Karen A. Denys

Construction Contracts

Karen drafts and negotiates all types of construction contracts for project owners and developers, including standard industry contract forms and specialized contracts. She strives to structure construction, design and engineering agreements such that clients, including those designing and constructing sustainable buildings, extract the maximum profit and avert conditions that could subject them to liability. Karen has been an active member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law for the past decade. She currently serves as chair of the Forum’s Contract Documents division. Her work through the Forum has deepened her transactional knowledge and prowess and has helped her forge close connections at the American Institute of Architects (AIA), ConsensusDocs, Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC) and the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).

Construction, Real Estate and Land Use Litigation

Resolving construction, real estate and land use disputes is central to Karen’s practice. Karen counsels on project management and ongoing dispute avoidance. When she believes it is in the client’s best interest to escalate or contest claims in court or before an alternative dispute resolution tribunal, Karen brings to bear the tenacity and time-tested insights gained from 20-plus years in the industry.

Karen regularly litigates breach of contract, construction defect, construction lien and delay damages claims as well as actions in lieu of prerogative writs challenging zoning laws and municipal approvals for real estate development. She represents property owners and developers in disputes involving water and sewer rights, affordable housing requirements, redevelopment and condemnation, and historic preservation regulations. Karen also handles contract and other real estate-related disputes, including commercial landlord/tenant actions, title issues and real property tax appeals.

Commercial Litigation

In addition to her construction and property development practice, Karen litigates fraud and consumer fraud claims, fraudulent transfer claims, and shareholder disputes and accountant professional liability claims. She also defends clients in contested foreclosures, lender liability litigation and other lender/creditor litigation, including replevin actions.

Karen counts appellate advocacy among her capabilities and has represented several clients on appeal, including before the New Jersey Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Personal Interests

Karen enjoys traveling with her husband and two teenage daughters. Most recently, she has visited Alaska, Ireland, Scotland and Germany. On the weekends, you can find Karen either at an Irish dance competition or on a soccer field cheering on her girls. On those rare occasions when Karen has some free time to herself, she focuses on tending to her yard or simply enjoying nature.