C. Allan Reeve, Esq.

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C. Allan Reeve, Esq.

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photoMr. C. Allan Reeve has been in the field of construction and surety law for more than 38 years, representing contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, bonding companies, architects, engineers, and public and private owners. Mr. Reeve has extensive experience in drafting construction, construction management, architect and owners’ representative contracts; resolving construction, surety, lien law, trust fund, prevailing wage disputes; and all forms of dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and litigation,  and is currently the Chair of the Construction and Surety Law Division of the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Reeve was previously the Chair of the Construction & Surety Practice Area in the NY statewide firm of Hiscock & Barclay, and was with the law firms of Goldberg & Connolly, Rockville Centre (Long Island), NY and Ernstrom & Estes, Rochester, NY. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Reeve was in-house claims counsel for several surety companies, including Hartford, CIGNA, and Chubb where he was Assistant Vice President and National Manager of Surety Claims. He also served as surety and fidelity counsel for the American Insurance Association, a lobbying organization for the largest stock insurance companies in the US.

Admitted Practice

  • New York
  • US District Court, Western and Southern Districts of New York

Honors and Recognitions

  • 2014 AV Peer Rating
  • 2014 Upstate New York Super Lawyer – Construction/Surety
  • 2014 Top Rated Lawyer in Construction, Martindale – Hubbell

Education

  • John Marshall Law School, J.D., 1977
  • Bucknell University, B.S., Bus. Admin., 1968

Certification

All-Lines Insurance Claims Adjuster (Texas)

Professional Affiliations

  • New York State Bar Association; Chair, Construction and Surety Law Division
  • American Arbitration Association, Construction Panel Arbitrator
  • American Bar Association, Fidelity & Surety Committee and Construction Law Forum
  • Monroe County Bar Association
  • Surety Claims Institute
  • National Bonds Claims Association
  • Syracuse Surety Association

Civic Activities

  • Hochstein School of Music and Dance, Former Board Chair
  • African Mission construction work
  • Genesee Valley Presbytery, Permanent Judicial Commission
  • Pittsford Presbyterian Church, Elder & Trustee
  • Habitat for Humanity

Publications & Speaking

  • “New York Bonding Initiative,” NY Construction Law Issues, August 2009 -2015
  • “The New Wicks Law and Other Issues Related to Public Works Projects in NY” presented to the NYS Association of Towns Annual Meeting and Training Session, February 2010
  • “Construction and Surety Legal Update,” Syracuse Surety Association, November 2009
  • “Managing Construction Projects,” Lorman Seminar, May 2009
  • “What to Do When Construction Projects Go Bad in New York,” Lorman Seminar, November 2008
  • “Comparison of AIA and Consensus DOCS Contracts,” Syracuse Surety Association, November 2008
  • “Construction Lien and Bond Law,” Lorman Seminar, November 2007, Construction Law Settlements and Negotiations, Inside the Mind Series, Aspatore Books, 2007, Sponsor, Eastern Bond Claims Review, Chatham, NJ
  • “How Does a Surety Investigate a Claim?” Builder/Architect Magazine, December 2007
  • “Managing Complex Construction Law Issues,” National Business Institute, February 2007
  • “The Work’s Done – Now How Do I Get Paid,” National Business Institute, October 2006
  • “Minimize Risk/ Maximize Profit,” Rochester Builder’s Exchanges, August 2006
  • “New York Construction Law: What Do You Do When…?” National Business Institute, April 2005, American Bar Association Fidelity & Surety Digest, Co-Editor
  • “New York Construction Law,” National Business Institute Seminar, Rochester, April 2004
  • Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering Conference Panelist, April 2004
  • “Labor Law 240, Insurance, Labor and Employment Issues Facing Builders and Contractors,” Rochester Chapter of the American Builders and Contractors, December 2003
  • “Advanced Construction Law in New York,” National Business Institute Seminar, Rochester, July 2003
  • “Liens on NY Public Improvements,” Lorman Seminar, May 2003
  • Genesee Valley Regional Association for Healthcare Engineers, January 2003
  • “What to Do When Construction Projects Go Bad,” Lorman Education Services, November 2008
  • “Laying the Foundation for Strong Employee Relations and Maximizing Risk,” Rochester Builders Exchange, May 2008
  • “Construction Lien Law,” Lorman Education Services, Rochester, November 2007
  • “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished,” Builders/Architect Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 11, November 2006

Representative Clients and Matters

  • Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. in negotiating takeover agreement with surety
  • Ontario County in connection with contractor default and completion by surety.
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York City) revision of risk allocation in construction contracts.
  • Multiple towns in structuring contractual arrangement for library projects and preparation of contracts with architect, multiple prime contractors and construction manager
  • Libraries in contractor defaults and successful completion by bonding companies
  • Soil and Water Conservation District drafting contracts for bio-diesel power project
  • Batavia, NY in preventing construction dispute from delaying the project
  • Developers in arbitrations against architects for malpractice.
  • Public and private owners in preparing documents for construction contracts
  • Not-for-profit corporations in preparing contract documents with architect
  • Not for profit corporation drafting contracts and resolving disputes with contractor and architect
  • Church in litigation with pew refurbisher
  • Homeowners association in dispute with site developer
  • Home owner in arbitration against material supplier
  • Homeowners is disputes with contractors over defective and incomplete work, and response to mechanics’ liens
  • Contractor in dispute with school district and in reversing default by a school district and successful completion of contract
  • Contractor opposing claim and payment bond claim on DASNY courthouse project
  • Road contractor in demand by DOT to tear out and re-pave highway
  • Window manufacturing company in reversing rejection of bid on a public project
  • Roofer in dispute as completing contractor for bonding contractor
  • Contractor in arbitration for mold damage
  • Contractor in dispute with multiple insurers over duty to defend asbestos claims
  • Subcontractor in claim against general contractor and prevailing wage claim with Dept. of Labor
  • Architect in dispute with Town regarding architect’s contractual duties and receiving payment
  • Architect and engineering firms in dispute as architect and contractor respectively
  • Engineering firm in collection from owner
  • Sureties in bringing actions for recovery against indemnitors
  • Surety in obtaining voluntary agreement from IRS and State of NY to release tax levies against contract balance
  • Surety in multiple contractor defaults and surety bond claims
  • Surety in litigation against State of NY on prison project
  • Surety reinsurer in multi-contractor losses
  • Surety in performance bond claim by public owner against demolition contractor
  • Surety in performance bond claim by school district against curtain wall prime contractor
  • Arbitrator in dispute between general contractor and excavation subcontractor concerning removal of contaminated soil
  • Arbitrator in dispute between owner and contractor regarding extra work and differing site conditions

U.S. Military

US Air Force, Capt., Dec 1968 – Dec 1973, Admin and Gov’t Procurement Officer;
Remote tour – Hofn, Iceland, 1972; Commendation Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster