Levi W. Barrett
Levi W. Barrett is a Partner in Peckar & Abramson’s New Jersey and New York offices and serves as Co‑Managing Partner of the New Jersey office, Chair of the firm’s Construction Contracts & Risk Management practice, the firm’s Data Center practice, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Levi W. Barrett
Co-Managing Partner, New Jersey Office
Chair - Construction Contracts & Risk Management
Executive Committee Member
River Edge, NJ
P +1 201.343.3434
F +1 201.343.6306
New York, NY
P +1 212.382.0909
F +1 212.382.3456
“Effective construction contracts require more than legal precision – they demand a deep understanding of our clients’ goals and the ability to align contract terms with real-world project and business considerations.”
Bio
Levi is a nationally recognized construction transactions attorney who advises contractors, construction managers, owners, and developers on the structuring, negotiation, and execution of complex construction and infrastructure agreements. He regularly leads multidisciplinary teams responsible for the preparation and negotiation of a high volume of sophisticated contract arrangements across the full spectrum of project delivery methods, including Construction Manager-at-Risk, Design-Build, EPC, and Integrated Project Delivery.
His practice is distinguished by a strategic, commercially focused approach to risk allocation and contract architecture. Levi counsels clients on risk mitigation and project planning in connection with both public infrastructure and private development, helping clients structure agreements that align commercial objectives with practical realities. His experience spans a wide range of sectors, including large-scale residential and hospitality developments, transportation and tunneling projects, manufacturing facilities, and mission-critical data centers.
Levi also advises clients on cross-border construction matters, assisting foreign contractors in navigating the U.S. construction market and supporting domestic clients in managing operations and risk abroad. He is frequently engaged in connection with mergers and acquisitions in the construction industry, providing transaction diligence and evaluating contractual risk and project exposure.
Complementing his transactional practice, Levi has substantial experience representing contractors and subcontractors in complex construction disputes involving delay, inefficiency, differing site conditions, constructive changes, extra work, and default claims. This disputes background informs his drafting and negotiation approach, enabling him to anticipate risk and craft practical, enforceable solutions that reduce exposure and preserve project outcomes.
A recognized thought leader in construction law, Levi regularly speaks and writes on advanced topics in contract negotiation, project delivery, and emerging industry risks, including design-build and delegated design structures. He has served as a guest lecturer for master’s level courses in construction law at the University of Stuttgart and Columbia University.
Levi has been recognized by leading industry publications, including Chambers USA and Best Lawyers, for his work in construction law. He is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Highlights
Admissions
• State of New York
• State of New Jersey
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the District of Jersey
Memberships
• New York City Bar (Construction Law Committee)
• Associated General Contractors of America (Construction Leadership Council Steering Committee Member, 2019-2021)
Education & Courses
• San Francisco State University, B.A., Economics
• Syracuse University College of Law, J.D.
Awards & Recognitions
• Best Lawyers, 2026
• Chambers USA, 2025
• Chambers USA, "Up and Coming", New York, 2023-2024
• New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2022-2025
• New York Metro Super Lawyers - Rising Star, 2016-2021
• The Legal 500: United States - “Recommended Lawyers,” 2024
• Lexology Index: Construction, 2025
• Who's Who Legal: Construction, 2023-2024
• New Jersey Super Lawyers - Rising Star, 2016-2018
• New Jersey Law Journal, New Leader of the Bar, 2020
• Bergen Magazine, Top Lawyer - Construction, 2022-2025
Publications & Presentations
• “Design-Build: An International Perspective on Best Practices for Sustained Design-Build Success,” Leading Construction Lawyers International Alliance (LCL) Webinar, December 2025 (Presenter)
• “Navigating Pricing Risk in Construction: Strategies Amidst Uncertainty,” 2025 Construction Super Conference, December 2025 (Presenter)
• “Construction Law Essentials - Curtain Wall Systems,” American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law, November 2025 (Presenter)
• “The Collaboration Conundrum – A Better Model for Achieving Design-Build Success,” DBIA’s 2025 Design-Build Conference & Expo, November 2025 (Presenter)
• “Project Management and Oversight: Contracts, Responsibilities and Challenges” IBDIC 13th International Congress, August 2025 (Presenter)
• “The Art of Dealing with Tariffs,” The American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) webinar, August 2025 (Presenter)
• “Contractual Considerations to Address the Current Market Volatility,” 2025 AGC NYC/Acrisure & Tradesman Summer Meeting, August 2025 (Presenter)
• “Expert Q&A: Responding to the Impacts of Trump Administration Tariffs on Construction Materials,” Practical Law Real Estate, March 2025 (Co-Author)
• “The Art of Dealing with Tariffs,” AGC WebEd, February 2025 (Presenter)
• “Ask the Authors: Tariffs and the Art of the Price Escalation “Deal”,” P&A Webinar, January 2025 (Presenter)
