Illinois Construction Law Attorneys
Top Illinois Construction Law Attorneys
Illinois construction law attorneys with decades of experience protecting payment rights for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. We handle mechanic lien compliance, filing, enforcement, payment bond claims, and construction dispute resolution across Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Will Counties.
Meet Your Attorneys
Why Contractors Choose Emalfarb Law
Experts on Construction Payment
We don't dabble in construction law. It's all we do. Every case we take involves protecting payment rights in the Illinois construction industry.
Experience Across the Payment Chain
We represent general contractors, subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, material suppliers, and design professionals. We know every side of the table.
Proven Track Record
From small residential remodels to multi-million-dollar commercial projects, we've successfully recovered payment for Illinois contractors and suppliers. See our representative results.
Free Initial Consultation
We offer a free consultation to review your situation, assess your lien deadlines, and advise on the best path to protect your payment rights.
Representative Construction Law Results
Every matter is different — these results reflect specific circumstances and do not guarantee a similar outcome. For more examples, see our full representative results page.
Mechanic lien filed and enforced
Cook County, IllinoisA subcontractor furnished and installed structural steel on a commercial project and was not paid. We filed a mechanics lien within the statutory deadline, served all required notices, and negotiated full payment before foreclosure was necessary.
Mechanic lien filed
Kane County, IllinoisA concrete supplier furnished materials to a large residential subdivision through a subcontractor. After multiple pay applications went unanswered, we served the Section 24 notice within the 90-day window and recorded the lien. The lien created leverage that resulted in full payment at mediation.
Payment bond claim pursued
DuPage County, IllinoisA material supplier furnished concrete and reinforcement materials on a municipal infrastructure project. After the general contractor failed to pay, we filed a payment bond claim against the surety and obtained full payment within 90 days.
Why You Need an Illinois Construction Law Attorney
When you perform work or supply materials for a private construction project in Illinois and do not get paid, the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act (770 ILCS 60) gives you a powerful remedy: the right to place a mechanic lien on the improved property. A mechanics lien encumbers the real estate, creates leverage against the property owner, and — if necessary — allows you to foreclose and force a judicial sale to satisfy the debt.
But lien rights are not self-executing. Illinois imposes strict notice deadlines, recording requirements, and service rules that must be followed precisely. Missing a single step can permanently forfeit your claim. That is why early engagement with an experienced mechanics lien attorney is critical — the earlier we get involved, the more options we can preserve. Check your specific deadlines with our deadline calculator.
Why Filing Yourself Is Risky
The Illinois Mechanics Lien Act has strict procedural requirements — notice deadlines, recording requirements, service rules, and statutory language — and errors can permanently forfeit your rights. An experienced attorney ensures compliance, maximizes recovery, and handles negotiations or litigation if the lien is contested.
Whether you are a general contractor owed six figures on a commercial build or a material supplier with $15,000 in unpaid invoices on a residential remodel, the legal framework is the same. The question is whether you have complied with the Act's requirements — or still have time to do so.
What We Do: Compliance, Filing, and Enforcement
Emalfarb Law LLC handles every phase of the mechanics lien process — from the initial compliance review through recording, negotiation, and litigation if necessary. Here is what our representation typically includes:
Rights Assessment
We review your contracts, invoices, and project timeline to confirm whether lien rights exist, which deadlines apply, and what notices are required. If the project is public rather than private, we identify the correct remedy — bond claim or lien on funds.
Notice Compliance
For subcontractors and suppliers, we prepare and serve the Section 24 notice within the 90-day window. We verify the notice reaches the correct parties and document proof of service to protect against challenges.
Lien Preparation and Recording
We draft the verified lien claim with all required statutory information, record it with the appropriate county recorder, and serve copies on the owner and other required parties within the four-month deadline.
Negotiation and Demand
Once the lien is recorded, we send a formal demand to the property owner and general contractor. In many cases, the pressure of a recorded lien — which clouds title and blocks sales or refinancing — leads to prompt payment or a negotiated resolution.
Foreclosure and Litigation
If negotiation fails, we file a foreclosure action to enforce the lien. We also defend against Section 34 demands and respond to any challenges to the lien's validity.
Documents to Gather Before We File
Having complete documentation ready when you contact us accelerates the process and strengthens your claim. Gather the following before your initial consultation:
For more detail on preserving your documentation from the start of a project, see our guide on securing construction receivables in Illinois.
Who We Represent
We represent every party in the Illinois construction payment chain — from general contractors managing multi-million-dollar builds to material suppliers with a single unpaid delivery. Each role has different notice requirements and subcontractor deadlines under the statute, and we tailor our approach accordingly.
General Contractors
Lien filing and enforcement on private projects, bond claims on public projects
Subcontractors
Section 24 notice compliance, lien recording, and foreclosure
Material Suppliers
Supplier-specific notice requirements and lien recording deadlines
Architects & Engineers
Design professionals with unpaid invoices for architectural, engineering, and consulting services on construction projects
Equipment Lessors
Companies leasing equipment for construction projects with unpaid rental invoices and lien rights under the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act
UCC Lenders
Construction lenders seeking to protect priority positions and navigate lien subordination issues on financed projects
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Construction Law Practice
Explore Our Practice
Illinois Mechanic Lien Attorney
Detailed overview of our lien filing and enforcement services
Illinois Mechanic Lien Law
Complete guide to 770 ILCS 60 and your payment rights
Representative Results
Anonymized outcomes from construction law cases
Illinois Construction Law
Comprehensive overview of all construction payment remedies
Counties We Serve
Chicago, Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County
Industries We Serve
Electricians, roofers, plumbers, HVAC, and more