John L. Hunt is an experienced design and construction lawyer with a history of guiding clients through the implementation of effective legal and risk mitigation strategies on complex urban redevelopment projects. His more than 30 years of legal experience have honed his skills in contract drafting and negotiation, transactional and claims counseling, leveraging insurance products, and assisting clients in navigating the market complexities involving large public and private capital projects.
John advises developers, owners, institutions, construction managers, and design professionals on design and construction legal issues, insurance, risk management, utility, and public agency matters in connection with both new development projects and existing buildings. He has a thorough understanding of the goals and concerns each party brings to a design or construction transaction; the critical project roles played by designers, constructors, owners, consultants, lenders, insurers, and sureties; the benefits and drawbacks of different project delivery methods; strategic risk allocation practices; and the use of insurance to transfer risk.
John has worked on some of New York’s most significant ground-up real estate development projects and operating properties in nearly every sector of the real estate market, including sports and entertainment, commercial office, retail, residential, industrial, healthcare, and infrastructure. As the former General Counsel of a leading New York City construction manager, and former Senior Vice President, Counsel and Risk Manager for a major owner/developer, he has designed and implemented best-in-class legal and risk management practices for major new development projects.
John has extensive experience drafting and negotiating agreements for architecture, engineering, specialty consulting, development services, construction management, general construction, craft/trade work, material and equipment purchases, adjacent property owner access, utility access, technology, and the commissioning of artwork. He also has significant experience procuring and managing project-specific insurance programs, including OCIPs, Builder’s Risk and environmental, overseeing risk management practices, and ensuring compliance with contractual risk transfer and insurance obligations.
John co-authored the chapter on payment and performance bonds in the ABA Forum on Construction Law book, Construction Insurance: A Guide for Attorneys and Other Professionals.
John’s commitment to pro bono work includes representing the Madison Square Park Conservancy for more than twenty years.
