Hilger Hammond, PC

04/14/2026

Complex commercial litigation requires a level of organization and preparation that often goes unseen behind the scenes. However, in a recent bench trial involving a 12-story $27 million construction project in downtown Grand Rapids, those efforts were recognized and acknowledged by the Kent County Business Court. The Court awarded 100% of the amount due and owing to Hilger Hammond’s client, while awarding the defendant-owner $0 in its counterclaim alleging defective work and damages over $10 million.

In addition, the court awarded $1.19 million in attorney fees and costs to the client. Ben Hammond received high praise from the presiding judge, who described him as “a premier construction lawyer in Grand Rapids, with an unmatched reputation in this field.”

We are incredibly proud of this result, but even more proud of the dedication the entire Hilger Hammond team brings to protecting our clients' interests every day.

Read the full story of the victory here: https://www.hilgerhammond.com/major-construction-lien-litigation-case-victory/

03/10/2026

Not all construction industry events are created equal—just ask anyone who's been to the annual West Michigan Construction Institute (WMCI) Rally!

A huge congratulations to the talented staff at WMCI and Associated Builders and Contractors, Western Michigan Chapter for their hard work in putting together such a fantastic event for such a great cause! And hats off to Plummer's for taking home the trophy.

Chad Antuma, Andrew Hilger and Ben Dilley represented Team Hilger Hammond at this year’s competition. We were especially proud of our custom-crafted rally car; while came close to cracking the top 20 for design, we dominated our heat.

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03/06/2026

A big thank you to E.B. Sonheim, Jenny Waugh, Julie Byrne and Jennifer Sanford for sharing their stories of leadership at yesterday's American Subcontractors Association of Michigan's Hard Hat Hustle event!

Their insight was always helpful, often vulnerable and definitely inspiring. Keep up the work you do supporting the success of women in the West Michigan construction industry!

02/17/2026

We’re pleased to announce a significant milestone for our firm: Jeremy Orenstein, Chad Antuma, and Andy Hilger have been promoted to partner at Hilger Hammond.
Promoting three attorneys to partner at the same time is uncommon for our firm, and it reflects the trust they’ve earned with clients, colleagues, and the broader West Michigan community.
“These lawyers are hungry, humble, and smart — which is exactly what a growing firm needs to succeed,” said Ben Hammond, founding member.
Each brings a different strength to the partnership:
Chad Antuma – complex litigation and a nationally recognized Tree Law practice
Andy Hilger – construction law informed by real, on-the-ground industry experience
Jeremy Orenstein – appellate insight and leadership in complex construction disputes
Please join us in celebrating our new partners!

Hilger Hammond is proud to announce the promotion of Jeremy Orenstein, Chad Antuma, and Andy Hilger to partner!

02/13/2026

Our own Laura Kane and Ben Dilley had a blast speaking with the Construction Management students at Ferris State University this week. It was an honor to see such a high turnout (it turns out the "next generation" is incredibly hungry to learn the ins and outs of construction contracts!)

We spent the day diving into the "Industry Insights" that keep projects moving, covering everything from liens and bonds to mediation and warranties. Our goal? To give these students a leg up on the competition by teaching them how to spot potential risks before they become "bad outcomes."

The best part of the day was the Q&A. The students weren't just asking about courtrooms—they wanted to know about real-time solutions: notice, documentation, and mitigation.

Thank you to the Ferris State University Construction Management Program for the warm welcome, and to Scott Veine at Pioneer Construction for the invitation. We’re proud to support the students who will be building our communities tomorrow!

02/06/2026

We had an incredible time with clients and friends last night at the 15th anniversary Michigan Contractor of the Year awards.

Thank you to the American Subcontractors Association of Michigan for the impactful work they do elevating our construction community to new heights and congrats to the champions of the trades: Dan Vos Construction Company, EV Construction and Pioneer Construction!

01/29/2026

We had a great time presenting at yesterday’s American Subcontractors Association of Michigan (ASAM) event!

MIOSHA inspections don't have to be a "gotcha" moment. If you missed the session, we'd encourage you to check out the resources in the comment section below for strategies to successfully navigate the MIOSHA inspection process.

01/28/2026

We’re happy to welcome Jenna Fagerman to Hilger Hammond!

After building her legal career at leading national law firms in Chicago, Jenna returns to West Michigan with experience in complex civil litigation, construction law, and business litigation. She has represented clients in high-stakes matters in both state and federal courts.

A former Division I women’s soccer player, Jenna brings discipline, strategy, and a team-first mindset to everything she does.

“The sky is the limit for Jenna, and we’re glad to be working with her,” says Ben Hammond.

https://www.hilgerhammond.com/jenna-fagerman-joins-hilger-hammond/

11/14/2025

We recently joined our neighbors at Bradley Company for our first annual joint Chili & Mac-and-Cheese Cookoff!

A big congratulations to Carolyn Boji for taking home Best Chili with her incredible white chicken chili, and to Hilger Hammond’s own Danielle Mier for winning Best Mac-and-Cheese—complete with a perfectly crunchy potato chip topping. 🤌

Nothing beats good food, great neighbors, and a little friendly competition.

11/12/2025

Hilger Hammond held our 2025 Attorney Retreat in beautiful Saugatuck, Michigan on October 30th.

Our team spent the day discussing firm goals and collaborative growth, while also taking time to unwind and enjoy some team building on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Nothing like great views and even better company!