Jeff D. Harris

Counsel / Chicago

Jeff D. Harris is Counsel in the Litigation Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

  • Full Bio

    Jeff D. Harris is Counsel in the Litigation Practice and concentrates his practice in business litigation and alternative dispute resolution, especially in matters relating to construction, commercial real estate, corporate and partnership disputes, professional liability and fiduciary duties. His 45 years of business litigation experience is complemented by having served as de facto general counsel for a major client and having a substantial role, on behalf of the owner or contractor, in the redevelopment of major projects in Chicago, including Navy Pier, Marina City and Prudential Plaza. As a result, he brings a combination of legal and business acumen to helping his clients solve problems.

    Mr. Harris is recognized by his peers as one of the leading construction lawyers in Illinois and has been recognized as one of the Leading Construction Lawyers by Midwest Real Estate News.

    In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Harris is on the Board of Directors of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. He also has served as Chair of the respective Boards of Directors of the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network and the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis. In 2005, he received the Frank Cabral Humanitarian Award from the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis in recognition of his contributions to furthering education, patient support and research regarding the disease.

    Mr. Harris received his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Miami University and his Juris Doctor degree from Washington & Lee University.

     

  • Representative Experience

    • Extensive experience in high-rise construction litigation, most frequently on behalf of general contractors and construction managers, relating to claimed construction defects, claimed design defects by architects and engineers, claimed subcontractor defaults, lien claims and delay claims.
    • Represented a developer in litigation relating to the construction and turnover of a 180-unit condominium complex.
    • Represented a developer in lawsuit by adjacent property owner alleging trespass and other claims.
    • Represented the owner in the termination of a design/builder, the completion of the high-rise project and related litigation.
    • Represented a subcontractor and officers in litigation arising out of an assignment for the benefit of creditors.
    • Represented a subcontractor in developing an eight-figure claim against the general contractor on a major hotel project.
    • Represented a general contractor in the restructuring of a high-rise project and related litigation arising out of a developer’s default.
    • Obtained summary judgment for a major home improvement retailer in lawsuit by surrounding property owners to block construction of a new store containing 240,000 sf.
    • Obtained judgment at trial for owner of prominent resort in Illinois in real estate dispute with a tenant in a key location on resort property.
    • Represented co-founder of private equity funds investing in commercial real estate in disputes with co-founder and other parties.
    • Obtained judgment at trial in federal court for former employees of bankrupt public company, who were sued on unpaid promissory notes evidencing bank loans that were used to finance investments in company stock.
    • Obtained summary judgment for attorney sued for alleged violations of the public trust doctrine.
    • Represented attorney sued for malpractice in connection with prosecution of patents for a public company.
    • Represented accounting firm sued for malpractice for allegedly failing to discover fraud of client.
    • Extensive experience in fiduciary duty disputes, including those relating to directors, officers, controlling shareholders, partners, executors and trustees.
    • Represented and counseled lawyers and law firms in law firm-related issues and disputes.

  • Bar Admissions

    Illinois

  • Education

    Undergraduate
    • Miami University

    Law School
    • Washington and Lee University School of Law

  • Memberships

    American Bar Association
    Chicago Bar Association