design-bid-build, construction management and design-build projects, project delivery systems and related documents, public construction bidding, procurement and performance, design law issues, defective specifications, differing site conditions, delay and impact claims, surety bonds, mechanic’s liens and related remedies, construction defects, construction defaults and termination, project management issues, and construction dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation, arbitration and litigation.
Mike has been recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer in the area of Construction Litigation, 2004 through 2023, and Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Construction Law for 2007 through 2023. He was named to the Top Ten Super Lawyer List for 2013 and Top 50 Super Lawyer List for 2012, 2014 and 2016. Mike was honored in The Indiana Lawyer and received the Leadership in Law Distinguished Barrister Award for 2013. Mike has received an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale Hubbell.
Mike has written numerous articles and seminar manuals on a broad range of construction law topics. He is a frequent lecturer for construction trade association conferences and construction law seminars for the legal community and construction industry (both as program chairman and as author and speaker).
Areas of Service
Construction Law
Construction Litigation
Public Contract Law
Surety Law
Education
Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Indiana Bar Foundation Scholar
University of Minnesota, M.A., Bush Foundation Fellow
Purdue University, B.A., with highest distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta Honorary
Admissions
Indiana Supreme Court
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
Associations
Indianapolis Bar Association
Indiana State Bar Association
• Construction & Surety Law Section Executive Council
• Founder and Initial Chairman, ISBA Construction & Surety Law Section
American Bar Association
• Forum on Construction Law, Division 4, Project Delivery Systems
• Public Contract Law Section
• TIPS – Fidelity and Surety Law Committee
• Section of Litigation – Construction Litigation Committee
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC)
Associated General Contractors (AGC), Project Delivery Forum Member
Associated General Contractors of Indiana (AGC/I)
Coalition for Construction Safety
Construction Management Association of America, Inc.
Construction Management Association, Indiana Chapter
Design Build Institute of America, Great Lakes Region (DBIA)
Indiana Construction Roundtable (ICR)
Indiana Constructors Inc. (ICI)
Indiana Subcontractors Association (ISA)
Construction Management Association of America, Inc. (CMAA)
CMMA, Indiana Chapter – Board of Directors
Metropolitan Indianapolis Coalition for Construction Safety (MICCS)
Civic & Community Involvement
OneZone Chamber of Commerce (Member, Board of Directors and Executive Committee)
OneZone State Advocacy Committee (Member and Chairman)
OneZone Carmel Business Issues Committee (Member)
Purdue University President’s Council (Member)
Purdue Alumni Association and Alumni Club of Indianapolis (Member)
John Purdue Club (Member, Olympian Level)
St. Vincent Foundation (St. Vincent Society and Friends of the Foundation – Member)
The Center for Performing Arts (Former Board Member)
Multi-party litigation defense of the general contractor/CM constructor in construction and design defects case involving a major independent university football stadium.
Litigation on behalf of a “Big 10” university re claims for delays and impacts from a parallel prime general contractor on a medical center project.
Litigation on behalf of public school systems owner re claims for delays and defective work involving parallel prime contractors, the project construction manager and project architect.
Litigation of local government owner re claims for delays and defective design and construction involving general contractor and design team on courthouse project.
Representation of local government public works agency re construction of wastewater treatment plant and claims for defective work and delays against general contractor.
Arbitration of case on behalf of prime mechanical trade contractor involving delay and impact claims for a school project.
Arbitration of case on behalf of site utility prime contractor involving delay and impact claims on a public waterways project.
Arbitration of claim on behalf of general contractor involving additional work claims against public owner on a waste disposal facility project.
Arbitration and subsequent litigation of a steel fabricator default and termination claim against a lower tier subcontractor-erector on a large, commercial office project.
Arbitration of claim on behalf of steel fabricator of delay and impact claims due to defective plans and specifications on convention center project.
Arbitration of claim on behalf of site utility contractor involving differing site conditions and delays on a local government underground utilities project.
Litigation of claim on behalf of site utility contractor involving owner default and non-payment on a condominium project.
