Robert J. Harris

Bob Harris, the Firm’s co-founder, focuses on a wide variety of complex construction and commercial litigation matters for public and private companies and prominent individuals. For more than 37 years, Bob has successfully tried and resolved cases throughout the United States in both state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings. Bob has handled a wide variety of construction disputes for owners, developers, architects, engineers and general contractors, as well as commercial disputes ranging from breach of contract, to real estate disputes, to franchise litigation, to intellectual property, and executive employment lawsuits. Bob also acts as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and has arbitrated several high profile arbitrations in the construction industry.

Bob has achieved notable recognition within the legal community including being distinguished as one of the Best Lawyers in America™ and the Top 5% of Lawyers in Illinois according to the Leading Lawyers Network, Illinois Super Lawyer (2006-present), and Chambers USA (2009-present). Bob also is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. Bob and the Firm have been active in the legal community as members of pro bono organizations providing legal services. Bob has handled several pro bono litigation matters and has served as a board member on one of Chicago’s long-standing charitable organizations.

Bob served as an Adjunct Professor at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law for more than fifteen years, teaching a class in Construction Law, and also served as a frequent guest lecturer at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Kleinschmidt Inc., v. County of Cook

Successfully prosecuted eminent domain proceeding which was affirmed by the Illinois Appellate Court

Technology Solutions Co. v. Northwest Airlines Inc.

Several million dollar jury verdict on breach of contract claim

AIMCO Greens LLC v. MBK Construction Ltd, et al.,

Sup. Ct., Maricopa Cty Successful resolution of construction dispute

CCIP/2 Village Brooke, LLC v. Deerfield Construction Company, Inc. et al.

Hamilton County, Ohio, construction defect dispute settled in favor of client during jury selection

Taco Bell Corp. v. TIG Insurance Co.

Cir. Ct. Cook Cty $15,000,000 directed verdict in jury action in favor of client, including attorneys’ fees

Julian, Toft and Downey v. Beitler Development Co.

Cir. Ct. Cook Cty, Several million dollar jury verdict in favor of plaintiff client against developer

Bob received his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College, where he graduated summa cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Bob is admitted to practice in Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

In addition to his role as Adjunct Professor of Law, Bob has spoken extensively on legal issues related to the construction industry including at industry organizations on a local and national level. His writing on these issues includes the below.

Wolters Kluwer, State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer and Contractor Licensing (Illinois) (2d Ed. 2013)

HCC Specialty, Bulletproof: Limitation of Liability in Design Professional Contracts (2000)

The Construction Lawyer, Limitation of Liability Clauses: Allocating Risky Business (October, 1996)

Bob is admitted to practice in Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.