Scott R. Fradin is a Principal at Much Shelist's Chicago office. Scott serves as co-chair of the firm's Construction group. A highly experienced attorney and licensed architect who practiced in the field for several years, Scott works closely with individual and institutional owners, developers, builders, architects, engineers, contractors, and specialty subcontractors to guide projects from inception through completion and dispute resolution. His legal practice is international. He has advised clients on construction projects in almost every U.S. state and in Canada, Chile, China, Israel, Mexico, Poland, and Turkey, among other jurisdictions.
Scott draws on his broad construction background to help clients at every step. He advises owners and developers on issues such as business formation, joint ventures, public-private partnerships (P3s), structuring of investments, tax-advantaged financing, acquisitions of property, leasing, and land use and zoning. He drafts and negotiates complex design and construction agreements and has developed contract templates for Fortune 500 companies to improve efficiencies and help ensure consistency across multiple projects. Scott also advises design professionals on licensing and other professional regulation matters. Recent client projects include multifamily residential housing, medical facilities, hotels and resorts, and municipal development and redevelopment initiatives.
In his counseling practice, Scott has two primary goals: to help clients achieve their business objectives and to minimize the likelihood of construction disputes. With nearly 20 years of experience as an appellate and trial attorney, Scott drafts contracts from a litigator's perspective, with a focus on balancing risks and managing expectations. He has represented owners, contractors, and other parties involved in a wide range of multimillion-dollar construction-related disputes, including breach of contract, delay and disruption claims, design and construction-defect claims, bond claims, and mechanic's lien disputes.
Recent litigation has involved public works projects, high-rise commercial office buildings, process facilities, airports, universities, and other large commercial and institutional facilities. Scott has also represented engineers, architects, contractors, and other professionals in fee disputes. His training and years of practice as an architect have enabled him to successfully represent real estate investment trusts (REITs) and owners of major shopping centers and apartment complexes in the defense of accessibility claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal Fair Housing Act.
Scott has also served as general counsel for the National Demolition Association, a nonprofit organization that represents more than 800 U.S. and Canadian companies in the demolition industry.