Litigation of differing site conditions and delay and impact claim on behalf of general contractor on a Pennsylvania commercial warehouse project.
Litigation of general contractor claim against subcontractor for defective site work and excavation on apartment complex project.
Litigation of differing site conditions and delay and impact claim on behalf of general contractor on an outdoor retail center project.
Litigation of painting and drywall subcontractor delay and cost overrun claims involving construction of two new state prison projects for the Ohio Department of Corrections.
Litigation of drywall subcontractor delay and constructive changes claim against general contractor on the Ohio State University Cancer Research Center.
Litigation and mediation on behalf of a mechanical prime contractor involving a $1.5 million constructive changes, delay and impact claim against the owner of a steel mini-mill project.
Litigation and mediation for a construction manager/general contractor’s $1.5 million claim for termination, nonpayment and mechanic’s lien foreclosure on a $120 million plus casino project.
Litigation and defense of different roofing contractors on a defective work claim involving a school project in northern Indiana; a wrongful termination claim and defense against the owner defective work claim on a local government school project in central Indiana; and a defective work claim by a general contractor on a school project in Ohio.
Arbitrator on construction cases involving a termination dispute and payment/back-charge claims between a developer and a lumber company; a defective work dispute between the owner and contractor on a commercial retail store project; a mechanic’s lien claim dispute between owner and prime contractor; and a defective work dispute between an owner and trade contractor on a multi-million dollar residential home project.
Mediator in construction cases involving three party disputes between the owner, contractor and subcontractor on a public works jail project and on a commercial office project.
Representation of commercial owner in construction of multi-million dollar new corporate office headquarters project, and negotiation of field performance and extra work claims and disputes between owner, architect and contractor.
Representation of public school systems owner on bidding and construction of three elementary schools and addressing field performance and extra work claims and disputes.
Arbitration on behalf of owner involving defective work by site contractor on city housing development project.
Litigation on behalf of public and private owner defective roof claims against the project architects and contractors on various school and commercial projects.
Litigation on behalf of public school owner against general contractor for defective flooring on public school project.
Litigation and defense of defective design claims against design professionals including owner claims against an architect on a commercial multi-unit housing project.
Litigation and defense of defective design claims in multiple suits against a structural engineer in bridge collapse litigation.
Litigation and defense of project architect against electrical prime contractor claim for delays due to alleged defective plans and specifications on public school claim.
Litigation of defective plans and specifications involving corrective work and delay claims by a structural steel subcontractor on a hospital project.
Litigation of wrongful termination claim on behalf of prime contractor on Navy project involving installation of a gun range.
Litigation of termination case by general contractor of a trade subcontractor on a commercial office and retail building.
Litigation of termination case by a general contractor of an excavating subcontractor on a new automotive parts plant project.
Litigation of termination case by a mechanical prime contractor of an excavating subcontractor on eight school projects.
Litigation of general contractor claims involving $1.9 million in delay damages against the owner agencies on two state construction projects.
Litigation of general contractor claims $2.1 million in breach of contract damages against developers of a commercial mall project in Michigan, with defense against subcontractor claims for nonpayment.
Litigation of general contractor claims involving $800,000 in claims for additional costs and constructive changes against local and state agencies on public works levee project.
Litigation of general contractor claim for constructive changes for additional costs due to defective plans and specifications involving structural steel on school project.
Representation of steel erection subcontractor and electrical subcontractor for delay and cost overrun claims resulting from termination of general contractor on commercial office tower project in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Representation and prosecution of differing site conditions claim by excavating subcontractor on public school project.
Litigation and prosecution of differing site conditions claim by general contractor on Indiana Department of Corrections project.
Litigation and prosecution of differing site conditions claim by underground utility contractor on pipeline project.
Representation of structural steel contractor on delay, impact and additional work claims due to defective plans and specifications on sports stadium project.
Representation of structural steel contractors on delay, impact and additional work claims due to defective plans and specifications on industrial plant project.
Litigation and defense of general contractor against defective work claim involving a partial roof failure on a commercial facility.
