Providing legal services to businesses in the construction industry, at affordable, predictable fees.
James G. McConnell concentrates in public and private construction contracting, and commercial litigation. Mr. McConnell is a national and international author and lecturer on public, private and international construction contracting. He received his B.S. degree in journalism from Iowa State University in 1969. He wrote for the Iowa State Daily, where he moved up to become Editor of the paper, and after graduation he wrote for the Chicago Today daily afternoon newspaper published by the Tribune Company to compete with the Chicago Daily News.
He received his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago in 1973. Since graduating from law school he has had an active law practice, and has also continued his writing career, turning to legal and political topics as his subject matter.
He was admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Illinois in 1973, and he has been a member of the Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar since it was created in 1982. He was admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals in Chicago in 1973, and the United States Supreme Court in 1977. He has tried many civil jury cases in state and federal courts in Illinois, and he has been specially admitted as trial counsel in courts in seven other jurisdictions. He has handled numerous appeals, in the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
During his career as a trial lawyer, Mr. McConnell has represented clients in hundreds of cases involving complex construction claims, and other international commercial, financial and insurance issues, including the British Overseas Trade Board, J. C. Decaux, the Consul General of Mexico, the Public Building Commission of Chicago, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Exelon Corporation, Bethlehem Steel, American Bridge Company, United States Steel, Youngstown Sheet & Tube, and Zenith Radio. He has handled litigation concerning such familiar construction projects as Chicago's Millennium Park, the John Hancock building, and the Sears Tower. He has served as an attorney and as an arbitrator in international construction and insurance claims.
Most recently, he has been involved in construction negotiations and disputes concerning Millennium Park's mixed public and private funded construction, Kennedy King Community College, Blue Cross/Blue Shield's Vertical Completion, homeland security improvements at the Port of Chicago, the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, the Illinois International Port District, Chicago's Central Police Headquarters, Harborside International Golf Center, Soldier Field, the Midwest Center for Green Technology, the Chicago Center for Children's Advocacy, Bronzeville Military Academy, and Chicago's Deep Tunnel storm runoff and flood control project. He has also handled litigation involving redevelopment of the former Glenview Naval Air Station property, the South Campus development of the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, and the historic landmark Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company flagship store at State and Madison streets in Chicago.
To make it possible for businesses in the construction industry to receive the highest quality legal services, at predictable, affordable prices.
Chicago's Millennium Park
Negotiated, documented and closed a settlement on behalf of The Public Building Commission of Chicago, representing less than forty one cents on the dollar claimed, after extensive litigation and discovery respecting claims for $33,000,000.00 of extra work and design errors and omissions in the construction of Millennium Park in Chicago.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Vertical Completion
Drafted and negotiated the architectural services contract, construction management contract, general construction contract, title insurance escrow contract, owner controlled insurance program contracts, and key construction trades subcontracts used by Health Care Services Corporation for the $250,000,000.00 vertical completion of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield headquarters skyscraper at 300 East Randolph in Chicago.
Chicago's Millennium Park
Devised, drafted and negotiated the general construction contracts used by The Public Building Commission of Chicago to combine public and private funding for $500,000,000.00 of construction and enhancements of Millennium Park at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street in Chicago's loop.
J C Decaux Street Furniture
Drafted documents, obtained bids, and awarded contracts and subcontracts used by French corporation J. C. Decaux for the design and construction of new bus shelters and other street furniture throughout the City of Chicago which produces profits for Decaux as well as $20,000,000.00 per year in advertising revenue for the City of Chicago.
Harborside International Golf Center
Negotiated, documented and placed a $15,000,000.00 variable rate revenue bond refinancing for construction of Harborside International Golf Center in Chicago, for the Illinois International Port District.
Chicago Center for Green Technology
Won a verdict for The Public Building Commission of Chicago, for less than 23 cents on the dollar claimed, in the federal court trial of a general contractor's claims of $3,652,000.00 in extra work and extended general conditions and overhead in the delayed completion of the LEED certified Chicago Center for Green Technology
Deep Tunnel Stormwater Control
Handled numerous lawsuits arising out of the construction of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's deep tunnel and reservoir project to control storm drain runoff throughout the Chicago area.
Soldier Field Renovations
Collected a $750,000.00 settlement for The Public Building Commission of Chicago against the general contractor who defaulted on reconstruction of Soldier Field for the 1994 World Cup soccer tournament, using a computer database of 50 boxes of project documents to select over 2,000 key exhibits for use in depositions of contractor personnel.
Bronzeville Military Academy
Collected a $975,000.00 architecture and engineering errors and omissions settlement for The Public Building Commission of Chicago against the designers of a classroom addition to Bronzeville Military Academy.
Mexican Consulate
Negotiated and drafted the Consul General of Mexico’s contract for construction of a new $4,664,901.70 Mexican Consulate building in Chicago.
