Michael K. De Chiara

Attorney Michael K. De Chiara is co-founder and senior partner with Zetlin & De Chiara LLP law firm, which has law offices in New York, New York; Caldwell, New Jersey; and Stamford, Connecticut. Working primarily out of the firm's New York location, Mr. Chiara focuses his practice almost exclusively on construction law, and he has become a recognized leader in this legal area.

Throughout the course of his legal career spanning more than 36 years, Mr. Chiara has handled thousands of cases involving virtually all aspects of construction law and related issues. Along with maintaining a successful construction litigation practice, he regularly consults with his clients to help them make the best-informed decisions regarding the matters they need to address, and he has served as counsel to some of the nation's largest construction, engineering and architectural firms.

He also holds the designation of being the only construction attorney in private practice to represent the Federal General Services Administration, defending the organization against claims involving more than $100 million. He has also represented the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority as well as the United Nations, and he is currently serving as counsel in a high-profile case involving a large condominium dispute in San Francisco.

Mr. Chiara has drafted contractor agreements for some of the city's most prominent real estate developers, with budgets exceeding $850 million. He also serves as General Counsel to the American Institute of Architects as well as to New York State and the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York. He has also volunteered his time and services for a variety of historical architectural preservation initiatives.

In honor of his exemplary professionalism and service, Mr. Chiara has received the AIA New York State President’s Citation for Outstanding Service along with the March of Dimes’ Thomas E. Diana Spirit of Volunteerism Award. He also holds an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell, and he has received consistent recognition from The Best Lawyers in America as well as many other top rankings and endorsements from his peers.

Mr. Chiara began his legal career in 1984 after obtaining his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School and his license to practice from the New York State Bar Association. He is also admitted to practice in New Jersey as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.

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