Litigation and defense of general contractor against defective work claim involving a defective parking garage structure.
Litigation and defense of masonry trade contractor on defective work claim involving Illinois school project.
Litigation of paving contractor claim for nonpayment and defense against defective work claim on large trucking facility project.
Litigation of trade contractor claim for lack of site access on university library project.
Litigation and prosecution of hundreds of statutory lien claims on behalf of general or prime contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on various public and private projects.
Litigation and prosecution of dozens of Federal Miller Act and local government statutory bond claims on behalf of general or prime contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on various public projects.
Litigation on behalf of performance bond surety defending against termination of principal and prosecution of defective roof claim against roof system manufacturer on a public library project.
Litigation and defense of performance and payment bond surety on multiple performance bond defaults by a general contractor on five public works projects for local government entities and IDNR and on payment claims from subcontractors and suppliers.
Litigation and defense of performance bond surety in multi-state litigation involving a principal’s default on an Air Force base project in New England.
Representation and defense in litigation of performance and payment bond sureties on cases involving contractor termination claims by government agencies, and on subcontractor payment claims, involving over 25 military base projects throughout the United States.
Representation of performance and payment bond sureties on claims involving contractor default, termination and completion work on multiple publicly-owned school and local government projects in Alaska, and corollary disputes with co-sureties.
Representation and defense of performance and payment bond surety on general contractor performance bond claim from public owner on a local government library project and on payment claims from subcontractors and suppliers.
Panel Member, “Going Beyond the Basics of BIM”, ISA Webinar, 2014
Author and Presenter, “Public Contracts and Procurement Regulations”, Lorman Education Services (“Lorman”), 2012-2013
Author & Lecturer, “Implementing an Effective Risk Management Program”, CAF, 2013
Author & Lecturer, “What You Need to Know About Construction Law Before Signing that Contract”, CAF, 2013
Author & Presenter, “Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Understanding the Issues”, Lorman, 2013
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Insurance 101 & Understanding the Role of Surety”, CAF, 2012
Author & Lecturer, “Two for Tuesday Legal Series – Getting Paid on Private and Public Projects”, CAF, 2012
Author & Lecturer, “Two for Tuesday Legal Series – Managing the Subcontractor Default”, CAF, 2012
Regional Coordinator, “Infrastructure: Civil Works Projects for Lawyers”, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry Regional Program – Indianapolis,, 2012
Author & Lecturer, “Too Many Hands in the Cookie Jar – Liability for BIM”, CAF, 2010
Author & Lecturer, “The Construction Contract – Protections and Pitfalls”, CAF, 2010
Chapter Contributor, “The Annotated Construction Law Glossary,” (ABA Forum on the Construction Industry), 2010
Chapter Co-Author, “A Comparison of Standard Forms: The Design-Builder – A/E Contract,” The Design-Build Deskbook, 4th Edition (ABA Forum on the Construction Industry), 2010
Moderator and Co-Author, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry Teleconference, “Construction Management at Risk (CMAR)”, 2009
Author, “Downstream Allocation of Concurrent Delay Damages,” (Co-Author with Daniel M. Drewry), Under Construct, Newsletter of the ABA Forum on the Construction, in Three Part Series: December 2007; March 2008 and June 2008
Author & Presenter, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Division 4, Project Delivery Systems, “A Quick Primer on BIM’s Legal Implications”, 2007
Author & Presenter, “Public Contracts and Procurement Regulations”, Lorman Education Services (“Lorman”), 2012
