As Chair of the Construction Law Group, Joel’s primary focus has been representing general contractors, owners, and subcontractors in complex litigation. His practice concentrates on heavy civil projects including tunnels, bridges, highways, and wastewater-treatment plants, as well as office buildings, shopping centers, power plants, hospitals, schools, courthouses, airports, and marine projects.
In December 2014, Joel obtained final payment of $88.7 million out of a total recovery of $183 million from MassDOT on behalf of the Perini/Kiewit/Cashman joint venture on the Big Dig. The successful claim recoveries came after 300 days of arbitration and a number of lawsuits challenging the arbitrators’ awards.
Since 1990, Joel has been the firm’s team leader in representing the general contractors performing most of the construction of the “Big Dig” in Boston. This team of attorneys and consultants has provided day-to-day advice to contractors in connection with claims, contract negotiations, OSHA compliance, and other construction matters. In addition, he has litigated many claims before the Big Dig Disputes Review Boards and in federal and state court. Joel’s work on behalf of general contractors on the Big Dig has also involved bid protests, whistleblower suits, subcontractor claims, builders risk claims, and general contractor claims for additional compensation.
Joel has published numerous articles in Construction law and industry publications, and spoken at a number of construction industry-related programs including the American Bar Association, Boston Bar Association, Associated General Contractors, Federal Publications Inc., Engineering News Record, Construction Industries of Massachusetts, Utility Contractors of New England, and more.
Joel serves on Hinckley Allen’s Executive Committee.
Credentials
Work Experience
- Hinckley Allen
- Executive Committee Member
- Construction & Public Contracts Group Chair
- Massachusetts Appeals Court
- Clerk, Law Clerk to Chief Justice
Honors & Awards
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Best Lawyers in America® (2007-2021)
- Lawyer of the Year (2012-2014, 2016, 2018, 2020)
- Super Lawyers, Massachusetts, (2004-2019); Top 100 Lawyers (2007)
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Pre-Eminent Peer Review Rating, Recipient
- Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for the category of Construction
Professional Affiliations
-
American Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
- American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL), Fellow
- Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, Board of Directors (2011-2013)
-
Boston Bar Association,
- Construction Law Committee, Chair (2001-2003) and Former Co-Chair
-
Construction Industries of Massachusetts
- Member
- Board of Directors (2008-2010)
- Construction Industry, Forum Committee
- Massachusetts Bar Association: Section on Public Contracts
- The Moles, Member
- Utility Contractors Association of New England
Bar Memberships
- Massachusetts State Courts
- United States District Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- United States District Court, Massachusetts
News & Insight
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Issues Major Decision in Construction Litigation Overruling Century Old Law on Quantum Meruit
July 3, 2018Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: G4S Technology LLC v. Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation
June 1, 2018In March 2016, a Massachusetts Suffolk Superior Court, applying then-existing law, ruled that a contractor that intentionally breached a design- build contract by not timely paying subcontractors forfeited its unrelated $14 million breach of contract claim…
SJC Decision in Hanover Case Defines Rules on Misleading Representations in SOQ's
July 1, 2010Resolving Megaproject Claims: Lessons Learned from Boston’s “Bid Dig”
April 26, 2010New MHD Standard Operating Procedure for MHD Claims
April 30, 2009The Massachusetts Highway Department, after a number of meetings with representatives of CIM, has recently issued new procedures for the handling of contractor claims. In the near future CIM will be participating in workshops with MHD to review the details…
New SOP - What Are the Blue Book and Statutory Claim Provisions?
April 1, 2009New SOP - What Are the Blue Book and Statutory Claim Provisions?
