Raymond Mellon, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Photo

Raymond T. Mellon

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

Overview

Raymond T. Mellon, Senior Partner, is a leading construction litigator and experienced trial lawyer with an extensive background in representing prominent architectural, engineering and contracting firms on business negotiations and in litigation. In addition to consulting with clients on general business matters, construction contract drafting and negotiation, and risk management strategies, Mr. Mellon represents design professionals in disciplinary and licensing proceedings before the City and State of New York. Mr. Mellon’s clients also include some of the largest developers in the United States as well as owners, developers, construction managers, contractors and other parties in the construction industry.

Mr. Mellon is a leading authority on the issues associated with building in New York City's urban environment where the proximity of the “Building Next Door” requires knowledge of complex safety and licensing issues. He works with owners and developers of commercial, high-rise residential, townhouses and mixed-use properties to protect their adjacent neighbors' structures during construction. 

Mr. Mellon is General Counsel and Honorary Member of the Brooklyn and Queens AIA Chapters. He is also an Honorary Member of the New York State AIA. Mr. Mellon is also a member of the National and New York Chapters of the Society of American Registered Architects, the Architects Council of New York City, and the New York Building Congress’ Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Mr. Mellon is a Construction Law Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

Mr. Mellon was selected as a 2020 Trailblazer by the New York Law Journal for his early recognition of the potential use of  RPAPL 881, a then under-utilized New York State Law that allows a court to grant a temporary license to access a neighboring property to perform work and install necessary protection work. This becomes especially important when a license agreement cannot be reached with the neighboring property owner. Now widely used, this strategy minimizes disputes that can hold construction projects hostage. City & State Magazine honored him as a 50 Over 50 Leader in New York for his work in as construction lawyer.

Since 1996, Mr. Mellon has been selected by his peers to achieve the AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.  He is consistently recognized for his experience and expertise as a construction litigator by Chambers USA, Legal 500 US, Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Mellon is a recipient of the Distinguished Presidential Citation from the Society of American Registered Architects, the New York Society of Architects Distinguished Service Award and the Advancement of the Architectural Professional Award by the Brooklyn AIA.

Experience

Representative Matters

Mr. Mellon represents prominent architectural, engineering and contracting firms on business negotiations and in litigation. In addition to consulting with clients on general business matters, construction contract drafting and negotiation, and risk management strategies, Mr. Mellon represents design professionals in disciplinary and licensing proceedings before the City and State of New York. 

Mr. Mellon is a leading authority on the issues associated with building in New York City where the proximity of the “Building Next Door” requires knowledge of complex safety and licensing issues. He works with owners and developers of commercial, high-rise residential, townhouses and mixed-use properties to protect their adjacent neighbors' structures during construction. 

The following are select representative matters:

Honors

News & Events

News

Speaking Engagements

American Society of Landscape Architects, 2004

Global Design Alliance, 2004

Publications

  • publication
    01.06.2021

    The New York City Council passed Local Law No. 97 of 2019 on April 18, 2019 and Local Law No. 147, amending Local Law No. 97, on June 26, 2019, both of which became effective as of November 15, 2019 (collectively “LL97”). LL97 ushers in a new era of stringent climate control regulations for the City, applicable to both existing buildings and new buildings. Though LL97’s emissions limitations do not begin until 2024, real estate owners and design professionals are already busy considering how the new limitations will impact current buildings, as well as those being contemplated for the future. This client alert intends to summarize LL97’s emission standards so that our clients may consider them when conceptualizing new projects and, where feasible and appropriate, recommend design elements and building systems to assist owners in meeting their new obligations.

  • publication
    10.23.2018

    Summer turned up the heat at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP where we were involved in two of the most prominent construction cases in the nation. With attorneys airborne between the East and West Coasts, the office has been busy on the ground with client matters, fielding questions from the press, speaking at industry events and supporting community and professional organizations. Even as the temperature outside cools, our high level of activity shows no signs of chilling.

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    07.2012
    Be Careful How You Dig: Court Held Excavators Responsible for Damage to Neighboring Property
    Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Newsbulletin
  • publication
    01.2012
    Design Professional Good Samaritans Face Rough Road in New York
    Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Newsbulletin
  • publication
    06.2008
    Finish Your Office Move: Notify the State Education Department
    New York Real Estate Journal 
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    02.2007
    The Concrete Producer Magazine 
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    2006
    The Construction Standard of Care After 9/11
    Design-Build Dateline
  • publication
    2003
    Liability Exposure After September 11, 2001
    Building Security: Handbook for Architectural Planning and Design - McGraw-Hill 
  • publication
    2003
    New York Construction Law
    Aspen Publishers

Affiliations

Education

Hofstra University School of Law, J.D.
Hofstra Law Review, Articles Editor

Hofstra University, B.A.
magna cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of International Trade
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
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