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Jeremy S. Baker

Protecting You from Project Conception to Final Completion

Jeremy Baker has practiced law in Chicago and nationally since 2002.  From 2006-2019, he served design and construction clients at Schiff Hardin LLP as a member of its Construction Law Group.  A resident of the firm’s 175-plus attorney Chicago Office, he was elected partner in 2012. Previously, he was an attorney at Cozen O’Connor PC.  

Jeremy negotiates contracts and structures projects across a wide variety of project types and delivery methods. An experienced litigator, he has prosecuted and defended lawsuits in well over 30 state and federal court venues, and many arbitration proceedings. However, he prefers to resolve disputes without expensive litigation or arbitration. Jeremy protects clients by proactively anticipating and preventing problems. When disputes arise, he leverages his deep knowledge of design and construction, and a diverse range of legal skills, to help dispatch their problems quickly and cost-effectively.

During 2001-2002, Jeremy served in the chambers of Hon. Morey L. Sear, Chief Judge Emeritus of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans), a member of the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation.  Jeremy has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Chicago’s John Marshall Law School where he taught a Construction Law course to J.D. and LL.M students through its Center for Real Estate Law.  

Since 2015, Jeremy has served as a liaison to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Contract Documents Committee, which prepares the AIA’s widely-used contract forms.  He has lectured at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) and also speaks and writes for prominent industry groups like the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), the American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law, the AIA and AIA Chicago.

EXPERIENCE

  • Schiff Hardin LLP, Partner, Construction Law Group (2006-2019)

Focusing on transactions and dispute resolution, Jeremy served over 13 years with some of the highest caliber national design and construction attorneys.  U.S. News rated Schiff Hardin the #1 Construction Litigation firm in the U.S. in 2011.  Chambers USA’s annual rankings consistently recognize Schiff Hardin for having a premier Construction Law practice. In 2019 and 2020, it earned a prestigious spot among Law360’s Construction Groups of the Year. Founded in 1864, Schiff Hardin has 300-plus attorneys in seven offices.

  • Cozen O’Connor PC, Associate, Subrogation Group (2002-2006)

An aggressive litigator, Jeremy prosecuted dozens of design and construction defect and products liability claims – on a 100% contingency fee basis – as lead counsel in state and federal court, and in arbitrations and mediations, in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa. To assess potential claims, he investigated hundreds of property loss casualties involving boiler, machinery, equipment and materials failures, fires, explosions, collapses, gas and water leaks, natural disasters, and shipping losses. Cozen O’Connor has over 750 attorneys.

AWARDS

  • Super Lawyer, Construction Law (2023), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law (2023), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law (2022), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Super Lawyer, Construction Law (2022), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyer, Construction Law (2021), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law (2021), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Super Lawyer, Construction Law (2020), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law (2020), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Super Lawyer, Construction Law (2019), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law (2019), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law (2018), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law (2017), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Emerging Lawyer, Construction Law (2016), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Rising Star, Construction Law (2016), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Emerging Lawyer, Construction Law (2015), Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • Rising Star, Construction Law (2015), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Rising Star, Construction Law (2014), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Rising Star, Construction Law (2013), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers
  • Rising Star, Construction Law (2012), Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers

ARTICLES AND PRESENTATIONS

EDUCATION & TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

  • Tulane University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2002)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A., Law, Honors, 1999)
  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Construction Law — The John Marshall Law School, Center for Real Estate Law, Chicago, Illinois (2016 – 2019)
  • Guest Lecturer, Professional Practice — Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD), Cambridge, Massachusetts (2023)

Jeremy co-taught “Construction Law,” RE 612/JD 612, a two-credit elective course and study of the various aspects of construction law offered through JMLS’ Center for Real Estate Law, in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 fall semesters.  JMLS was acquired by the University of Illinois Chicago in fall 2019.

CLERKSHIPS

  • Judicial Extern — Honorable Morey L. Sear, Chief Judge Emeritus, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans (2001-2002)

During his third year at Tulane Law School, Jeremy assisted the late (great) Judge Sear, a member of the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (MDL), with the centralization of mass litigation involving air disasters, intellectual property, antitrust, products liability, securities, sales, and employment practices.  Jeremy also helped to dispose matters pending on Judge Sear’s general civil docket.

  • Law Clerk — Office of the Corporation Counsel, Washington D.C. (1999)

The Office of the Attorney General – formerly named Office of the Corporation Counsel – conducts all law business for the District of Columbia, and handles all suits made by and against the government including state, local, and county matters, and the child support program. Jeremy worked in the Criminal Section and assisted with the prosecution of crimes committed in the District.

BAR ADMISSIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, Member of Bar (2002)
  • Minnesota, Member of Bar (2004, inactive status)
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • Admitted pro hac vice in other jurisdictions

Memberships

  • Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys (SOICA)
  • ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
  • Liaison to AIA Contract Documents Committee (2015-Present) 
  • AIA Contract Documents – Train the Trainer Program (2013-Present)
  • Chicago Bar Association, Construction Law & Mechanics Lien Subcommittee

PERSONAL

A father of four, Jeremy loves music, the outdoors, astronomy, and platform tennis (paddle). His wife is also a ‘big law firm’ veteran with her own solo law practice focused on estate planning.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

Representative Experience 
Knowledge & Practice Areas