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John-Patrick
Curran

Principal

John-Patrick
Curran

Principal

John’s practice focuses on environmental and construction law, representing residential, commercial and industrial real property owners, operators and developers, construction managers, contractors, design professionals and lenders. John guides clients in navigating complex issues relating to real estate acquisition and development, construction, property management, risk management and management of environmental conditions at facilities throughout the United States.

As a construction attorney, John employs his skills as a draftsman and negotiator specializing in design, design-build, construction and procurement contracts. John also counsels clients on property acquisition, development and construction related business issues, such as pricing, avoidance and allocation of risk, scheduling, project delivery methods, insurance and bonding. With a strong knowledge and understanding of the entire design and construction process, John provides guidance from the earliest stages of project planning through final completion and occupancy, including the avoidance and/or resolution of related disputes, such as design and construction defects, property damage and neighboring property owner disputes, project delays and cost escalations.

John’s environmental practice focuses on complex brownfield and contaminated site remediation and redevelopment, environmental aspects of real estate transactions and corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures and regulatory compliance. At the earliest project stages, whether an acquisition or rehabilitation of an existing facility or site development and ground up construction of a new building, John’s focus is on the anticipation, assessment and allocation of environmental risk. John also assists clients in the remediation and rehabilitation of contaminated properties, including entry and participation in complex regulatory programs such as the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program.

As both a construction and environmental attorney, John frequently represents clients in connection with such matters as cost-cap and fixed price remediation contracts, combined remediation and development projects and utility and energy infrastructure projects such as “turnkey” design-build and design-build-operate co-generation and solar PV projects.

Having begun his career as a litigator, John has extensive experience in all aspects of sophisticated commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. As a litigator, John has successfully handled matters involving environmental liability, cost recovery and cleanup, construction and design defects and contract claims, land use, loan workouts, commercial and residential leases, employment, franchise and commercial unfair competition and non-competition matters.

New York Metro Super Lawyers, Environmental, Construction Litigation
New York Metro Super Lawyers, Environmental Law

“The Dotted Line: How Contractors Ensure The Project Owner Can Pay,” Contributor

For: Construction Dive

September 24, 2019

“The Dotted Line: What Makes a Successful RFP,” Contributor

For: Construction Dive

April 30, 2019

“Mitigating Environmental Liability From Construction Debris and Contaminated Soil,” Presenter

For: Strafford Publications, Inc.

February 12, 2019

“The Dotted Line: Mitigating the Risk of Unforeseen Site Conditions,” Contributor

For: Construction Dive

September 25, 2018

“The Dotted Line: 4 Reasons Why Construction Companies Should Have an Attorney Review Contracts,” Contributor

For: Construction Dive

December 12, 2017

“Claims for Defects in Design and Construction,” Presenter

For: Lorman Education

September 15, 2017

“Inside the Nation’s Varying Contractor Licensing Rules — And How They Impact Business,” Contributor

For: Construction Dive

May 25, 2017

“A Lawyer’s Guide to Power Purchase Agreements for Renewable Energy,” Presenter

For: Lawline.com

May 24, 2017

“Inside the Complicated Legal Terrain of the Design-Build Delivery Method,” Contributor

For: Construction Dive

October 13, 2016

“The Dotted Line: Inside the ‘Dance’ of Subcontractor Negotiations,” Contributor

For: Construction Dive

June 7, 2016

“Construction Law and Practice,” Adjunct Professor

For: NYU School of Professional Studies, Schack Institute of Real Estate

March 2016

“Renewable Energy: Law, Politics & Practice,” Presenter

For: Lawline.com, Webcast

February 19, 2016

“Plan View: Survey of Current Environmental Enforcement and Real Estate Development Regulation in New York,” Presenter

For: New York State Bar Association

May 20, 2015

“The Importance Of Contractual Indemnification”

For: New York Law Journal

March 13, 2013

“Lien on Me – Understanding NY Mechanics Liens,” Presenter

For: Lawline.com, Webcast

March 12, 2013

“Contractual Indemnities: Key Provisions and Best Practices,” Presenter

For: CLE Program

March 6, 2013

“Apartment Alterations: a Case Study,” Presenter

For: NYS Bar Association, CLE Program

January 24, 2013

“Options Available for Owners To Challenge Mechanic’s Liens”

For: New York Law Journal

September 12, 2012

“Owner’s Rider to the AIA Form of General Contract”

For: New York Law Journal

June 20, 2012

“Reducing Owner’s Construction Risk: A Case Study,” Presenter

For: CLE Program

June 6, 2012

“Damages Available for Architectural Malpractice”

For: New York Law Journal

March 24, 2012

“Fees a Developer May Encounter When Generating Hazardous Waste”

For: New York Law Journal

December 21, 2011

“Creating Effective Mechanics’ Lien Waivers”

For: New York Law Journal

September 14, 2011

“Owner Friendly Modifications to Construction Forms”

For: New York Law Journal

June 15, 2011

“Making Energy Work for You, Invitation Program,” Presenter

April 7, 2011

“Fundamentals of Construction Management,” Presenter

For: CLE Program

March 15, 2011

“New City Green Laws May Spur Retrofitting”

For: New York Law Journal

March 9, 2011

“Statutes of Limitations for Construction and Design Defects”

For: New York Law Journal

November 10, 2010

“Current Issues in Real Estate Litigation,” Presenter

For: NYC Bar Association, CLE Program

November 16, 2010

“Liability of Construction Managers: Look to the Contract”

For: New York Law Journal

September 29, 2010

“Cooperative Surety Can Help Salvage a Defaulted Project”

For: New York Law Journal

June 30, 2010

“Brownfield Program Should Benefit a Range of Projects”

For: New York Law Journal

March 10, 2010

“New Asbestos Regulations To Boost Costs, Enforcement”

For: New York Law Journal

September 30, 2009

“Special Rules Govern Condo Mechanic’s Liens”

For: New York Law Journal

July 29, 2009

“Brownfields Cleanup – Case Law, Amendments May Modify Program”

For: New York Law Journal

March 12, 2008

Clarity Begins to Emerge Concerning Permissible Essential Construction In New York

A number of state and local agencies have issued guidance on the ban on non-essential construction that was announced by Governor Cuomo on March 27, 2020.  Friday’s amendment to the guidance regarding work-at-home requirements under Executive Order 202.6 bans all construction in the State except for projects deemed “essential,” which the State ...

The Gray Area: When Is Work Essential and When Is It Not?

Day to day and hour to hour, the rules keep changing—what was deemed essential, and therefore exempt from work-at-home requirements under Executive Order 202.6 yesterday may not be considered essential today.  As of yesterday, State guidance permitted all construction work to proceed under ...

Coronavirus and Construction Project Delays

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus is, at least within the last century, an unprecedented event.  Few segments of the economy have been spared the impact that the pandemic has had and will continue to have on business and productivity.  The impact will likely be the most profound for ...

St. John's University School of Law, JD, 1991, With Honors

New York, 1992

Connecticut, 1991

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Adjunct professor in Construction Law and Practice at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate and School of Continuing and Professional Studies