Carol Patterson, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Photo

Carol J. Patterson

Senior Partner
  • New York, NY
    801 Second Avenue
    New York, NY 10017

Overview

Carol J. Patterson, Senior Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, is a broadly experienced construction industry litigator and transactional attorney who advises clients on complex litigations, contracts and risk management strategies.  Owners, developers, engineers, architects, construction managers, contractors and investors seek Ms. Patterson’s counsel on general business matters relating to construction ventures and specific project issues. Prominent national and international firms have consulted her on matters relating to the design and construction of major projects in the technology, financial, educational, justice, healthcare, pharmaceutical, hospitality, civic, infrastructure, and cultural sectors.

Ms. Patterson is known for developing comprehensive legal road maps for her clients, anticipating and addressing issues, outcomes and consequences that could affect a project or company’s desired outcome.  A creative advocate with a background in international relations, she excels at structuring agreements that enable her clients to advance their key business and project goals. Her work also focuses on crafting solutions to defuse situations that could become litigious. In a career of over 25 years, she has skillfully negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars in claims, settlements and contracts throughout the United States and abroad.

In New York, she has been involved in high profile projects including the modernization of Lincoln Center, the Jacob Javits Center, the Museum of Modern Art and new buildings at Hudson Yards. She also has extensive experience consulting on residential and commercial development, design and construction.

She frequently speaks and writes on topics of interest to the Real Estate and Construction Industries and has lectured at the New York University Real Estate Institute, Columbia University School of Engineering and Polytechnic University. Ms. Patterson was an editor of Construction Law, the widely used textbook, published by the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, that provides a comprehensive introduction to the construction industry and the laws that govern it. 

Ms. Patterson is an engaged member of the professional community who supports opportunities for women interested in the real estate and construction industry. She previously served on the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law and served as Chair of the Forum’s Publications Committee and its Diversity Committee.  Ms. Patterson is a Fellow of the American College of Construction and served on its Board of Governors.  She is also a past president of the Associate of Real Estate Women (now the New York City Chapter of CREW). She serves as General Counsel to the Metropolitan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is affiliated with the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, and New York Building Congress. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Salvadori Center, an organization that partners with public schools to provide exciting  STEAM programs to allow students to explore exciting educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and related fields.

She has garnered recognition for her contributions to the Real Estate and Building communities. Just recently, The National Law Journal named her a Real Estate/Construction Law Trailblazer for her illustrious career and her work as the lead editor of the ABA publication, Construction Law, 2nd edition. Commercial Observer presented her with a Barrier Breaker Award for her leadership and outstanding career.  She was similarly recognized by the Real Estate Forum Magazine as a Woman of Influence, by the Real Estate Weekly as a Women Real Estate Leader of the 21st Century, and as a Chambers USA Leading Lawyer. Ms. Patterson was also recognized by Super Lawyers and as an Outstanding Woman by the Women Builders Council. She received the Founder's Award by the Association of Real Estate Women and was selected as one of the Top 50 Women in Real Estate.

Experience

Representative Matters

The following are select representative matters:

Aviation

Commercial

Correctional Institutions

Cultural Institutions

Education

Government

Healthcare

Mixed-Use

Residential

Retail

Sports & Entertainment

Honors

News & Events

News

Speaking Engagements

  • event
  • event
    12.14.2022

    Zetlin & De Chiara Celebrated Our 30th Aniversary!

  • event
    03.06.2018

    Carol Patterson, Moderator

    Daria Salusbury - Salusbury & Co; Frances Delgorio - Jack Resnick & Sons; Lisa Bevacqua - Silverstein Properties

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    11.04.2016
    Carol Patterson, Moderator
  • event
    03.10.2016
    Club 101, 101 Park Avenue, NYC
    Carol Patterson and Michael Zetlin, Moderators
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    03.2016
    Transformative Projects, Transformative Risk Management, New York Build
  • event
    12.2015
    New Issues in the Design Professional's Standard of Care, PLI Building Better Construction Contracts
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    09.2013
    Architectural Law: Architects Fast Track Leadership, AIA New York State Convention, September 2013
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    2013
    "Public Private Partnerships: New Opportunities for Participation," Women Build America - A National Conference on Construction Opportunities
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    2013
    "Construction Contracts: Why the Forms are Not Enough," ABA Real Property Trust & Estate Law
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    09.2012
    AIA New York State Convention: Design and Delivery Trends of the Future
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    05.2012
     ABA Section of Real Estate, Trust & Estate Law - Custom Tailoring for the Construction Contracts of Today and Tomorrow: Why the Forms are No Longer Enough
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    06.2011
    "Bridging the Public Budget Gap: The Promise of P3 Project Delivery
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    04.2011
    AIA Fast Track Series: Architectural Law
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    02.2011
    Hot Topics in Construction Law
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    02.2011
    Hot Topics in Construction Law
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    08.2010
    Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
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    06.2010
    Construction Phase Services: Pitfalls to Avoid
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    01.2010
    Is Your Firm Addressing Green Building Insurability Issues?
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    06.2009
    Construction Law for Leasing Lawyers: The Nuts and Bolts
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    04.2008
     American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry - Media Do's, Don'ts and Dangers: When Ethics, Strategies and Survival Appear to Be on a Collision Course
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    03.2007
    Managing Risk: Key Insurance Strategies -What Every Owner Should Know
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    03.2007
    Transportation Transformed: Innovations in the Tapestry of Urban Transit
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    10.2006
    The Future of Market-Rate Multi-Family Housing
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    04.2006
    Expecting the Unexpected: Anticipating and Managing Key Risks to Successful Construction Projects
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    06.2005
    It's Not Easy Being Green - Great for the Environment; Hard on the Pocketbook?
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    01.2003
    American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry: Finding the Handle: Perfecting and Proving the Contractor's Claim

Publications

Affiliations

Education

University of Chicago Law School, J.D.

Columbia University, M.A. 

Bryn Mawr College, B.A.

Admissions

  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
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