Author & Presenter, “Construction Lien Law in Indiana”, Lorman, 2011
Author & Presenter: “Saving Taxpayer Money Through the Project Delivery System”, Government Practice & Procedures, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF), 2011
Author & Presenter, “Indiana’s Design Build Statute: The Governing Framework, Problems Identified and Ideas for Change”, Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) Great Lakes Region, 2011
Author & Presenter, “Building Information Modeling – What Are the Liability Risks,” Construction Advancement Foundation, 2010
Presenter and Moderator, “Building Information Modeling,” Indiana Construction Association, 2010
Author & Presenter, “Mechanic’s Liens & Claims Against Bonded Construction Projects,” Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, 2010
Author & Presenter, “The Construction Contract – Protections and Pitfalls,” Construction Advancement Foundation, 2010
Author & Presenter, “Liability for Site Safety: Responsibilities & Risks,” 2010 Indiana Safety and Health Conference & Expo (American Society of Safety Engineers)
Author & Presenter, “Construction Manager at Risk: What is it and How Does it Differ from Agency CM,” Construction Management Association of America, Inc. (CMAA) – Indiana Chapter, 2010
Author, “How to Save Taxpayer Money on Public Construction Projects, Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA), 2009
Author & Presenter, “Role of Design Build in the Emerging World of Collaborative Project Delivery”, Design Build Institute of America (DBIA), 2009
Author & Presenter, “Continued Emergence of BIM in the Construction Industry”(DBIA), 2009
Author & Presenter, “The Continued Emergence of BIM in the Construction Industry” Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), 2009
Author & Presenter, “Liability For Site Safety: Responsibilities & Risks Metropolitan Indianapolis Coalition for Construction Safety” (MICCS), 2009
Author & Presenter, “The New Consensus and AIA Documents” (ABC), 2009
Author, DSV Special Newsletter through DBIA, Great Lakes Region,: “The Design-Build Bridging Method in Three Part Series,” January 2008, February 2008 and March 2008
Chapter Author, “Indiana Lien Law”, CPI Lienlaw-Online.com, Construction Publications, Inc., 2001-2012
Seminar Chairman, “Construction Law Issues”, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF), 2004
Seminar Chairman, “Construction Claims & Liabilities Revisited”, ICLEF, 2001
Seminar Chairman, “Mechanic’s Lien and Related Claims”, ICLEF, 1994
Seminar Chairman, “Construction Law For The 90’s”, ICLEF, 1992
Author & Lecturer, Developing Issues In Indiana Mechanic’s Lien Law, ICLEF, 2007
Author & Lecturer, “Performance Problems for the Owner: Delays, Defective Work, Contract Defaults And Termination”, ICLEF, 2004
Author & Lecturer, “Mechanic’s Lien Formalities and Priorities – General Coverage of the Mechanic’s Lien Remedy”, ICLEF, 2003 and 2005
Author & Lecturer, “Vesting and Priorities Among Competing Liens”, ICLEF, 2003 and 2005
Author & Lecturer, “Owner Personal Liability to Remote Claimants”, ICLEF, 2003 and 2005
Author & Lecturer, “General Coverage of Lien Formalities & Priorities”, ICLEF, 1999, 2003
Author & Lecturer, “Design Liabilities: Defective Plans and Specifications and Shop Drawing Risks”, ICLEF, 2001
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Delay and Impact Claims”, ICLEF, 2001
Author & Lecturer, “Mechanic’s Liens”, ICLEF, 2001
Author & Lecturer, “Mechanic’s Lien Update-House Bill 1367”, ICLEF, 1999
Author & Lecturer, “General Coverage of the Mechanic’s Lien Remedy”, ICLEF, 1990, 1994 and 1998
Author & Lecturer, “Acquiring and Perfecting Lien Rights,” ICLEF, 1982, 1985 and 1987
Author & Lecturer, “Specifications, Changes and Changed Working Conditions,” ICLEF, 1983
Author & Lecturer, “Indiana Construction Law (Field Changes, Differing Site Conditions, Job Delays and Delay/Impact Claims, Contractual and Statutory Payment Remedies, and Dispute Resolution)”, National Business Institute (NBI), 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Payment Remedies”, NBI, 2005
Author & Lecturer, “Managing Complex Construction Law Issues”, NBI, 2005
