Meghan M. DiPerna practices construction law. Ms. DiPerna drafts and negotiates construction agreements, design agreements, development agreements and trade contracts on behalf of owners, developers and contractors. She counsels clients through the contract administration process, and provides advice as to allocation of construction/design risk, surety bonding, insurance coverage, building loan funding, adjacent property protection, labor issues, warranties and lien matters. As a complement to her transactional practice, Ms. DiPerna also assists clients in resolving a variety of disputes. Her experience in this regard extends to delay claims, change orders, design defects, defective work, property damage, and default/termination.
Ms. DiPerna has been involved in some of the most iconic projects in New York City, including:
- Discovery Channel Headquarters
- Lenox Hill Hospital
- 70 Vestry
- 520 West 28th by Zaha Hadid
- Willets Point Redevelopment
- Spofford Redevelopment
- 451 Tenth Avenue
- Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center
- New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute
- CornellTECH Residential
- The Hudson Yards Redevelopment
- Essex Crossing
- World Trade Center Office Towers
- Columbia University's Manhattanville Expansion
- 15 Central Park West
- BankNote Building
- Bronx Terminal Market
- East River Plaza
- 50 United Nations Plaza
Ms. DiPerna has also been involved in various high profile projects elsewhere in the country, including:
- CityPlace in Santa Clara, California
- The Grand in Los Angeles, California
-
SLS Resort Residence & Marina in Hallandale Beach, Florida
-
Eleven on the River in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Equinox Hotels in Houston, Austin, Santa Clara and Toronto
- 110 North Wacker in Chicago, Illinois
- One Hill South in Washington, DC
Ms. DiPerna is a graduate, with honors, of The George Washington University Law School and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers and serves as vice-chair of programming for the Duane Morris Women's Impact Network for Success (WINS) in New York.
Areas of Practice
- Real Estate
- Construction Law
Admissions
- New York
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 2005
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., magna cum laude, 2002
Experience
Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2019-present
- Special Counsel, 2015-2018
- Associate, 2008-2015- Watt Tieder Hoffar & Fitzgerald LLP
- Associate, 2005-2007
Honors and Awards
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2021
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "New York's Construction Master Guidance Requires COVID-19 Precautions for All Projects," Duane Morris Alert, May 15, 2020
- Co-author, "New York Forward Plan Reopens Construction in Phase One," Duane Morris Alert, May 12, 2020
- Co-author, "New York State Halts Nonessential Construction," Duane Morris Alert, March 30, 2020
- Co-author, "Coronavirus and Construction Contracts," Duane Morris Alert, March 18, 2020. Republished in EC&M, Commercial Construction & Renovation, Modern Contractor Solutions, Building Design + Construction, REBusinessOnline, Tunnel Business Magazine and Equipment World
Mentioned in “Construction Group of the Year: Duane Morris,” Law360, February 22, 2019
Quoted in “Inside Building the New Manhattan Skyline,” GlobeSt.com, November 13, 2017
Mentioned in "Real Estate Giants: 30 Hudson Yards, New York," Law360, September 30, 2016
- Co-Author, "Private or Public?: Either Way, Give Proper Notice of Construction Claims," New York Law Journal, December 23, 2009
- Co-author, "FAR Rules for Stimulus Funded Contracts: Alert 1 - Buy-American Provisions," Duane Morris Alert, May 5, 2009
- Author, "Laches Defense Bars Destruction of Condos for Copyright Violation, U.S. Court Holds," Construction WebLinks Business Bulletin, October 6, 2008
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Webinar, "U.S. Construction Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic," NAIOP Webinar, April 2, 2020
Seminar, “Standard Forms of Agreement for use on Corporate Facilities Services Capital Projects,” Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, December 6 and 13, 2018
- Seminar, "Design and Construction Contracts 101," Professional Women in Construction Connect & Learn Series, New York City, June 14, 2016
Seminar, “Preparing and Administering Design & Construction Contracts,” Related Companies, New York City, February 22, 2016
- Host, Greater New York City/Long Island Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction CAD/Design/Drafting Scholarship Award Competition, New York City, March 3, 2012
- Seminar, "Construction Contracts," Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York City, July 28, 2010