Stein, Ray & Harris LLP’s (“SRH”) practice is devoted largely to the resolution of construction disputes and legal management of construction projects, including contract negotiation and transactional work. SRH is the largest such specialized firm in the Midwest and one of the nation’s largest firms concentrating in the construction industry. SRH also has a growing commercial litigation practice and currently represents a number of Fortune 500 clients in various commercial disputes. Stein, Ray & Harris LLP earned the distinction of being ranked first in the practice of Construction Law in Illinois by Chambers USA - America's Leading Business Lawyers. It has also been ranked as one of the four best national construction law firms by the Legal 500. Who's Who Legal described SRH as "one of the best construction law firms in the country." 

The firm’s clients include many of the nation’s largest construction firms, engineering/procurement/construction (“EPC”) companies, design/builders, design firms, owners and developers.

EPC and Design/Build: Fluor Corp.; AECOM; Jacobs; CH2M Hill; Parsons.

Contractors: Kiewit Corp.; Bovis Lend Lease; Clark Construction; Gilbane Building; Hunt Construction Group; AMEC; Power Contracting; McShane; Graycor.

Design only firms: Thornton Tomasetti; H.W. Lochner; A. Epstein & Sons; Crawford; Cannon.

Owners and Lenders: Valero, Mass. Mutual, Veolia, Canyon Capital, University of Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, Duke Energy, Mesirow Stein Real Estate, Bovis Lend Lease Real Estate Investments, AIMCO, Kaufman & Broad; Hyatt Hotels.

Construction Litigation: SRH's litigation experience in construction disputes is vast and includes delay and disruption claims, differing site condition disputes, construction and design defect claims, environmental risks, insurance coverage disputes, enforcement of intellectual property rights involving design, process engineering and output requirement cases, change order disputes, lost productivity and sequence claims, worker injury suits, lien issues in many different jurisdictions, bid protests, and numerous other claims that frequently arise in the construction industry.

Construction Transactions: SRH lawyers represent clients in a wide range of transactional work relating to the construction industry. SRH has represented several nationally prominent owners, contractors and design firms in negotiating design and construction contracts on numerous multi-million dollar projects.

Commercial Litigation: SRH’s commercial litigation practice has involved representation of clients in the areas of intellectual property law, business torts, breach of sophisticated commercial contracts, employment law including executive employee disputes, real estate litigation, defamation litigation, and other business and commercial disputes.

Stein, Ray & Harris LLP partner, Steven G.M. Stein is the Editor-in-Chief of the nation’s leading treatise on Construction Law, Stein, Construction Law. First published in 1986 and supplemented annually, this four-volume treatise is cited authoritatively by the courts. Mr. Stein is also the Editor-in-Chief of the American Institute of Architect’s Legal Citator and of the Construction Law Digest. Mr. Stein taught construction law for 22 years at the Chicago Kent College of law. He repeatedly tries multi-million dollar cases in arbitration and before courts and juries. 

Since 2003, Mr. Stein was ranked first among leading individuals practicing construction law by Chambers USA - America's Leading Business Lawyers and in the Top 5% of Lawyers in Illinois according to the Leading Lawyers Network. Since 2005, Mr. Stein has been selected by his peers to be included in Best Lawyers in America.  The 2006 Chambers, a leader in lawyer evaluation, nominated Mr. Stein as one of the six Best Construction Lawyers in the United States. 

In 2009, Mr. Stein was one of only five construction lawyers recognized nationally by Legal 500 and identified by clients as "the best construction lawyer in the country." Illinois Super Lawyers has recognized Mr. Stein as one of its top 100 vote recipients for many years. Several Who's Who publications have recognized him.

In 2009-2010, Mr. Stein served as President of the American College of Construction Lawyers , the only restricted membership organization of construction lawyers in the United States.

Partner Stephen E. Ray has practiced construction law for 25 years. Mr. Ray specializes in handling complex construction and design disputes throughout the country. Mr. Ray has served for many years as an Associate Director of the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Kent Construction Law Institute. He also speaks at meetings frequently on construction related topics and is the author of “Documenting and Preventing Construction Claims,” a part of the Construction Law Treatise. Mr. Ray is ranked among leading individuals practicing construction law by Chambers USA - America's Leading Business Lawyers, as one of the Top 5% of Lawyers in Illinois according to the Leading Lawyers Network, and as an Illinois Super Lawyer. The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers includes the praise of clients: "The lawyer I would want on my side for any type of construction dispute."

Partner Robert J. Harris’ practice encompasses construction law as well as complex commercial litigation. Mr. Harris has litigated claims on behalf of developers/ owners, general contractors /subcontractors, and design professional. Mr. Harris has lectured frequently throughout the United States on construction law matters including teaching classes at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of Illinois-Department of Structural Engineering. Mr. Harris is ranked among leading individuals practicing construction law by Chambers USA - America's Leading Business Lawyers ; in the Top 5% of Lawyers in Illinois according to the Leading Lawyers Network and by Illinois Super Lawyers.