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Law (Contract Changes, Differing Site Conditions, Delays, Surety Bonds and Payment Remedies)”, NBI, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1995
Author & Lecturer, “Understanding the New Generation of AIA Standard Contract Forms,” Lorman Education Services (“Lorman”), 2009
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Lien Law,” Lorman, 2008
Author & Lecturer, “The Evolution and Role of BIM in the Construction Process,” Lorman, 2008
Author & Lecturer, “The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts,” Lorman, 2008
Author & Lecturer, “Managing Construction Projects in Indiana”, Lorman, 2006-2008
Author & Lecturer, “AIA Contracts”, Lorman, 2004-2008
Author & Lecturer, “Public Contracts and Procurement Regulations in Indiana”, Lorman, 2007–2008
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Delay Claims”, Lorman, 2006
Author & Lecturer, “When Construction Projects Go Bad ”, Lorman, 2006
Author & Lecturer, “Indiana Mechanic’s Lien Law”, Lorman, 2005
Author & Lecturer, “Creative Strategies for Project Completion and Litigation Avoidance”, Lorman, 1999-2004
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Claims (Contract Disputes, Bid Mistakes, Defective Specifications, Field Performance Claims, Defective Work, Defaults and Payment Claims)”, Lorman, 1999-2002
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Contracting For Public Entities in Indiana”, Lorman, 1999 and 2001
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Issues”, Lorman, 2001
Author & Lecturer, “Public Contracting Codes & Competitive Bidding”, Lorman, 2001
Author & Lecturer, “Architect and Engineer Liability and Practice in Indiana”, Lorman, 2000
Author & Lecturer, “Law For Design Professionals”, Lorman, 1999-2001
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Defect Claims”, Lorman, 1999-2000
Author & Lecturer, “Mechanic’s Lien Law”, Lorman, 1997-2001
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Management/Design Build in Indiana”, Lorman, 1999
Author & Lecturer, “Construction Claims and Liens”, Lorman, 1995
Instructor, Design-Build Institute of America, Great Lakes Region Presentation: Risk Shifting Inherit in the Design Build Process, 2008 and 2009
Instructor, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Division 4, Project Delivery Systems Presentation, A Quick Primer on BIM’s Legal Implications, 2007
Facilitator, ISBA ADR Section Arbitration Forum: Variables at the Preliminary Hearing and in the Process, 2008
Instructor, ISBA Construction & Surety Law Section Presentation: Changes and Impacts to the Scope of Work, 2007
Instructor, ISBA Construction & Surety Law Section Presentation: New Developments and Trends on Delay and Impact Claims, 2004
Instructor, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (“ABC”) Safety and Education Summits, 2006, 2007 and 2009
Instructor, ABC Seminar: Mechanic’s Liens – Strategies for Getting Paid, 2009
Instructor, ABC-DSV Construction Law Series, 2007-2009
Instructor, ABC Seminar: Integrated Project Delivery: In Theory and In Practice, 2009
Instructor, ABC Seminar: Changes in the New AIA A201 General Conditions, 2008
Instructor, ABC Seminar: The Emerging Role of BIM in the Construction Industry – A Legal Perspective, 2008
Instructor, ABC Seminar: Key Subcontract Clauses, 2008
Instructor, ABC Seminar: Contractual Risk Transfer, 2006 and 2007
Instructor, ABC Seminar: Project Documentation – From Contract Formation Through Project Completion & Claims, 2007
Instructor, AGC/I Construction Institute (“AGC/I”) Seminar: Subcontract Agreements, 2006
Instructor, AGC/I Seminar: The Risks of Contractual Indemnification: A Panel Discussion on Negotiating Indemnification Provisions, 2006
Instructor, Construction Advancement Foundation (“CAF”) Seminar: Construction Claims and Contracts, 2009
Instructor, CAF Seminar: Key Subcontract Clauses, 2008
Instructor, CAF Seminar: The New 2007 AIA Documents, 2008
Instructor, CAF Seminar: The Risks of Contractual Indemnification, 2007
Instructor, Purdue University Joint Transportation Research Program Road School, 2002
Instructor, Indiana Department of Commerce Procurement Workshop, 2000
Instructor, AGC Education and Research Foundation Supervisory Training Program, 1997