Lauren Rankins

Lauren focuses her practice on construction law, providing a full range of transactional and litigation services for her clients across the United States. She represents owners, construction managers, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, and material suppliers in a variety of matters involving contract review and negotiation, bid protests, breach of contract claims, mechanic’s liens, surety bond claims, and claims involving changes, differing site conditions, defective design, delay, disruption, acceleration and loss of productivity in both the public and private sectors. She has extensive experience resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration, and other alternative dispute resolution techniques and representing her clients in federal and state courts.

Lauren received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law where she was a Staff Editor for The John Marshall Law Review and Presiding Barrister for the Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Honors Council. She was recognized as part of the Dean’s List, a Dean Fred F. Herzog Moot Court Competition winner, and a frequent competitor on several Mock Trial and Alternative Dispute Resolution competition teams. Before law school, Lauren attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she was a four-year varsity intercollegiate athlete.

• Speaker: “Sign of the Times: Navigating The UETA, E-Sign, and State Law – The Impact of Notary-Free Doc-U-Sign on Indemnity Agreements,” National Association of Independent Sureties Fall Meeting, October 2024.
• Co-Author: “Productivity Claims: The Cost of Disruption,” Surety Claims Institute, Spring 2024.
• Co-Chair and Presenter: Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, 2019-2024.
• Co-Speaker: “Construction Paperwork: Building with Forms and Files,” ABA FSLC Midwinter Meeting, January 2024.
• Co-Speaker: “Wrongful or Right: What Makes a Proper Termination?,” Construction SuperConference, December 2022.
• Co-Speaker: “Ten Risk Management Maxims That Will Change Your Approach to Project Delivery,” AGC Conference, January 2022.
• Co-Speaker: “Decoding the Mystery of Productivity Claims,” 2022 Construction SuperConference, January 2022.
• Co-Speaker: “Surety’s Performance Options on Federal Contracts,” Pearlman 2021, September 2021.
• Panelist: “Meeting Your Diversity Goals in an Evolving Technological Industry,” U.S. Minority Contractor’s Association 3rd Annual Technology Day Conference, August 2021.
• Co-Speaker: “The Contract Documents: Who is the Responsible Party and Avoiding Conflicts Presentation,” Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, July 2021.
• Co-Speaker: “Decoding the Mystery of Productivity Claims,” Associated General Contractors of America, 2021 Construction Risk Management Conference, June 2021.
• Co-Speaker: “Tips for Sureties in Handling a Contractor Bankruptcy,” a Webinar Presented to Chubb Insurance Group, January 2021.
• Co-Speaker: “Surety Financing, Cost to Complete Analysis & Closing Out Projects,” Westfield Insurance Company Annual Meeting, June 2020.
• Co-Speaker: “Tips for a Surety Dealing with COVID-19,” Webinar to various sureties, April 2020.
• Co-Speaker: “Blockchain Technology: The Impact on the Construction, Surety and Legal Industries,” Construction Financial Management Association Chicago Chapter Webinar, April 2020.
• Co-Speaker: “Blockchains: What Are They and How Will They Affect the Construction Industry,” Construction Financial Management Association Midwest Regional Conference, September 2019.
• Editor: Fidelity & Surety Law Committee’s Spring Newsletter, 2019.
• Co-Speaker and Co-Moderator: “Ethical Considerations When Handling the Principal’s Claim,” Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, July 2019.
• Co-Speaker and Co-Moderator: “How to Handle and Mediate Claims When the Contractor Is Still Involved,” Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, July 2019.
• Panelist: “Risk of Construction Technology Implementation: From Cost to Liability,” United States Minority Contractors Association’s Construction Technology and Virtual Design Conference, April 2019.
• Co-Author: “Payment Bond Defenses: To Pay, or Not to Pay, That is the Question,” National Association of Surety Bond Producers’ Surety Bond Quarterly, April 2018.
• Co-Speaker: “Contract Dispute Resolution for Federal Projects,” November 2018.
• Speaker: “Understanding Ethical Limitations During Settlement Negotiation,” Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, July 2018.
• Speaker: “Mechanics Lien Bond Claims,” Liberty Commercial Claims Conference, November 2017.
• Co-Speaker: “Construction Documentation: Successfully Managing Risk and Preserving Claims,” Construction Financial Management Association Midwest Regional Conference, September 2017.
• Co-Speaker: “Payment Bond Defenses,” Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, July 2017.
• Speaker: “Mechanic’s Lien Discharge Bonds,” 2022 Liberty Commercial Surety Claims Seminar, October 2022.
• Speaker: “Deposition Preparation of Claim(s) Person,” Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, July 2016.
• Co-Speaker: “Ethics Primer – Federal Contracts, False Claims Act, and Surety Concerns,” Midwest Surety & Construction Claims Conference, July 2015.
• Speaker: “Motor Vehicle and Public Adjuster Bonds,” Liberty Commercial Claims Conference, October 2015.
• Co-Speaker: “The Federal Government and the Performing Surety,” March 2015.