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New York Construction Attorney

Ronald Francis, located in New York City, has over 30 years of experience in construction law, representing parties in construction related matters and disputes since 1989. Mr. Francis has gained a reputation as being a tenacious and successful litigator and a leader in the field of construction law. In fact, he has been hired by other attorneys to serve as a construction law expert, and in 2016-2024, was selected by Super Lawyers ® as a Top Attorney in Construction Litigation in New York.

Ronald Francis is also an arbitrator and is a member of the Construction and Commercial Arbitration Panels of the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

The Law Offices of Ronald Francis represents owners, developers, contractors, vendors, material suppliers, and engineers and architects in a wide range of disputes arising out of construction projects, including commercial buildings, condominiums and cooperatives, rental buildings, and single-family homes. The firm also serves its clients in drafting, serving, filing, enforcing and vacating Mechanic’s Liens, representing them in arbitrations, mediations and litigations, including diversion of trust funds actions, negotiating and drafting license and access agreements, advising them with respect to excavation and underpinning projects, drafting and reviewing construction contracts, dealing with insurance coverage and architect and engineering issues, and serving as a construction law expert.

The Law Offices of Ronald Francis provides the level of personal attention you expect from a small firm with the resources and experience often found only at a large law office. Contact the firm to set up a free initial consultation.

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Rated By Super Lawyers 2024 | Visit SuperLawyers.com
American Arbitration Association | Panel Member 2024

Attorney Ronald Francis

Our Practice Areas

Contractor Disputes

The firm handles a wide range of construction disputes on behalf of owners, developers, contractors and subcontractors, including disputes regarding payment for contracted services, disagreements over payment for extra work, contested back charges, work stoppages and delays, and the breach or termination of contracts.

Mechanic’s Liens

The Law Offices of Ronald Francis represents general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in drafting, serving, filing and enforcing Mechanic’s Liens. The firm also represents owners and contractors that need to vacate improper or exaggerated Mechanic’s Liens.

Arbitration, Mediation And Litigation

Depending on the contract, the construction dispute may be resolved through arbitration, mediation or litigation. New York Construction Lawyer Ronald Francis can assess your situation and advise you on the best avenue to achieve the most successful outcome.

Diversion Of Trust Funds Actions

Construction law attorney Ronald Francis has successfully represented owners, contractors, vendors, and material suppliers in diversion of Trust Funds actions. A diversion of Trust Funds lawsuit provides an additional means for Beneficiaries to recover monies owed on a construction project, and can be the only way to recoup what is owed when the corporate defendant goes out of business, or when a mechanic’s lien foreclosure action would not be successful because there is no lien fund. Beneficiaries may recover from the Trustees the reasonable attorneys’ fees that they have incurred to recover the diverted Trust Funds, as well as punitive damages. If a Trustee is a corporation, the Lien Law provides that the corporate principals responsible for the diversion can be held personally liable.

License & Access Agreements

Attorney Ronald Francis, with more than 30 years of experience in Construction Law, represents property owners in negotiating and drafting license and access agreements. In the event that a License and access agreement cannot be mutually agreed upon, attorney Ronald Francis can, on an expedited basis, seek a judicially issued license for temporary access to an adjoining property pursuant to Section 881 of New York’s RPAPL. The Law Firm also represents property owners who need to immediately stop the neighboring property owner who has not obtained a license or has not taken all of the necessary and required protective measures, from performing or continuing construction work either on its property or any work that may adversely affect its property.

Excavation And Underpinning

Construction law attorney Ronald Francis counsels clients on their rights and obligations during excavation, shoring and underpinning operations, and represents clients in litigation involving improper and defective excavation and underpinning, including property owners, general contractors, sub-contractors and engineers. If immediate action is necessary, such as obtaining or removing a “Stop Work Order” from the NYC Department of Buildings, or obtaining restraining order or an injunction from a court to stop work or remove a Stop Work Order, The Law Offices of Ronald Francis can represent you quickly and aggressively to seek the results that you need.

Construction Contracts

The Law Offices of Ronald Francis also counsels contractors, developers, owners, architects and engineers by drafting and reviewing their construction contracts so that their needs and requirements are met and that their interests are protected throughout the construction project and beyond.

Insurance Coverage

Often, insurance companies deny or disclaim coverage for various reasons, such as late notice, and refuse to defend you in a lawsuit brought against you. The Law Offices of Ronald Francis represents general contractors, sub-contractors, owners, developers, architects and engineers dealing with insurance issues and insurance coverage litigation in NYC.

Architectural And Engineering Conflicts

If you are involved in a construction dispute regarding architectural or engineering errors or omissions, The Law Offices of Ronald Francis can help protect your interests. The firm has represented owners, contractors, architects and engineers in disputes concerning claims of architectural or engineering errors.

Construction Expert

Having over 30 years of experience in the area of construction law, attorney Ronald Francis has an extensive knowledge base that allows him to be called upon as a construction law expert. As an enlisted expert, he can be a witness for a lawyer that is handling a construction law case or act as a consultant on construction law cases.