James R. Mall has been a practicing lawyer at Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP in Pittsburgh for the past 45 years. Jim serves as chair of the firm’s Construction Law Group and is a member of Litigation and Private Clients Practice Groups. He concentrates his practice in construction and commercial litigation, estate litigation, and zoning.
Jim has a broad range of experience in prosecuting and defending construction-related disputes before state and federal courts, the Pennsylvania Board of Claims, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, arbitration panels, and mediators. He has been appointed as an arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association to resolve complex construction and commercial cases. In addition, he has been appointed to mediate commercial disputes by courts and litigants.
Jim serves as solicitor to the Hampton Township and Green Tree Borough Zoning Hearing Boards.
- Representation of construction manager in the construction of PNC Park of Pittsburgh.
- Representation of steel fabricator in litigation involving construction in Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
- Representation of electrical contractor involved with the construction of the people mover and baggage conveyor at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport.
- Representation of several service disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) contractors in litigation against the Veteran’s Administration both in court and before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.
- Representation of energy pipeline contractor in litigation with subcontractor over horizontal directional drilling (HDD).
- Obtained multi-million dollar arbitration award representing insulation subcontractor in a delay claim involving maintenance work performed at a coal-fired power plant.
- Representation of general, mechanical, electrical and sheet metal contractors as well as construction managers involved with the construction of public school buildings in Pennsylvania.
- Representation of oil and gas contractor involved with the construction of natural gas pipeline meter stations and related facilities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia.
- Regularly representing contractors filing and challenging Mechanic’s Liens throughout Pennsylvania.
- Representation of title companies defending claims made by policyholders.
- Representation of several large nursing care providers in the collection of delinquent accounts.
- Ranked in Chambers USA for Construction in Pennsylvania
- Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® for Litigation – Construction, Pittsburgh, 2022
- Included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Construction Law and Construction Litigation since 2006
- Selected to the 2008-2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- AV Preeminent® Rating from the Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating Program
- LEED Green Associate
- Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
- Board of Governors, 2016-2020
- Treasurer, 2016-2020
- Finance Committee, Former Chair
- Civil Litigation Section, Section Member
- Investment Committee, Former Chair
- Construction Section, Former Chair
- Public Relations Committee, Former Chair
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
- Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, Fellow
- Membership Committee, 2008 – 2011
- Nominating Committee, Chair, 2006 – 2007
- Board of Governors, 2003 – 2005
- American Arbitration Association
- Panel Member, 1980-present
- Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania, Affiliate Member
- Pittsburgh Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association, Board of Directors
- Construction Legislative Council, Chair, 2016 – 2017
- Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania, Associate Member
- Sewickley Heights Golf Club, Past President
- Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, Law Clerk, 1978 – 1980
- Notre Dame Club of Pittsburgh, Member of the Advisory Committee
- Pennsylvania
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- J.D., Notre Dame Law School, 1978
- M.B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1978
- B.B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1974
- “Considerations for Contractors Returning to Work Following the COVID-19 Pandemic,” BreakingGround, May/June 2020.
- “Arbitration Versus Litigation: Choosing the Best Option,” BreakingGround, July/August 2019.
- Presented on “What You Need to Know About Construction Law” at the Construction Financial Management Association on April 25, 2019.
- He is a frequent lecturer for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (“PBI”), National Business Institute (“NBI”), and Lorman Educational Seminars on construction and litigation issues.
- “Recent Amendments to the Pennsylvania Contractor and Subcontractor Act,” Presented to Ironworkers Employers Association of Western Pennsylvania (IWEA). February 6, 2019.
- “Business Workshop: New Pennsylvania Construction Directory Addresses Subcontractor Liens,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 16, 2014.
- “AIA Releases Changes to Multiple Legal Documents,” MUS Client Alert, October 4, 2017
- “Union Trustees Now Have Lien Rights in Pennsylvania,” The Legal Intelligencer, August 21, 2012