Mike Madigan

Director + Chair, Construction Law Practice
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Mike Madigan

Director + Chair, Construction Law Practice

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Mike serves as chair of the firm’s heralded Construction Law practice and has become one of the most highly regarded construction attorneys in Ohio, acting as counsel on many of the state’s largest construction projects on behalf of the industry’s most highly visible contractors, subcontractors, and project owners.

His decades-long career in construction law has been consistently lauded for excellence in the profession, garnering peer-review praise from the industry’s most respected publications. He has been honored by The Best Lawyers in America for ten straight years, including recent distinction from the publication as the “Lawyer of the Year” in Columbus for construction law.

Practical Construction Advice

Mike aids clients with all facets of construction, from the initial contract review to warranty issues. He also assists them with collection and mechanic's lien issues.

Prior to entering law school, Mike worked as a project manager for a national contractor and has a degree in civil engineering. With his construction and engineering background, Mike seeks to provide practical advice that quickly solves a problem and avoids a costly and protracted dispute.

When a construction claim is unavoidable, Mike assists clients with reserving their rights and compiling their claims. He is proficient in all aspects of construction claims, including labor inefficiencies, delays, and differing jobsite conditions, and assists clients with analyzing and defending against such claims.

Litigation / Alternative Dispute Resolution

Additionally, Mike is experienced in trial and appellate practice and has successfully helped numerous clients resolve disputes through various alternative dispute resolution techniques.

  • Cleveland State University College of Law (J.D., 2005)
  • University of Dayton (Bachelor of Civil Engineering, 1997)

  • Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

  • American Subcontractors Association, member
  • Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, member
  • Columbus Bar Association, member
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA), fellow
  • Ohio State Bar Association, member

  • Charter Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers list
  • Recognized as a Band 3 attorney for Construction by Chambers USA, 2022-2025
  • Recognized as a Band 4 attorney for Construction by Chambers USA, 2019-2021
  • Received a CLSA Law Firm Award for excellence in construction law, 2017, 2018
  • Recognized in Columbus CEO Top Lawyers, 2022-2025
  • Selected as the recipient of the 2020 President’s Award from the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio
  • Selected as the 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in Columbus in the area of Construction Law by The Best Lawyers in America®

Publications + Presentations

Presentation

Construction, Contracts, and ChatGPT

Builders Exchange of Central Ohio
Article

Ohio’s E-Verify Mandate: What Construction Employers Need to Know Before March 2026

Presentation

Construction AI Demo

Presentation

A Booming City: Strategies to Deal with Central Ohio’s Labor Shortage + Diversity/Inclusion Goals on MegaProjects

Presentation

State of the Construction Industry: Current Trends + What’s to Come

Article

Tax Refund Opportunity for Ohio’s Highway Contractors

Presentation

Managing the Problem Project

In a program put on by the Builder’s Exchange of Central Ohio, Mike spoke about problem projects on April 18. During his presentation, Mike reviewed four different types of construction claims and gave tips on how to avoid them. He also detailed what the audience should look out for during the legal process, including what’s involved in litigation, arbitration and mediation, and taught the basic concepts of how to better manage claims.

Builder’s Exchange of Central Ohio
Presentation

Construction Defect Claims

Mike spoke to CFMA on February 19, discussing defect claims as well as the Ohio Supreme Court’s Ohio Northern Decision. Mike explained the details of the Ohio Northern case, the original project, and the issue presented to the court of whether a contractor’s CGL policy provides coverage for defective workmanship by a subcontractor. A walkthrough of this multifaceted case study provided a fascinating and detailed look at impactful policy questions, including those still under consideration, such as statutes of repose and limitations. 

Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)
Presentation

The Do's and Don'ts of DBE Procurement

Mike Madigan presented to the February Luncheon of the Central Ohio Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) on February 20, 2018. Discussing the Do's and Don'ts of DBE Procurement, his presentation highlighted the increasing scrutiny and exposure companies are facing when procuring contracts under government set-aside programs, and included practical steps to avoid getting entangled in such disputes. 

The Central Ohio Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)

Firm Highlights