Jon B. Masini, Esq., joins JAMS in Chicago as an accomplished construction mediator. Since beginning his alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practice in 2007, Mr. Masini has successfully resolved hundreds of disputes, drawing from over 30 years of experience as a neutral and advocate. He is also adept at resolving business, environmental and high-profile personal injury claims incidental to complex construction disputes.

Before entering the legal profession, Mr. Masini worked as an architect and technical specification writer—experience that continues to enhance his deep understanding of construction law and technical disputes. His ability to navigate intricate design and engineering issues brings invaluable insight to his ADR practice.

Mr. Masini is widely recognized for his meticulous preparation and attention to detail. His mediation process most often includes confidential pre-session discussions with each party to identify and narrow key issues, enabling a more efficient and focused negotiation session. 

Representative Matters

As a third-party neutral or advocate, Mr. Masini has handled a wide variety of matters, including:

• Business Commercial
• Mediated a wide range of commercial and warehouse disputes involving the interpretation and enforcement of contracts for goods and services, leases and subleases, bailment issues (including lien rights) and claims under the Uniform Commercial Code; disputes have included allegations of conversion, breach of contract, intentional interference with contractual relations and unjust enrichment
• Mediated a dispute between the owner/operator of a refrigerated warehouse facility and several depositors involving alleged food contamination, claims of conversion, breach of contract, fraud, unjust enrichment and assertion of a warehouseman's lien
• Mediated a multimillion-dollar commercial dispute concerning the refurbishment of 15 monorail train cars and related vehicles for an international airport transit system
• Mediated a high-value dispute between a food manufacturer/distributor and the owner/lessor of a food processing facility
• As trial counsel, secured a settlement in a case involving $6 million in product loss at a warehouse facility, with allegations including code violations and defective fire protection systems and alarms
• Construction
• Arbitrated disputes related to the design and construction of a commercial office building, including medical office buildout, involving an owner/developer, contractor and tenant
• Arbitrated contract and construction disputes arising from the design and development of a $14 million public facility project
• Arbitrated a complex, six-party dispute between an owner/developer, general contractor and subcontractors involving claims of defective excavation, site utility installation and drainage work at a major retail project
• Arbitrated claims and counterclaims between an owner and excavation contractor on a commercial project involving foundation underpinning, as well as the demolition and installation of a new concrete slab
• Arbitrated claims and counterclaims between a homeowner and contractor involving allegations of defective installation across multiple areas, including plumbing, electrical systems, windows, drywall, insulation, flooring, painting, tile work, exterior porch, gutters and downspouts
• Arbitrated claims between a developer and general contractor regarding contract interpretation (cost-plus vs. lump sum), delays, unpaid change orders and general conditions
• Mediated a complex, multiparty construction dispute involving an owner, architect, civil engineer and surveyor concerning the design and installation of site utilities for a $27 million multifamily residential development
• Mediated claims and counterclaims between an owner and general contractor arising from the design and construction of a $7.5 million assisted living facility
• Mediated claims and counterclaims among an owner, architect, consultant, contractor and subcontractors related to the design and construction of a large outdoor recreational complex featuring athletic fields, courts, playgrounds, walking paths, a gazebo, bioswale and parking facilities
• Resolved an arb/med hybrid dispute involving claims and counterclaims between the owners and contractor, including allegations of faulty construction and building code violations on a project that remained incomplete due to the contractor’s termination
• Mediated a 10-party dispute involving an owner, general contractor, architect and seven subcontractors regarding alleged deficiencies in demolition, design, construction and project management
• Mediated claims involving defective core and shell construction of a new commercial office facility between an owner/developer and general contractor
• Mediated a broad scope of claims and counterclaims on a public project involving a park district, architect, contractor and subcontractors, including installation of various sports fields, recreational amenities and infrastructure
• Mediated claims brought by a general contractor against an elevator subcontractor on four separate construction projects involving defective jobsite elevators
• Mediated a dispute between a general contractor and a sheet metal subcontractor concerning allegations of defective ductwork installation at a medical facility
• As an advocate, secured a settlement for a client in a high-profile case involving the collapse of a 100-foot suspended scaffold during a façade renovation on a high-rise building, resulting in three deaths and multiple injuries, and successfully secured a settlement in a matter where total claims exceeded $100 million
• As an advocate, secured a settlement on behalf of a client in a case involving over $15 million in property damage and related claims stemming from the partial collapse of railroad tracks, an embankment and a temporary earth retention system during the design and construction of an addition to an ultraviolet disinfection facility
• As an advocate, secured a settlement on behalf of a client in a case stemming from a high-rise office building fire in downtown Chicago that resulted in six fatalities and numerous injuries, achieving a settlement in a matter with claims exceeding $100 million
• As an advocate, secured settlements for a client in three separate but related multimillion-dollar claims involving the design and construction of hotels across the country, all centered on the use of Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS).
• As an advocate, secured a settlement on behalf of a client in a case involving claims of more than $8 million related to alleged violations of federal accessibility requirements during the renovation of several senior housing facilities.
• Environmental Law
• Mediated portions of a complex dispute between potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and a remediation contractor concerning one of the largest environmental dredging cleanup projects in U.S. history
• Mediated a dispute involving a power plant owner, subsequent purchaser and environmental engineering firm regarding permissible emissions levels
• Mediated claims related to the destruction of protected wetlands located adjacent to a private recreational facility
• Mediated claims arising from the failure of a wastewater treatment lagoon that resulted in groundwater contamination and pollution of a nearby river
• Personal Injury

• As an advocate, secured a settlement on behalf of a client in a catastrophic personal injury case involving allegations of defective design of a passenger loading jet bridge at a major airport
• As an advocate, secured a settlement on behalf of a client in a serious personal injury case involving the alleged defect and malfunction of a concrete texture curing machine
• As an advocate, secured a settlement on behalf of a client in a wrongful death case involving the collapse of a four-ton beam that fatally struck a laborer during a bridge demolition project
• As an advocate, secured a settlement on behalf of a client in a personal injury matter related to the alleged defective design of a utility vault at a mental health facility
• As an advocate, secured settlements on behalf of clients in multiple personal injury cases involving alleged product defects in scaffold equipment design

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Current and Former Memberships

• Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)
  • Member, 2015–2025
  • Fellow, 2023–2025
• Member, Forum on Construction Law, American Bar Association
• Member, International Warehouse Logistics Association
• Member, Jefferson Society of Architect Lawyers
• Member, Construction Specifications Institute
• Member, Center for Conflict Resolution of Greater Chicago
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association

Selected Honors

• Illinois Super Lawyers
• Lawyers of Distinction (Illinois) as listed in New York Times and American Lawyer

Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States
• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• Illinois State Bar

Background and Education

• J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 1989
• B.A., Architecture, University of Notre Dame, 1984