John Swansinger

Office Partner-in-Charge

I counsel owners, contractors and other construction and real estate industry players when they face an inevitable, and seemingly unresolvable, legal conflict. My clients entrust me with engagements that span from documentation to dispute, mediation to arbitration and from board room to court room.

I’m here to counsel you on disputes and claims relating to workmanship, time, change orders, payments, warranties and beyond. I take your issues to heart and eagerly provide the wisdom of all of my experience to help you find assurance amidst your legal uncertainty.

 

JohnSwainger

AWARDS & HONORS

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (2024-2026)

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

  • COSE
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow
  • Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, Allied Member
  • Construction Owners Association of America
  • Ohio Contractors Association
  • International Council of Shopping Centers

Presentations & Publications

Founder and Chief Contributor, YouDig?

Podcast Appearances:

Presentations:

  • “Subcontractor Performance in the Era of COVID-19” Construction Employers Association (2020)
  • Construction Employers Podcast (2020)
  • “The Grand Slam of Project Success”, Co-Presenter, Ohio Contractor’s Association Winter Conference (2017)
  • “The Grand Slam of Project Success”, Co-Presenter, Buckingham’s Real Estate & Construction Seminar (2017)
  • “Ten Commandments of Construction Law as told by Motown’s Greats”, Panel Speaker, Buckingham’s Real Estate & Construction Seminar (2016)
  • “Drones on the Job,” Panel speaker on legal aspects of using drones in construction and real estate, Buckingham’s Real Estate & Construction Seminar (2015)
  • “Risk Allocation of Differing Site Conditions,” Breakfast with Buckingham (2014)
  • “Here Comes the Judge,” Panel speaker on Risks in Construction Law, Buckingham’s Real Estate & Construction Seminar (2014) “
  • “Risk Allocation in Construction,” Breakfast with Buckingham (2014)

Publications:

John Swansinger

Office Partner-in-Charge

Tel: 216.615.7356

Fax: 216.621.5440

Cleveland

1375 East 9th Street
Suite 1700
Cleveland, OH 44114

EDUCATION

  • The University of Akron School of Law (J.D., 1989)
  • Bowling Green State University (B.A., 1984)

ADMISSIONS

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Associations

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • West Shore Bar Association
  • Ohio Bar Association
    • Construction Law Subcommittee
  • American Bar Association

PRACTICE AREAS

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Experience

  • Serves as counsel to several private businesses and he provides legal representation ranging from board room advocacy to litigation
  • Joined Buckingham’s Executive Committee in 2022
  • Previously served as the managing partner of a mid-size Cleveland law firm for nearly ten years, prior to joining Buckingham
  • Worked at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in accounting and finance
  • Graduated near the top of the class at the University of Akron School of Law
  • Previously focused practice on complex business litigation arising in the construction and development industries

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS AND AREAS OF EXPERIENCE

  • Multi-state highway, runway and other heavy roadway construction company
  • Ongoing representation of national engineering and construction firm
  • Hospitality conglomerate involving hotel properties and resort-oriented interests
  • Representing national financial services company in acquisition and zoning conflict
  • Multi-state primary contractor for prominent recreational and related equipment manufacturer engaged in large scale construction of playgrounds, parks and recreational facilities
  • Commercial excavating company with revenues in excess of $20,000,000.00
  • International supplier of precision manufacturing products and services
  • Represented home builder in the creation and development of a subdivision
  • Appointed receiver to handle winding up of affairs involving the management and sale of real estate
  • Successfully represented the largest Ohio Civil Service Employee’s Association in a vigorously contested battle over civil service testing
  • Engaged in eminent domain proceeding on behalf of land owners
  • Represented real estate developer in the construction and operation of a large scale event center
  • Successfully conducted Board of Revision hearings and achieving significant reductions in value for clients
  • General counsel to several individuals and entrepreneurial businesses in a variety of industries covering those important legal matters facing businesses on a daily basis including advisory services, litigation planning and execution, corporate governance, document drafting and review, real estate issues and stock and asset purchases

CEA Podcast: Ep. 1 – YouDig? John Swansinger & Chris Howse

  • John Swansinger
  • July 10, 2019
  • 1 min, 17 secs

Posted by Construction Employers Association on July 2, 2019 Listen to the Podcast here: http://bit.ly/2S2UrRW Construction attorney John [...]

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BREAKING NEWS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: Residency Quotas for City Contractors

  • John Swansinger
  • March 1, 2019
  • 4 mins, 30 secs

RESIDENCY QUOTAS FOR CITY CONTRACTORS OHIO SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ARGUMENTS IN MARCH. THE CASE: On March 6, [...]

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Crain’s Cleveland Business – Don’t be late: The costly consequence of omitting liquidated damages clauses

  • John Swansinger
  • May 16, 2016
  • 3 mins, 56 secs

As a real estate and construction attorney and author of a soon-to-be-unveiled construction news outlet called YouDig?, I [...]

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