Chris J. Chasin

Associate

  • Chris J. Chasin
  • Phone: +1 312 499 6769

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3700
    Chicago, IL 60603-3433
    USA

Chris J. Chasin is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on the construction industry. He has represented construction and engineering firms, owners, and contractors engaged in projects large and small at all project stages from contract negotiation to formal dispute resolution.

Mr. Chasin has assisted in representing clients in local proceedings, state court, federal court and before domestic and international arbitration tribunals. His experience includes drafting construction agreements, claim notification and the arbitration or litigation of claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, delay, disruption, loss of productivity and scope changes. As a former federal law clerk, Mr. Chasin is also well versed in a variety of frequently-litigated federal statutes including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Prior to joining Duane Morris, Mr. Chasin served as a law clerk to the Hon. Sharon Johnson Coleman in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and to the Hon. Richard Gabriel on the Colorado Court of Appeals. Mr. Chasin is a 2014 cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was the Research Editor and Bluebook Editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, and a 2011 graduate of Haverford College.

Mr. Chasin is an Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Construction and Mechanics Lien subcommittee. He is also a co-author of the Construction Law Handbook’s chapter on Construction Management.

Mr. Chasin serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Railway Museum, where he maintains and operates the museum’s steam locomotives.

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2014
  • Haverford College, B.A., 2011

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Associate, 2019-present
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
    - Senior Law Clerk to the Hon. Sharon Johnson Coleman, 2018-2019
    - Law Clerk to the Hon. Sharon Johnson Coleman, 2015-2018
  • Colorado Court of Appeals
    - Appellate Law Clerk to the Hon. Richard Gabriel, 2014-2015

Professional Activities

  • Chicago Bar Association

  • Illinois State Bar Association

  • Colorado Bar Association

Honors and Awards

  • Named to Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch," 2023-2025

Selected Publications

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "Primary Contractor Liability for Wage Claims," Retail Contractors Association Webinar, May 17, 2022
  • Moderator, "Mechanics Liens and Construction Claims," Chicago Bar Association Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, March 7, 2022 

Representative Matters

  • Represented a commercial developer in pursuing claims against a terra cotta manufacturer for supplying defective terra cotta tiles.

  • Represented a general contractor pursuing cost claims against the supplier and installer of exterior panels used on a new-construction hotel in Chicago.

  • Defended a general contractor against Miller Act claims brought by a subcontractor in the Northern District of Illinois.

  • Provided day-to-day commercial and legal support to a developer in connection with demolition work at multiple former powerplant facilities.

  • Represented an EPC contractor in an AAA arbitration, advancing claims for extension of time, prolongation costs, and disruption costs and defending against claims of gross negligence in connection with the construction of a 1,000 MW combined-cycle powerplant.

  • Provided day-to-day commercial and legal support to an EPC contractor in connection with the construction of a 600MW coal-fired power plant in Vietnam. Developed and advanced claims for extension of times and added costs exceeding $60 million and ultimately negotiated a favorable resolution of those claims with the Owner.

  • Provided day-to-day commercial and legal support to an EPC contractor in connection with the construction of a 600MW coal-fired power plant in Indonesia. Led the development of claims for extensions of time and prolongation costs.

  • Defended an EPC contractor in an ad-hoc Indian arbitration against schedule and cost claims brought by a consortium partner in connection with the construction of an LNG regasification terminal in India.

  • Provided day-to-day commercial and legal support to an EPC contractor in connection with the construction of an LNG regasification terminal in India, and represented the contractor in subsequent negotiations to reach a commercial settlement of delay, cost, and warranty claims with the Owner.

  • Supported a US-based manufacturer drafting and negotiating FIDIC-based contracts for the construction of a manufacturing facility in Poland.

  • Represented a construction contractor in an AAA arbitration against a defaulting sub-contractor, recovering the full judgment sought.

  • Represented a medical analytics provider in connection with a lawsuit brought by former employees alleging entitlement to an ownership interest in the company in the District of Colorado.

  • Defended an EPC Contractor in an ICC Arbitration alleging breach of contract following the suspension and termination of the works.

  • Evaluated the legal issues involved in a NAFTA proceeding for a litigation-finance provider.

  • Represented a national convenience store Owner in the Eastern District of Wisconsin seeking to recover unpaid amounts under a post-closing guarantee.

  • Assisted in defending a multi-family residential developer against claims arising from an alleged pay-to-play scheme.