Raymond T Mellon

Practice Areas

Construction Law; Litigation

Career

Raymond T. Mellon, Senior Partner, is a leading construction litigator and experienced trial lawyer with an extensive background in representing prominent architectural, engineering and contracting firms on business negotiations and in litigation. In addition to consulting with clients on general business matters, construction contract drafting and negotiation, and risk management strategies, Mr. Mellon represents design professionals in disciplinary and licensing proceedings before the City and State of New York. Mr. Mellon’s clients also include some of the largest developers in the United States as well as owners, developers, construction managers, contractors and other parties in the construction industry.

Mr. Mellon is a leading authority on the issues associated with building in New York City's urban environment where the proximity of the “Building Next Door” requires knowledge of complex safety and licensing issues. He works with owners and developers of commercial, high-rise residential, townhouses and mixed-use properties to protect their adjacent neighbors' structures during construction.

Mr. Mellon is General Counsel and Honorary Member of the Brooklyn and Queens AIA Chapters. He is also an Honorary Member of the New York State AIA. Mr. Mellon is also a member of the National and New York Chapters of the Society of American Registered Architects, the Architects Council of New York City, and the New York Building Congress’ Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Mellon was selected as a 2020 Trailblazer by the New York Law Journal for his early recognition of the potential use of RPAPL 881, a then under-utilized New York State Law that allows a court to grant a temporary license to access a neighboring property to perform work and install necessary protection work. This becomes especially important when a license agreement cannot be reached with the neighboring property owner. Now widely used, this strategy minimizes disputes that can hold construction projects hostage. City & State Magazine honored him as a 50 Over 50 Leader in New York for his work in as construction lawyer.

Since 1996, Mr. Mellon has been selected by his peers to achieve the AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He received further recognition for his experience and expertise as a construction litigator by Chambers USA, Legal 500, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Mellon is a recipient of the Distinguished Presidential Citation from the Society of American Registered Architects, the New York Society of Architects Distinguished Service Award and the Advancement of the Architectural Professional Award by the Brooklyn AIA.

Professional Memberships

General Counsel / Board Membership:

American Institute of Architects, Brooklyn - General Counsel

Architects Council of New York City, Inc. - General Counsel

American Institute of Architects, Queens - General Counsel

Society of American Registered Architects - General Counsel (National Chapter)

Organizations:

American Institute of Architects, Brooklyn - General Counsel

Architects Council of New York City, Inc. - General Counsel

American Institute of Architects, Queens - General Counsel

New York Building Congress - Member, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

Phi Beta Kappa

Real Estate Board of New York

Society of American Registered Architects - General Counsel (National and New York Chapters)

Education