April 1, 2009Associated General Contractors of NH Newsletter featuring Hinckley Allen Partners Ron Ciotti and Joel Lewin
March 23, 2009The 90th Annual Associated General Contractors National Convention was held this year in San Diego, CA. Ron Ciotti lead a presentation in the Construction Law Track category on 2007 AIA A201 General Conditions and ConsensusDocs 200.At the Convention, AGC o…
New MHD Standard Operating Procedure for MHD Claims
March 1, 2009Recent Bid Protest Decisions
February 1, 2009How to Avoid the Risk of a Performance Bond Surety Default
January 1, 200959 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2021
August 20, 2020Hinckley Allen is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized 59 attorneys in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including 12 “Lawyers of the Year.” Best Lawyers® has also recognized 10 Hinckley Allen attorneys in their inau…
33 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized as 2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
November 4, 2019Hinckley Allen is pleased to announce that Super Lawyers has selected 33 Hinckley Allen attorneys as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to rece…
56 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2020
August 15, 2019Only one lawyer in each specialty in each region is honored as a “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers®. Since its first publication in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers compi…
38 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 18, 2018The Super Lawyers has selected 38 Hinckley Allen attorneys as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.Super Lawyers, a Thomson…
51 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2019
August 15, 2018Hinckley Allen is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized 51 attorneys in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including seven “Lawyers of the Year.” Only one lawyer in each specialty in each region is honored as a “La…
Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized as 2017 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 18, 2017The Super Lawyers has selected 39 Hinckley Allen attorneys as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.Super Lawyers, a Thomson…
Best Lawyers Recognizes 8 Hinckley Allen Partners as “Lawyers of the Year” for 2018
August 22, 2017Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers has recognized partners Noble F. Allen, Christine K. Bush, William S. Fish, Joel Lewin, Robin L. Main, Thomas S. Marrion, Gerald J. Petros, and David A.NOBLE F.
52 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers of America
August 18, 2017Noble F.Jomarie T.Robert J.James J.Leon C.John J.William W.Christine K.
Hinckley Allen Partner Joel Lewin Named “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Construction by Best Lawyers
August 17, 2015Joel Lewin, a partner at Hinckley Allen, was named the Best Lawyers® 2016 Litigation – Construction “Lawyer of the Year” in Boston, MA. Joel previously received this honor in 2012,2013 and 2014.Best Lawyers, which compiles annual listings of outsta…
Hinckley Allen Partner Joel Lewin Named Best Lawyers’ Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year”
August 21, 2013Joel Lewin has been named the Lawyer of the Year in Construction Law (Boston, MA) by Best Lawyers, 2014. This is the third consecutive year Joel has received this honor.As Chair of the Construction Law Group, Joel's primary focus has been representing gene…
Best Lawyers® Recognizes 5 Hinckley, Allen & Snyder Partners as “Lawyers of the Year” for 2013
September 13, 2012September 13, 2012 – Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized partners Malcolm Farmer III, Robert G. Flanders, Jr., Gerard R. Goulet, William R. Grimm, and Michael L.Malcolm Farmer III, a Partner in the F…
Best Lawyers® Recognizes 44 Hinckley, Allen & Snyder Partners
September 13, 2012September 13, 2012 - Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is proud to announce that 44 of its attorneys have been recognized by their peers as being among the nation’s best lawyers in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.Best Lawyers® is based …
Best Lawyers Recognizes Hinckley, Allen & Snyder Construction Partners
October 17, 2011Boston, MA -- Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers has named Joel Lewin, Chair of the Firm's Construction & Public Contracts Group "2012 Boston Construction Lawyer of the Year" and Robert Lizza, Vice-Chair of the Fi…
Best Lawyers Recognizes 41 Hinckley, Allen & Snyder Attorneys
September 22, 2011Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is proud to announce that 41 of its attorneys have been recognized by their peers as being among the nation’s best lawyers in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America ® 2012. Best Lawyers is based on a peer-review…
Joint Venture Recovers $183 million in Big Dig's Final Lawsuit
The final contractor dispute related to Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel Project, known as the Big Dig, has resulted in a landmark settlement totaling $183 million for contractors Tutor Perini, Kiewit Corp. and Jay Cashman. Hinckely Allen represented the c…
Events
Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association 7th Annual Public Construction Update
April 13, 2017Partner Joel Lewin will speak on a panel at the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association 7th Annual Public Construction Update, ""From All Sides: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective on Current Issues in Public Construction." This panel of experienced cons…
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