Michael C. Ferri

Senior Associate

  • Michael C. Ferri
  • Phone: +1 212 471 4761

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    22 Vanderbilt
    335 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor
    New York, NY 10017-4669
    USA

Michael C. Ferri focuses his practice on transactional construction law, with particular emphasis on complex contract drafting and negotiation for owners, developers, and contractors in major metropolitan markets. Drawing on nearly a decade of legal practice and earlier experience as a licensed professional engineer, he brings a unique technical perspective to the legal and business challenges of construction, infrastructure, and environmental remediation projects.

Michael regularly prepares and negotiates construction agreements of all types, including design, engineering, construction management, design-build, EPC, and trade contracts, and advises clients on project delivery methods, risk allocation, and dispute-avoidance strategies. Recognized for his ability to bridge technical and legal issues, he is frequently called upon to lead multi-disciplinary teams on high-value projects.

He is highly experienced with open-book and guaranteed maximum price agreements and is well-versed in standard industry forms, including AIA, DBIA, and FIDIC. His practice also encompasses adjacent property access and licensing, dispute resolution, and claims management. Michael’s representative matters include supporting large-scale environmental remediation programs, healthcare and life sciences facilities, data centers, mixed-use developments, and public-private partnership (P3) projects.

Beyond client work, Michael serves as Associate Liaison for the Construction Transactions and Project Counseling core team within the firm’s Construction and Engineering Big I Group, helping to shape strategic initiatives and industry engagement.

Michael earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, where he was a member of the St. John’s Law Review. Before entering law, he spent nearly a decade as a structural engineer with a global firm, providing design consulting, construction oversight, and procurement support for major New York metropolitan infrastructure projects. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in New York and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Manhattan College.

At Duane Morris, Michael maintains an active pro bono practice. He has successfully advocated for veterans in military discharge upgrade proceedings, represented nonprofit organizations in property access matters, and contributed significant time to affordable housing initiatives in New York City.

Areas of Practice

  • Construction Law
  • Real Estate Development
  • Environmental and Infrastructure Projects

Representative Matters

  • Lead construction counsel to an environmental remediation trust in connection with a federally designated Superfund site, including negotiation of multi-phase design-build agreements for dredging, capping, and access activities in a high-density urban setting. Advised on EPA-approved remedial construction, and led negotiations of adjacent property access agreements in coordination with the client’s management and technical representatives.

  • Drafted and negotiated suites of master design and construction agreements for institutional owners, including healthcare providers and service-intensive construction clients expanding into new markets, ensuring alignment with client management procedures, insurance protocols, and organizational culture.

  • Represented a major healthcare institution in the drafting and negotiation of a $350+ million construction management agreement and guaranteed maximum price amendment for a new medical office building in New York City.

  • Represented a developer in drafting and negotiating design and construction agreements for a downtown Los Angeles redevelopment project, including 400 residential units, a 300-unit hotel, 176,000 square feet of retail space, and 12,000 square feet of residential space; advised on trade agreements in excess of $250 million under complex governing documents.

  • Spearheaded negotiations on behalf of a developer in a $175+ million public-private partnership with a state transportation authority for improvements to a historic rail station.

  • Assisted in drafting and closing a $375+ million design-build agreement for a mixed-use residential high-rise project in New Jersey.

  • Led negotiations for a $20+ million engineering, procurement, and construction agreement concerning upgrades to an energy generation facility in Texas.

  • Represented a developer in drafting and negotiating design and consultant agreements for the transformation of a landmark 50-story New York City tower into luxury condominiums.

  • Represented a contractor in drafting and negotiating agreements for a $40+ million data center buildout in Illinois.

  • Represented a developer in drafting and negotiating architectural, engineering, and other consultant agreements for the design of a super-tall residential tower exceeding 1,500 feet in New York City.

  • Represented an international clothing retailer in drafting a multi-project master construction agreement for timely rollout of retail spaces.

  • Represented an international technology company in drafting design, project management, and construction agreements based on FIDIC forms for a production facility in Poland.

  • Represented a contractor in an administrative appeal before the New York City OATH tribunal involving a public-sector contract dispute regarding specification interpretation, change orders, and delays.

  • Regularly represents high-net-worth individuals in multimillion-dollar condominium and cooperative renovation projects in New York City.

  • Represented a general contractor in preparing a form subcontract agreement for use in the New York metropolitan area.

Admissions

  • New York

Licensure

  • Licensed Professional Engineer, New York

Education

  • St. John's University School of Law, J.D., 2016
  • Manhattan College, M.S., 2009; B.S., 2005

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Senior Associate, 2025-present
    - Associate, 2016-2024

  • WSP, Structural Engineer, 2007-2016

Engineering Related Experience

  • Assisted a state transportation agency in preparing project-specific design-build procurement and contract documents; performed managerial, technical, and construction oversight roles on design projects for signature New York bridges.
  • Provided construction support services for public owners, including review and response to change-order requests.
  • Led technical teams on design projects for major New York bridges, including the Bayonne Bridge, Alexander Hamilton Bridge, and Bronx–Whitestone Bridge.

Selected Publications