Michael S. Zetlin is a founding member of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, headquartered in New York with offices in New Jersey and Connecticut. A graduate civil engineer as well as an attorney, Mr. Zetlin represents national and multi-national firms in a wide range of construction and real estate matters. He has successfully litigated complex multi-million dollar construction claims and actively consults with clients on general business matters, construction contracting and risk management. Mr. Zeltin represents owners, developers, engineers, architects, construction managers, contractors and other parties in the construction industry.
Mr. Zetlin also has the notable AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and is consistently recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in construction law. He has also been named a New York Super Lawyer in the practice area of construction litigation by Super Lawyers magazine. Additionally, Mr. Zetlin is recognized as a leading construction litigator by The Legal 500 USA Guide which recognizes the top 500 law firms and attorneys in the United States. In the December 22, 2008 issue of New York magazine, Mr. Zetlin was recognized as one of New York area's Best Lawyers in 2009.
Mr. Zetlin has served an adjunct professor at Columbia University in the graduate program in Construction Administration where he teaches "Legal Issues in Building Construction." lectures frequently on many topics relating to the design and construction industries.
ORGANIZATIONS
- American Arbitration Association — Arbitrator, Construction Panel
- New York Building Congress — General Counsel & Board of Directors
- American Institute of Architects New York City / Long Island — General Counsel
- American Bar Association — Fellow
- The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation — Fellow
- American College of Construction Lawyers — Fellow
- Global Design Alliance — Board Member
- Ort America, Inc. — Board Member
- Pratt Institute — Board of Trustees Member
- Columbia University Industry Advisory Committee of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics — Advisory Board Member
- New York Building Congress, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee – Member
- American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry — Past Governing Committee Member
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- "General Requirements – Contemporary Issues & Concerns", AIA Long Island, September 2010 (upcoming)
- "How We Will Build New York: Hospitals and Healthcare," New York Construction, August 2009
- "How We Will Build New York," New York Construction, July 2009
- "The Current Economic Crisis Affecting the Tri-State Region" Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, McGraw-Hill and New York Construction Forum, November 2008
- "Legal Issues in Building Information Modeling Management" McGraw-Hill BIM Workshop, November 2008
- "Ammunition for Litigation? The Collateral Use of a Construction Professional's Violations of Licensing Regulations and Codes of Ethics," American College of Construction Lawyers, Summer 2007
PUBLISHED ARTICLES & BOOKS
- Author – "Public Private Partnerships Provide New Opportunities", New York Construction Supplement, July 2010
- "Business Leaders Speaking Series: Michael Della Rocca, President of Halcrow North America," Quarterly Review, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, 2010
- "Civil Liability for False Claims in Public Construction," Quarterly Review, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, 2010
- Co-Author – "Structural Condition Assessment — Legal Issues," Structure Magazine, August 2006
- Co-Editor — New York Construction Law, Aspen Publishers, 2003
- Chapter Author — Limiting Exposure After 9/11/2001, "Building Security: Handbook for Architectural Planning and Design," McGraw Hill Companies, 2003
Senior Partners
