Bio

A Plunkett Cooney partner since 2001, Scott H. Sirich serves as the firm's Construction Law Practice Group Leader. He focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, architects and engineers’ liability, insurance law, occupational health and safety law and general commercial litigation.

Mr. Sirich represents architectural and engineering design firms, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and developers in all construction matters both directly and through insurance carriers. 

Mr. Sirich is a member of numerous professional organizations. He graduated from Wayne State University School of Law in 1992, and earned his undergraduate degree in English and Economics from the University of Michigan 1989. 

Representative Client Work

  • Defended nationally-recognized, architectural design firm in multi-million dollar litigation involving delay claims, labor disruption and inefficiency claims, and alleged professional negligence arising out of the design and construction of a $100,000,000 forensic psychiatric facility for the State of Michigan
  • Defended national MEP design firm in arbitration and federal court litigation involving design and construction of $500,000,000, university-affiliated cardiovascular hospital

  • Served as monitoring counsel for all claims involving a $40,000,000 OCIP/PMCIP related to a $500,000,000 public works project in Michigan
  • Defended numerous design professionals on various claims arising out of the design and construction of the new McNamara Terminal at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport 
  • Michigan counsel for international design firm involved in numerous federal, state, and local bridge, highway and road construction projects 
  • Represented and served as general counsel for large contracting firms and design professionals in all legal matters, including lien law, contract negotiation, risk management, ADR and litigation.
  • Defended design firms in multi-million dollar litigation involving significant construction projects at state universities
  • Construction counsel for local colleges and other public institutions in all construction matters
  • National construction defect counsel for State of Michigan for large insurance carrier involved in the coordination of emergency/rapid response investigations and all manner of defense and investigation of construction defect and accident claims

Professional Affiliations

  • State Bar of Michigan (Real Property Law Section - Construction Committee) 
  • American Bar Association (Forum on the Construction Industry member)
  • ALFA International (Construction Law Practice Group)
  • American Arbitration Association Advisory Board (2004-2006)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel

Community Involvement

  • City of Birmingham Board of Building Trades Appeals (2020-2023)

Publications and Lectures

  • "Reverse Engineering Contract Clauses for Effective Risk Management of Delay Claims," Speaker,  IADC 2021 Annual Meeting, Fairmont Chicago, Aug. 15 - 19, 2021
  • "Minimizing Engineering Liability Exposure," seminar sponsored by Half Moon, LLC, lecturer, Dec. 13, 2011
  • “AIA Contracts,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Feb. 21, 2006
  •  “AIA Contracts”, seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Feb. 25, 2005
  • “Time Waits for No One: Statutory Time Limitations or Construction Claims, article, CAM Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 8, August 2004
  • “Architect/Engineer Liability and Practice in Michigan,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Jan. 10, 2003
  • “Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in Michigan,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Aug. 7, 2003
  • “Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in Michigan,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Aug. 15, 2002
  • “Construction Claims in Michigan,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Oct. 3, 2002
  • “Michigan Law for Design Professionals,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Sept. 14, 1999
  • “Construction Law for Attorneys in Michigan,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Nov. 30, 1999
  • “OSHA Issues and Answers,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Education Services, lecturer, Nov. 9, 1994

Credentials

Education

  • Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 1992
  • University of Michigan, B.A., English and Economics, 1989

Admissions

  • Michigan, 1992

Honors/Awards

Honors & Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers® 2023 Construction Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Bloomfield Hills
  • Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law, 2012 - 2024
  • Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Litigation, 2020 - 2024
  • Leading Lawyer in Construction Law, Leading Lawyers Magazine Michigan, 2015
  • Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating-AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Michigan Super Lawyer in Construction Litigation, Michigan Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication, 2009 - 2022
  • Go To Lawyer for Construction Law honoree, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2023
  • Top Lawyer in Construction Law and Litigation, DBusiness Magazine, 2015, 2023
  • Top Lawyer in Construction Litigation, DBusiness Magazine, 2014, 2020, 2024
  • Appointment to AAA Construction Advisory Committee

Insights

Press Releases