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Thomas M. Keranen

Senior Counsel
fax +1 313.309.6850

Thomas Keranen provides legal support, counseling, risk management, dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration and litigation services on behalf of owners, designers and contractors on a wide variety of construction projects.

Tom provides advice and consultation during project planning and design development and provides support during the construction process to identify and manage risks, in order to avoid or mitigate disputes. Tom’s education and experience in engineering and construction, combined with his legal training, allows him to provide well rounded support over a wide range of issues and projects to serve our client’s interests.

Tom is authorized to practice in various state and federal courts, including the United States Court of Federal Claims, tribal courts, courts of appeal, and Board of Contract Appeals. Tom has also served as mediator or arbitrator on a wide variety of design and construction disputes.

Tom supports continuing education in the industry by frequently serving as a presenter for industry programs; service on industry associations such as the Associated General Contractors, American Council of Engineering Companies, American Society of Civil Engineers, and others.

Tom served on the Construction Arbitration and Mediation Panels of the American Arbitration Association for many years, and often serves as an arbitrator or mediator on disputes involving design and construction claims under the Association’s Large Complex Case Rules. He also previously served as a voting delegate on the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee responsible for the EJCDC contract documents from 1998 to 2007. Tom continues to serve on the Associated General Contractors “Contracts Committee” and is active with the drafting of the ConsensusDOCS contract documents

He also served as an adjunct faculty at Lawrence Technological University from 1993 – 2003, teaching “Law for Architects” in the School of Architecture and is currently adjunct faculty at Eastern Michigan University, teaching “Construction Law” in the University’s Construction Management Program.

Education

J.D., Detroit College of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1981, (now Michigan State University College of Law)
M.S., University of Michigan, Michigan, 1976
B.S., Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 1972, Civil Engineering

Recognitions

Named 2024 Top Lawyer by DBusiness

Named a Leading Lawyer in Detroit by Leading Lawyers℠ (2014-2024)

Named Detroit, Michigan’s Construction “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

Named Detroit, Michigan’s 2025 Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” By Best Lawyers

Named among The Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law ; Litigation-Construction (2019-2025)

Selected to the Michigan Super Lawyers list for Construction

DBusiness Top Lawyer (Construction)

Honorary Member of Sigma Lambda Chi Fraternity at Ferris State University for “contributions to the Construction Industry” and the Ferris Construction Management Program.

Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, Ann Arbor Chapter, “Young Engineer of the Year” in 1976

Memberships

State Bar Associations (Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin)

American Bar Association, Construction Industry Forum, and Public Contract Law Committee

American Arbitration Association, Commercial/Construction Industry, Large Complex Case Mediation and Arbitration Panels

Associated General Contractors (AGC), National Association and Michigan Chapter

United States Court of Federal Claims Bar Association

Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association

Construction Owners Association of America (COAA), National Association and Michigan Chapter

Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA)

American Counsel of Engineering Companies (ACEC)

Washtenaw Contractors Association (WCA)

American Society of Civil Engineers

U.S. Court of Federal Claims Bar Association

State Bar Licenses

Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court