Aleen R.
Tiffany

Practice Description

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Aleen R. Tiffany focuses her practice in complex civil litigation and corporate construction matters, including:

• Construction injury and defect litigation
• Construction contract and risk transfer
• Complex civil and commercial litigation
• Commercial general liability coverage and risk transfer focus
• Mechanics’ Lien and Surety Bond claims and litigation

An experienced trial attorney, she has successfully litigated and overseen a wide variety of matters nationwide. Her experience includes all aspects of the commercial construction industry, with a primary focus on commercial contracts, bodily injury defense, construction defect, and risk management and transfer. She has served as outside general counsel for a large multi-state commercial construction company and as National Coordinating and Oversight Counsel for general liability claims for subsidiaries of a Fortune 500 company.

Ms. Tiffany is also a trained and approved arbitrator in the 19th and 22nd Judicial Circuit Mandatory Court-annexed Arbitration programs.

She was formerly the principal of Aleen R. Tiffany, PC. That firm merged into HeplerBroom in 2016.

Bar/Professional Associations

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• Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
• Defense Research Institute
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
  • President (2013-2014)
  • Executive Committee (2009-2014)
  • Legislative Committee (2011-2012)
  • Chair, Basic Skills Courses (2006-2007)
  • Trial Academy (2004-2005, 2008-2009)
  • Chair, Fall Seminar (2004-2005)
• Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys
• Past Member
  • American Subcontractors Association
  • Associated General Contractors of America
  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • National Association of Women in Construction
  • Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association

Awards, Honors & Distinctions

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• Illinois Leading Lawyer (2016-2020)
  • Profiled in Leading Lawyers Magazine-Real Estate Edition: “McHenry County Construction Lawyer Devotes Curiosity, Enthusiasm to Clients” (2017)
• Illinois Super Lawyer (2008, 2016-2020)

Published Legal Writing

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• “Illinois Enacts Anti-Indemnity Legislation in Snow and Ice Removal Contracts,” National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators, NSPII News (Fall 2016). (Co-author) (Read the article here.) 

Legal Lectures & Presentations

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• “Rise of the Machines: Artificial Intelligence in Construction,” Defense Research Institute and Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel seminar (Chicago 2020). (co-presenter)
• “Risk Transfer in Construction: A Primer for Today, and Thoughts for the Future,” HB CPCU Insurance Law and Coverage Seminar (Chicago, 2019).
• “Commercial Premises Risk Transfer,” hospital executive board, (Chicago, 2019).
• “Construction Contracts & Risk Transfer,” Construction/General Liability claims/insurance audience (New York, 2018).
• “Restatement 414 Exception Regarding Contractor's Liability: Updates and Practical (litigation) Application,” Construction Worker Injuries: Responding to the Risk, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Chicago, 2018).
• “General Liability Insurance Coverage, Tenders, and Risk Transfer 201,” Fortune 500 company litigation attorneys (Philadelphia PA, 2017).

For a complete list of Legal Lectures & Presentations, click here.

Representative/Recent Case Results

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Ms. Tiffany has successfully litigated hundreds of construction and construction-related matters as lead trial counsel over the years, including:

• Achieved dismissal through summary judgement on behalf of an electrical subcontractor in a multi-party $90M property damage claim resulting from alleged electrical and design failures (pro hac vice admission, Indiana, 2016-2017).
• Successful defense and resolution of an $18M water-intrusion claim, alleged to have resulted from plumbing work/failure (resolved 2016 for $650,000).
• Successful defense and resolution of a fire loss claim in Northern California on behalf of nationally based electrical utility contractor (pro hac vice admission, 2015).
• Successful defense of an electrical subcontractor in a respondeat superior/agency claim involving business-altering issues, including whether scope of work was implicated through company-issued cell phones and “on call” system involving union employees (Will County, 2013 – Not Guilty).
• Numerous other successful defense results and jury trial verdicts over 25 years in construction, automobile, and premises liability matters, involving varying injury and damages ranging from minor to catastrophic/death claims.