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Katherine L. O’Connor

Counsel
Novi
Katherine L. O'Connor

Practice Areas

Industries

Education

Michigan State University College of Law
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., cum laude, 1997
Journal of International Law and Practice, Managing Editor
Journal of International Law and Practice Scholarship Recipient
International Law Society, member

Michigan State University,
James Madison College
East Lansing, Michigan B.A., International Relations, 1994

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

United States Supreme Court

Litigation Attorney

Katherine is an attorney in the Litigation Practice Team, assisting clients in a wide variety of construction and commercial litigation matters. She has extensive experience with contract disputes and brings a strong background in litigating and arbitrating construction claims, including claims for delay and impact costs and lost productivity, extra work, cost overruns, non-performance, default, interference and enforcing or challenging construction liens and construction bond claims.  Katherine has represented owners, general contractors, construction managers and subcontractors in the extensive and detailed negotiation and drafting of contract documents prior to a project to anticipate problems, reduce risk, and to help facilitate timely and efficient project completion.

In addition to an extensive construction law practice, Katherine has experience in a wide range of general business and commercial matters, including business entity formation, sales agreement negotiation, contract drafting, sales and mergers of companies, the development of corporate and business strategies, and in evaluating and assisting in the negotiation and resolution of contract based disputes.

Experience

Obtained significant arbitration award in construction dispute involving breach of contract claims relating to extra work and early termination issues.

Engaged in large arbitration and successfully defended and/or pursued claims for major public universities relating to design issues and claims for additional costs related to design defects.

Successfully defended and pursued claims for subcontractors for extra work, delays and labor productivity impacts on waste-water treatment plant, educational facilities, hospitals, commercial and industrial facilities, including OEM automotive plant.

Drafted full sets of contract documents for several large public universities and a large hospital organization, and contract documents for numerous owners, general contractors/construction managers, subcontractors and design professionals.

Successfully defended design professionals in a variety of claims, including for design defect and error and omission related claims.

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Community Involvement

Huntington Woods Women’s League

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