Ray, Stephen E

Partner

Expertise

Stephen E. Ray’s construction law practice has included providing consulting services, on a nationwide basis and internationally, to owners, general contractors, construction managers and EPC firms, litigating construction defect, construction delay, active interference and mechanics lien claims. Mr. Ray has also litigated and arbitrated general breach of contract and design contract claims involving refineries, power plants, pipelines, condominiums, office buildings and other commercial structures.

Mr. Ray is a member of the Design Build Institute of America, the Chicago Building Congress, the Construction Financial Management Association, the Builders Association of Greater Chicago and the American Consulting Engineers Council Legal Counsel Forum. Mr. Ray served for many years as an Associate Director of the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Kent Construction Law Institute.

Key Professional Accomplishments

Mr. Ray specializes in handling complex construction and design disputes throughout the country and internationally. These matters have included:

Prosecution of $190 million delay and defects claims against South Korean design-build
Consortium representation of Owner of West Coast oil refinery in breach of contract claims against contractors in excess of $10 million
Defense of national EPC firm against claims in excess of $15 million involving an East Coast oil refinery
Defense of national, general contractor against breach of contract and tort claims in excess of $10 million involving West Coast condominium project
Defense of $40 million claim against large publicly traded engineering firm involving production output guarantees, project delays and consequential damages
Defense of large general contractor in $25 million delay and active interference claim of steel subcontractor involving trade convention center
Defense of Owner against $100 million breach of contract and delay claims brought by large international construction firms
Prosecution of $5 million breach of contract claims of national, general contractor against structural steel subcontractor and surety involving racetrack facility

Publications/Presentations

Articles involving construction law issues which Mr. Ray has authored include:

“Manual for Revisions to AIA A201 General Conditions”
Co-authored revisions to the chapter entitled “Documenting and Presenting Construction Claims” in Steven Stein’s four-volume treatise Construction Law published by Matthew Bender & Company.
Co-authored chapter “Contractual Defenses” in book entitled “Architect and Engineer Liability: Claims Against Design Professionals,” Aspen Publishers, Inc.

He has addressed a variety of organizations concerning construction law and litigation issues, including Comprehensive Construction Defect Claims and Coverage Super Conference, Stein Ray’s Annual Symposium, the Builders Association of Greater Chicago, the Construction Law Institute, the Chicago Mortgage Attorneys Association, and the Construction Financial Management Association. Mr. Ray also has lectured before many organizations regarding how to avoid construction claims and how to document construction claims. Mr. Ray has made several presentations, including “Legal and Liability Considerations for Building Owners and Architects/Engineers” at the Facade Inspection Ordinance Seminar held by the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings, a presentation entitled “Avoiding Mold Claims” at Stein Ray’s Thirteenth Annual Symposium for Design professionals, and Case Study Seminars for various publicly traded Owners, general contractors, architectural and engineering firms and their professional liability insurers.

Professional, Business and Civic Affiliations

International Bar Association
Federal Trial Bar
American Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Design Build Institute of America
Chicago Building Congress
Construction Financial Management Association
Builders Association of Greater Chicago
Ace Mentor Program Sponsored by the Thornton-Tomasetti Group, Inc.

Education

Mr. Ray received his Juris Doctor degree from Cornell University in 1981 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University in 1978 where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.