Michael Hanahan - Lecture 04 - Tort Law, Professional Liability, Construction Insurance

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE II / ARCHITECTURE 544
Lecture 04 - Tort Law, Professional Liability, Construction Insurance

Professor Michael J. Hanahan
c/o Schiff Hardin LLP
From Lecture Notes 2019

NCARB ARE 5.0 Study Material

Overview
Mike Hanahan is a lawyer with a keen eye on his clients' business. Unlike many attorneys, Mike is regularly involved in both negotiating major construction contracts and representing clients in project-related disputes. In all types of matters, Mike looks for common-sense legal solutions that best serve his clients’ business.

With his training in architecture and broad experience representing owners, contractors, design professionals and specialty consultants, Mike has a unique perspective on all sides of the construction industry. As a result, he can assert his client’s position and anticipate responses from the other side. He can then advise his clients on their options well in advance of any given situation.

Mike makes his clients active participants in the cases he handles, whether they involve contract negotiations, a dispute or overall project management. This approach ensures that the legal tactics best serve the business goals – and that the business people understand their legal options.

In addition to his extensive construction experience, Mike has a strong background in procurement for both government entities and private organizations. Having worked for several public bodies in Chicago on projects big and small, Mike’s understanding of requests for proposals, vendor selection, and negotiation of contracts is an asset to any entity entrusted with taxpayer dollars. In the private sector, Mike was involved in preparing and negotiating more than $2 billion worth of procurement contracts in the last three years alone.

Mike loves his work, having set his sights on being a construction lawyer at the age of 14 and never looking back. He strongly believes that design professionals need to be proactive in protecting themselves and their work so they can be free to exercise their creative passions. He sees his work as supporting that mission.