• “Tariffs and the Art of the Price Escalation “Deal”,” P&A Client Alert, January 2025 (Co-Author)
• “The Collaboration Conundrum – A Better Model for Achieving Design-Build Success” 2024 Construction Super Conference, December 2024 (Presenter)
• “Building a Solid Foundation: Strategies for Operational Risk Management,” Construction Financial Management Association NJ Dinner Meeting, May 2024 (Presenter)
• “Design-Build – All About Alignment” A Third Thursday Interview with Levi W. Barrett, Construction Super Conference, May 2024 (Presenter)
• “New York Revises Retainage Requirements for Private Construction Contracts: Overview of the “5% Retainage Law”,” P&A Client Alert, January 2024 (Co-Author)
• “Pricing Risk – A Construction Insider’s Point of View,” Construction Super Conference, December 2023 (Presenter)
• “Managing Subcontractor Default Risk,” Associated General Contractors (AGC) New York State, April 2023 (Presenter)
• “The Enforceability of “Pay-if-Paid” Provisions Affirmed in New Jersey,” P&A Client Alert, December 2022 (Co-Author)
• Lockton Heavy Construction Risk Management Roundtable, June 2022 (Panelist)
• “Construction Contracting Revisited: The Three Rs and How Owners Want You to Negotiate,” AGC 2022 National Convention, March 2022 (Presenter)
• “The Wage Theft Act – What Contractors Need to Know Now,” NASBP Webinar, January 2022 (Co-Presenter)
• “Preparing for the Unknowable: Lessons Learned from the Construction Industry’s Response to Significant Disruptions,” 2021 Construction SuperConference, December 2021 (Presenter)
• “Design Build: General Considerations When Using Design Build: Part 2,” ACCNJ, October 2021 (Co-Presenter)
• “Design Build Construction Services Procurement Act: Part 1,” ACCNJ, October 2021 (Co-Presenter)
• “Project Delivery Methods: A Bird’s Eye View,” ConsensusDocs, October 2021 (Co-Author)
• “Selecting the Right Delivery Method for the Job,” Construction Dive, August 2021 (Co-Author)
• “Who’s the Designer? Recognizing and Mitigating Design Risk in Construction Contracts,” NASBP Webinar, September 2021 (Presenter)
• “How to Keep Your Contract Negotiations Out of the Mud,” 2021 AGC Annual Convention, September 2021 (Presenter)
• “Material Price Escalation – Strategies for Existing and Future Contracts,” Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ) Webinar, June 2021 (Presenter)
• “How Will Today’s Pandemic Impact Tomorrow’s Construction Contracts?,” ConsensusDocs Newsletter, October 2020 (Co-Author)
• “Public Sector Design-Build: What New York City Contractors Need to Know,” P&A and Aon Webinar, July 2020 (Presenter)
• “COVID-19 Forum: A Series on Managing Risk in Unprecedented Times – Episode 3,” P&A Webinar Forum, April 2020 (Presenter)
• "Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Guidance For Contractors," P&A Client Alert, March 2020 (Author)
• Construction SuperConference, Rancho Palos Verde, California; Presenter, "Who's the Designer? Recognizing and Mitigating Design Risk in Construction Contracts", December 2019 (Presenter)
• "Delegated Design, Design-Assist, and the Erosion of the Spearin Doctrine – Risks and Opportunities for Contractors" – Associated General Contractors of America’s 100th Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, April 2019 (Presenter/Moderator)
• "Design Delegation – Practical Considerations and the Need for Clarity" – Associated General Contractors of America’s Law in Brief, Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2019 (Co-Author)
• “Managing Construction Risk Through Insurance” – New York State Associate General Contractors’ Construction Industry Conference, December 2018 (Presenter)
• “Recent Changes to the AIA Contract Documents” – Construction Section of the Montana State Bar Association, October 2018 (Presenter)
• “Last Call… On October 31 the AIA Retires the A201-2007 General Conditions – What Does This Mean to You?” – Associated General Contractors of America’s Law in Brief, Volume 4, Issue 4, July 2018 (Author)
• “More Sticks and Bricks – A Practical Guide to Construction Systems and Technology”– American Bar Association Construction Law, July 2018 (Co-Editor)
• “Impact of Steel and Aluminum Tariffs on Contractor Pricing” – National Association of Surety Bond Producers webinar, April 2018 (Presenter)
• “Understanding Your Client’s Corporate and Project Structure” – American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law Annual Meeting, April 2018 (Presenter/Moderator)
• “Consent Agreements: A Trap for the Unwary” – Associated General Contractors of America’s Law in Brief, Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2017 (Author)
• “Old Dog, New Tricks: What You Need to Know About the 2017 AIA A201 General Conditions” – Associated General Contractors of America’s ConsensusDocs Construction Law Newsletter, Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2017 (Co-Author)
• The 2017 AIA A201 Deskbook, Chapter 3 – ABA Publishing – October 2017 (Co-Author)
• “Significant Changes to the AIA Owner/Contractor Agreements: What’s New? What’s a Concern?” Webinar for the Associated General Contractors of America – August 2017 (Presenter)
• “Finding Common Ground in Drafting and Negotiating Design and Construction Documents” Damages Provisions. Forum on Construction Law Regional Meeting, Newark, New Jersey – March 2016 (Presenter)
News & Events
• STA – “Shared Risk, Shared Vision: A 360° Look at Delegated Design”
• Peckar & Abramson Announces Executive Committee and Leadership Updates
• 17 Peckar & Abramson Attorneys Named 2025 Top Lawyers by Bergen Magazine
• 19 Peckar & Abramson Attorneys Named to 2025 New York Super Lawyers® & Rising Stars Lists
