Zetlin & De Chiara’s Michael Zetlin Named General Counsel of the National Academy of Construction
National recognition underscores Zetlin’s influence across the construction community.
NEW YORK, NY — November XX, 2025 — Zetlin & De Chiara LLP has announced that Founding Partner Michael S. Zetlin was recently appointed as General Counsel of the National Academy of Construction (NAC). The announcement was made during the organization’s 2025 Member Annual Meeting, where leading voices from across the construction sector convened to advance NAC’s mission of transforming the industry to build a better nation through exchange of collective knowledge and expertise and supporting the next generation of leaders.
The National Academy of Construction, an invitation-only institution of more than 500 members, recognizes and connects the nation’s most accomplished industry leaders—spanning owners, contractors, designers, attorneys, engineers, and academics—who have each made lasting contributions to the advancement of the built environment. The Academy provides a forum for collaboration and thought leadership across the construction sector, offering expert insight to government agencies, academic institutions, and industry organizations to improve performance, safety, and innovation throughout the field.
“It’s an honor to serve as General Counsel for an organization that brings together so many of the construction industry’s most respected leaders, ” said Zetlin. “At Zetlin & De Chiara, our work has always been about collaboration—helping parties engaged in the construction and development of the built environment come together to achieve their vision. This role builds on that same foundation, allowing me to contribute to the broader conversation about how we strengthen and advance our industry.”
As a founding partner of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, a premier construction law firm serving the full spectrum of developers, institutions, contractors and design professionals, Mr. Zetlin is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading construction litigators, contract specialists, and strategic advisors. He has guided clients through every phase of the built environment—from project conception and contract formation to dispute resolution and risk management on complex, large-scale developments across the country. A graduate civil engineer and attorney, he brings a unique technical perspective to his practice and is known for his deep understanding of the design and construction process.
Mr. Zetlin serves as General Counsel to the New York Building Congress, is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, and serves as a mediator and an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association’s Large Complex Construction and Mega Project Panels. Recognized among the nation’s top construction attorneys by Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Super Lawyers, and The Best Lawyers in America, he was named to The Legal 500 US Hall of Fame in 2025.
About Zetlin & De Chiara
Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is a leading construction law firm providing legal and business counsel across all facets of the built environment. The firm represents owners, developers, design professionals, construction managers, and contractors through every stage of the design and construction process—from contract negotiation and risk management to dispute resolution.
Contact:
Berman Group
Sara Berman- sberman@bermangrp.com
Eric Nizgretsky- enizgretsky@bermangrp.com