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Cornelius “Con” F. Riordan’s practice emphasizes the representation of contractors, sureties and lenders in both litigation and transactional aspects of construction and surety law. He has tried cases to verdict for contractors and sureties as well as representing them in appeals in both state and federal courts. He also has extensive transactional experience, including preparation of construction contracts, construction loan agreements as well as documents in default and termination cases, workouts, financing of principals, asset sales and acquisitions. As part of Con’s construction practice, he has participated in mediation and arbitration proceedings.
Peer Recognition
- Illinois Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation, 2023
- Illinois Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation, 2018-2022
- Illinois Super Lawyers in Construction Litigation, 2008-2017
- Leading Lawyer in Construction Litigation, 2014-2017
- Successfully represented a surety in the defense of a claim under a public employee’s blanket bond arising out of a claim that covered public officials who allegedly authorized $31 million in expenditures without an appropriation.
- Successfully represented a performance bond surety in a claim exceeding $3 million arising out of the failure of the construction of a municipal refuse incinerator in Wisconsin. Following an appeal, Mr. Riordan was able to negotiate a settlement of the claim against the surety resulting in no payment by the surety to the obligee and a recovery by the surety of its expenses from the principal.
- Successfully represented a surety in a multi-million dollar performance bond claim arising out the construction of a water and sewer line project. Following an appeal in which the Appellate Court vacated summary judgement awarded to the surety in the trial court. Mr. Riordan successfully negotiated the dismissal of the obligee’s claim with the obligee making a payment to the surety.
- Obtained the ruling from the Illinois Appellate Court requiring that payment bond surety proceeding under the Illinois Public Works Bond Act serve notice containing all of the required elements set forth in the statute.
- Represented sureties in multiple default cases where the principal has filed for bankrutpcy or was insolvent leaving several bonded projects incomplete and many unpaid labor and material. As part of those assignments, Con drafted takeover agreements with owners or general contractors, completion agreements with completion contrators and subcontractor ratification agreements. He also lead a litigation team in resolving many suits by labor and material suppliers against the payment bonds furnished suppliers.
- Represented construction contractors in a variety of matters ranging from claims of fraud in MBE/WBE compliance, representation of contractors in bankruptcy proceedings, mechanic’s loan proceedings, and breach of contract actions.
- Represented a contractor client in the acquisition of a cement manufacturing business valued at over $20 million.
- Represented a subdivision bond surety in a case of first impression in which the Illinois appellate court recognized that the surety had a cause of action for recovery of its loss from a successor owner to the subdivision developer.
- Represented contractor clients and their sureties in concurrent state and federal proceedings, including appeals to the Illinois Appellate and Illinois Supreme Courts, wherein the state claimed that the contractor and others had engaged in a pattern of noncompliance of MBE/WBE participation on federally funded projects.
- Successfully represented a contractor client in obtaining insurance coverage for a claim involving illegal dumping of special waste and hazardous waste.
- Basic Underwriting Considerations for Contract Surety Bonds
- The Nuts and Bolts of a Surety Takeover
- ISBA Bankruptcy Basics: From the Creditor’s Perspective on November 18
- Co-Speaker for ISBA on “Biometric Information Privacy Act Claims and Associated Insurance Coverage Issues”
- 20 Trends in Hotel Construction
- 6 Questions about Construction Delays, Repercussions
- Who Should Shoulder the Cost of Construction Delays
- Con Riordan Elected as a Fellow to the Construction Lawyers Society of America
- Con Riordan, Guest Speaker for CapitalPlus Construction Services, LLC. Podcast Series
- Con Riordan, Webinar Speaker for NCS on June 17th
- Cornelius F. Riordan, Selected to Super Lawyers 2021 in Construction Litigation
- Business Interruption Insurance Policies – Are COVID-19 Losses Covered?
- Con Riordan, Speaker for the CBA Mechanic Lien and Construction Claims Seminar on December 8th
- Obtaining Surety Bonding In A Post-Pandemic World
- Construction Executive publishes article “Obtaining Surety Bonding in a Post-Pandemic World” authored by Cornelius “Con” F. Riordan.
- In December, 2019, Con is scheduled to present at the Chicago Bar Association, Construction Law Seminar on the topic “Liens and Bonds on Illinois Public Projects.” He also is a frequent presenter for seminars and webinars on various construction and surety related topics for the Illinois State Bar Association.