Zetlin & De Chiara LLP

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Zetlin & De Chiara LLP

As a leading construction law firm, we represent owners, developers, construction managers, architect

History
Zetlin & De Chiara was founded in 1992 when Michael Zetlin and Michael De Chiara recognized the need for a boutique law firm that focused on, understood, and spoke the language of “construction and design”. Senior Partners Ray Mellon and Carol Patterson soon joined them and, together, they built one of the premier construction law firms in the nation. Over the last 28 years, the firm has b

een instrumental in helping clients bring their projects to life. Mission
Zetlin & De Chiara is committed to enhancing the landscapes of our communities by partnering with our clients and helping to bring their projects to life. We are focused on producing superior results that lead to successful projects and satisfied clients.

08/21/2025

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is proud to have 13 attorneys recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for their work in construction law, construction litigation, and commercial litigation in New York and New Jersey, including three associates who were recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers awards are compiled through exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers.

Read more: https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-news-603

08/19/2025

We’re excited to share that Jaimee L. Nardiello, Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, will be recognized for her contributions to the real estate and building industry at this year’s charity golf outing, hosted by the Mann Charitable Foundation and the National Realty Club Foundation.

Date: October 6, 2025, at Fresh Meadow Country Club.

Leaders from across the real estate, construction, and related industries will come together for a day on the course, enjoying great golf, meaningful connections, and raising funds for causes that matter.

Proceeds will help advance research for Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s and Colitis, Lymphoma, and Macular Degeneration, and support community programs across NYC, including the Bronx Historical Society, Community Mainstream, the National Jewish Museum, the Jewish National Fund, the Catholic Faith Network, and Nassau County Law Enforcement Exploring.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Jaimee’s well-deserved honor.

07/16/2025

In today’s construction landscape, where projects are bigger, risks are higher, and timelines are tighter, few companies can go it alone forever. That’s why joint ventures (JVs) have become a go-to structure for tackling high-stakes development. A well-structured JV lets companies combine forces, with more bonding capacity, broader expertise, and shared risk — all of which are critical to success in major construction. But without thoughtful planning and clear agreements, a JV can just as easily become a source of confusion, conflict, or even litigation.

In an article titled, “Joint Ventures: Building Smarter Partnerships for Complex Construction,” Zetlin & De Chiara Partner Timothy F. Hegarty breaks down the building blocks of a successful JV — from alignment and negotiation to the details that keep everyone on track, including the four key steps of the JV process, the key elements of a JV agreement, and the most critical considerations for key stakeholders.

To read the full article, click here: https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-publications-529

06/27/2025

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is pleased to announce that our Co-Founding Partner Michael Zetlin has been named to The Legal 500 US 2025 Hall of Fame for Construction.

The Hall of Fame list honors lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Congratulations to Michael on this recognition!
For the full article: https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-news-602

06/16/2025

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is proud to be recognized as a leading firm in Construction Law by The Legal 500 United States.

In the 2025 guide, client testimonials highlight “[f]rom straightforward contract law to complex litigation—both as a defendant and a plaintiff—the level of service and expertise has always been exceptional. The quality of their work is truly top-notch.” Another client praises the firm’s attorneys, “[t]he individuals truly stand out because of their deep expertise, unwavering commitment to clients, and ability to handle even the most complex legal challenges with a personalized approach.”The 2025 guide recognized partners Michael K. De Chiara, Raymond T. Mellon, Jaimee L Nardiello, Carol J. Patterson, Roy H. Schwartz, Michael J. Vardaro, and Michael S. Zetlin. In addition, Michael K. De Chiara and Michael J. Vardaro were ranked as Leading Lawyers in the Construction Law practice area, and Michael S. Zetlin was included in this year’s Hall of Fame.

For more information click here https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-news-601

06/06/2025

Zetlin & De Chiara is pleased to be recognized by Chambers USA 2025 as a top construction law firm in New York and New Jersey.

In addition, six partners were recognized as notable practitioners in the construction law practice area, including Michael De Chiara, Ray Mellon, Jaimee Nardiello, Carol Patterson, Michael Vardaro, and Michael Zetlin.

Chambers and Partners develops its rankings using a comprehensive research process and interviews with clients and peers.

Congratulations to the Zetlin & De Chiara team.

To read more, please click here: https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-news-600

05/08/2025

Partner Jaimee L. Nardiello was featured in Engineering News-Record (ENR)’s Spotlight on Women in Construction. In an article titled “Inclusive Initiatives Within the ABA Forum on Construction Law,” Ms. Nardiello discusses how DEI initiatives build successful firms and are critical to increase diverse perspectives.

Ms. Nardiello serves as Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law and is a former member of the Governing Committee.

To read the full article, https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-publications-528

05/01/2025

Zetlin & De Chiara Partner James Terry will speak on a panel hosted by the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) for the Greater New York region.

The panel titled “Contract Mechanisms: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” will include perspectives on different contract mechanisms in the healthcare space for design and construction professionals.

To learn more, https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-news-598.

04/07/2025

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Special Counsel Patti Harris was quoted in Contractor Magazine on private equity (PE) investment in the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) skilled trades. In an article titled “Solid Business Sense: Private Equity and the MEP Trades,” Ms. Harris highlights due diligence concerns as PE firms look to offer investment can accelerate growth and offer financial freedom.

To read more, https://lnkd.in/dpVnkHzq

03/26/2025

On March 21, 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that it is issuing an interim final rule that removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act.

The interim final rule changes the definition of “reporting company” to include only those entities that are formed under the law of a foreign country and that have registered to do business in the United States through a filing with a secretary of state or similar office.

FinCEN also exempts entities previously known as “domestic reporting companies” from BOI reporting requirements.

To read more, https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-publications-526

03/25/2025

Zetlin & De Chiara Senior Partner, Carol Patterson, spoke at the 36th Annual Meeting of the American College of Construction Lawyers titled “In the AI of the Hurricane: How Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change are Taking the Construction Industry by Storm.”

Ms. Patterson moderated a panel titled “Revolution in the Making: The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Design and Construction” which discussed the impact of a new era with computers no longer used as instruments for data creation, manipulation, and management, but, powered by artificial intelligence, and the related transformative effect on the design and construction process.

To read more click here- https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-events-339

03/21/2025

In March 2025, Zetlin & De Chiara Zetlin & De Chiara Partner Bill Chimos was recognized by Ethnikos Kirikas, the Greek National Herald, in an annual tribute to the top Greek American Lawyers in New York.

The profile highlights Mr. Chimos’ focus on construction and commercial litigation. The National Herald brings news to generations of Greek-Americans, with stories on the individual, community and international level.

To read more, https://www.zdlaw.com/newsroom-news-595

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801 2nd Avenue
New York, NY
10017

Website

https://www.zdlaw.com/

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