Name: Christopher A. Cornwall
Item: Christopher A. Cornwall
Author: ccornwall

Christopher A. Cornwall focuses his practice on complex Commercial and Business Litigation and Construction law. With a depth of experience in litigation, Mr. Cornwall represents corporations in business disputes, including breach of contract, tortious interference, fraud, non-compete provisions, shareholder claims and buy-sell agreements. He counsels business and private owners in real estate matters, including adverse possession, zoning issues, restrictive covenants, variances, boundary disputes, title issues and nuisance claims.

Mr. Cornwall represents several large real estate companies, brokers and agents in complex real estate matters, including claims of fraud, misrepresentation and mortgage fraud. He is very experienced at assisting owners and developers in drafting and negotiating construction contracts, real estate purchases, Brownfield issues and defending complex construction claims. Mr. Cornwall represents national and local construction companies in construction disputes, including lien and bond claims, delays, scheduling, cost escalation, differing site conditions, defective design, cardinal change, extras, and cumulative impact claims. He serves as the Midwest Region Construction Chair for the firm.

Prominent Assignments

Obtained a $3.2 million trial verdict on behalf of a national construction company against an earth retention contractor for breach of contract and delays and a no-cause award on the counter claims of breach of contract and wrongful termination.

Obtained a $1.2 million arbitration award on behalf of an international heavy industrial construction company for non-payment on a new plant upgrade project.

Successfully represented a major educational facility to obtain a multi-million dollar settlement for product liability and defective construction claims.

Defended a major educational institution against a $19 million construction claim, resulting in an arbitration award of no liability.

Defended a SE Michigan City in multi-million dollar class action litigation for sewer system flooding.

Represented a national steel company and railroad company involving eminent domains actions for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Represented a major insurance company in a $100 million coverage dispute under a fidelity/employee dishonesty policy.

Successfully represented an automotive manufacturer in defense of a multi-million dollar “cumulative impact” claim asserted by a general contractor for renovation of a facility.

Successfully prosecuted a million dollar construction delay claim against MDOT involving bridge work over the I-96 expressway.

Obtained a multi-million dollar award in behalf of an earthwork contractor on changed conditions delay and cumulative impact claims.

Successfully represented a national design-builder against claims of negligent design and defective construction.

Obtained summary judgment as lead counsel for a national sales company defending against claims of copyright infringement and Lanham Act violations and successfully defended all appeals up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Represented a national credit card issuer against claims of violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act and Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law Act.

Representative Clients

City of Grosse Pointe Farms
Discover Financial Services
Turner Construction Company
Walter Toebe Construction Company
Zurich Insurance Company
The University of Michigan
Machine Repair International
United States Steel Corporation
ProVent Systems

Areas Of Practice

Commercial & Business Litigation
Construction
Commercial Construction
Mechanic’s Liens
Construction Contract Drafting and Negotiation
Residential Construction
Real Estate

Education & Credentials

Education

University of Michigan

B.A., 1985

Case Western Reserve University School of Law

J.D., 1989

• Best Advocate Award (1989)

Bar Admission

Michigan, 1989

Acknowledgements

BTI Client Service
- All Stars, 2018
Association of America
- Top 100 Lawyers
Best Lawyers in America®
- Construction Law, 2013-2020
Construction Lawyers Society of America
- Fellow
Leading Lawyers of America
- Commercial Litigation and Construction
Martindale-Hubbell Rating® AV Preeminent® Rating
Top Lawyers in Detroit

Professional Involvement

American Bar Association ABA
- Forum on the Construction Law Section
- Business Law Section
Federal Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
- Litigation Section
- Real Property Section
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association

Community Involvement

Grosse Pointe Farms – City Little League Board of Directors
Toys for Tots Sponsoring Member – Grosse Pointe

Court Admissions

All Michigan State Courts
S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court

Publications/Presentations

Contractors: Are You Protected From The Coronavirus Infecting The Project Schedule?,Dickinson Wright Client Alert, March 2020
Introducing Evidence at Trial (ICLE) 2007/2014; contributing author
Construction Defect Litigation: From A to Z,National Business Institute (April 2013)
The Wonderful World of Construction Law (November 2010); Ali-Aba webcast panelist
Construction Law Forum (October 2008) – moderator
A Practitioner’s Guide to Construction Law (John G. Cameron, Jr. 2008); Chapter author (Analysis of AIA A201 – 2007)
Turner Construction School of Construction Management – Lecturer (2015-present)

Christopher A. Cornwall

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