Ridgely J. Jackson

Ridgely Jackson drafts and negotiates construction, design, and design-build contracts for owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers. Her practice of construction law has afforded her the opportunity to work on iconic projects in Chicago and New York that instantly identify the cities in which they were built.

After receiving her law degree in 2006, Ms. Jackson became an associate and then senior attorney at DLA Piper LLP (US), one of the world’s largest law firms. During that time, she also taught at Loyola University Chicago School of Law as an Adjunct Instructor in legal writing. Prior to graduating from law school, Ms. Jackson served a summer internship at the nationally known civil rights firm, the Southern Poverty Law Center, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Ms. Jackson’s construction projects in the U.S. include mixed-use high-rise complexes, condominium developments, hotels, shopping centers, medical centers, resorts, golf courses, and educational facilities. She also drafted construction and design contracts for housing and community projects in Sri Lanka and South Africa. Ms. Jackson has experience with accessibility requirements and compliance, including the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design and the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines.

Ms. Jackson has written, co-authored, or edited numerous legal publications and presentations relating to construction law. She served as Associate Editor of Under Construction, a newsletter published by the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry. She also edited Construction Law, a comprehensive reference book written by and for construction lawyers (ABA Publishing 2019).

In recognition of her pro bono efforts that began during law school to expand the reach and benefits of education, including teaching Law Related Education at the Audy Temporary Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago, the non-profit organization Equip for Equality appointed Ms. Jackson to the Advisory Council of its Special Education Clinic (2013-2015). Legal Aid also chose her as its Pro Bono Attorney of the month (January 2010). Her prior firm twice awarded her its National Pro Bono Award (2012 and 2007) and its Chicago Pro Bono Award (2011). Loyola also recognized Ms. Jackson at graduation with a Pro Bono Recognition Award (2006).

Ridgely Jackson graduated from Northwestern University, summa cum laude, and received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Co-Author, “Construction Disputes: Representing the Contractor” (2019)

Independent Reviewer and Copy Editor, “Construction Law” (2nd ed.), ABA Publishing (2019)

Co-author, “Direct vs. Consequential Damages: Use the Road Sign Test to Tell the Difference,” Under Construction, Vol. 15, No. 2 (April 2013)

Author, “Message from the Associate Editor: Have We Lost You? We Are Here – Electronically,” Under Construction, Vol. 15, No. 2 (April 2013)

Associate Editor, Under Construction, published by the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (2011-2014)

Contributing Author, The Annotated Construction Law Glossary (ABA 2010)

Co-Author, Supplement to Alternative Clauses to Standard Construction Contracts (Aspen 2010)

Co-Author, “Owners’ Amending AIA A107 – 2007: Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and the Contractor for a Project of Limited Scope,” Chapter 8 in Alternative Clauses to Standard Construction Contracts (Aspen 2009)

Ridgely is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois.