National construction law firm Peckar & Abramson, P.C. (P&A) is pleased to announce that three firm partners have been selected by the New Jersey Law Journal (NJLJ) among its annual Professional Excellence Awards honorees.

Co-Founding Partner Robert (“Bob”) S. Peckar was named a Lifetime Achievement award winner, recognized for the indelible mark he has made on the profession over his more than four decades of consistent leadership and service to the construction bar, and his exceptional legal acumen.

Partner Michael S. Zicherman was recognized in the Mentor category for his continued commitment to the development of rising construction attorneys.

Levi W. Barrett, Chair of the Contracts, Project Documentation and Risk Management practice, was named a New Leader of the Bar, for his achievements and potential, while under the age of 40.

Of Bob’s honor, Firm Chairman, Steven Charney, commented “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Bob for nearly four decades. He is an excellent and dedicated attorney whose commitment to the construction industry is demonstrated in countless ways – from his service in numerous organizations over the years, to teaching and sharing his passion with others. We are proud to carry on the traditions and firm culture that Bob founded here at P&A.” He continued, “Bob is and continues to be one of the industry’s most sought after and well-respected construction lawyers.”

Of Michael Zicherman’s honor, New Jersey Managing Partner, Robert Drucker, noted, “Michael is a well-respected resource for guidance and a natural leader. It is gratifying to see him recognized for his commitment to the development of our attorneys.” 2019 Mentor Award Recipient, Partner Charles Kenny, went on to say that “Michael is approachable, thoughtful, and smart – these are the qualities everyone should search for in a mentor.”

New York Co-Managing Partner, Paul Monte, commented on Levi Barrett’s honor, saying “Levi’s recognition is a result not only of his talent, but his knowledge of the law and dedication to our clients.” Gregory Chertoff, New York office Co-Managing Partner added, “Levi is an exceptional attorney with a deep command of construction law – it’s a pleasure to have seen him develop into the leader he is today.”

About Bob Peckar

Bob Peckar, a lifelong participant in the construction industry, is Co-Founding Partner of Peckar & Abramson. His long and distinguished career spans more than four decades and he continues to have a significant impact on the construction industry and the construction bar. Over his career, Bob has shaped construction law in New Jersey and nationally. His dedication to the development of construction law in the state is evidenced by his service as the General Counsel to the Building Contractors Association of New Jersey for many years, where he actively advocated for the Association and was instrumental in multi-year efforts to have the State legislature adopt the current Lien Law.  Bob also actively participated in the NJ State Bar Association as Chair of both the Public Contract Law Committee and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. His service as Chair of those committees was widely appreciated, particularly because of his collegial and inclusive leadership. Bob is also author of New Jersey Practice: Construction Law (Volume 41) and dozens of articles on construction law and dispute resolution in the industry. Having spent the first half of his career successfully litigating complex construction cases, he has since concentrated his efforts in mentoring lawyers in the firm and guiding clients to the resolution of complex project disputes through creative solutions, including the use of ADR processes, of which he is one of the leading advocates. To learn more about Bob and his career, read his recent Q&A with the NJLJ.

About Michael Zicherman

Well known at the firm for his “open-door” policy, Michael Zicherman acts as a constant and highly engaged resource – particularly for junior attorneys, but for other firm lawyers as well, regardless of title or years in practice. In addition, Michael serves as Co-Chair of the Client Service committee for the New Jersey office. In this role, Michael engages with attorneys across all practices in the never-ending process of sharpening the skills necessary to deliver top-tier client service.

Michael is an accomplished construction lawyer and complex commercial litigator with more than 25 years of experience.  As a creative thinker and problem solver, possessing outstanding oral and written advocacy skills, he is particularly adept at distilling complex facts and issues.  Michael has a history of achieving economical and successful results for clients in litigation, arbitration, and mediation.  He is a frequent author and speaker on domestic and international construction law topics and has received numerous top accolades from various professional rating services in the fields of construction law and commercial litigation. He also is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s national roster of construction arbitrators and was named a Fellow in the Construction Lawyers Society of America.  To learn more about Michael and his mentor role, read his recent Q&A with the NJLJ.

About Levi Barrett

As Chair of the Contracts, Project Documentation and Risk Management practice, Levi Barrett leads the group in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating hundreds of construction contracts each year for projects across the country.  He specializes in representing Construction Managers, Design-Builders, and General Contractors from the earliest stages of the project through completion and assists contractors in developing deal structures, setting up appropriate contract documents, and negotiating terms to appropriately manage and mitigate risks.  Project types range from design-bid-build, design-build, EPC, integrated project delivery, and other alternative delivery structures.

Levi is often called upon to provide trainings to clients and the broader construction industry, is a well-known speaker at national conferences, and has authored or co-authored multiple articles. He is actively involved in various organizations – he is a Member of the Associated General Contractors of America’s Construction Leadership Council Steering Committee, and a Member of the Construction Law Committee of the New York City Bar.

About the New Jersey Law Journal Professional Excellence Awards

According to the NJLJ, the “Professional Excellence Awards honors deserving attorneys in numerous categories: Attorney of the Year, Law Firm of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Unsung Heroes, Innovators, Mentors, Dealmakers, Ligation Departments of the Year, Legal Departments/In-House Impact, and New Leaders of the Bar.” Selected attorneys from all award categories will be honored at a virtual event on November 4. For a complete list of all honorees, visit New Jersey Legal Awards.

About Peckar & Abramson, P.C.

Peckar & Abramson, P.C. maintains offices in New York City, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Miami, Chicago, Oakland, Los Angeles, Austin, Houston and Dallas, and has affiliations with global firms in Latin America (through its founding membership in CONSTRULEGAL), London, China and India. In addition to its core construction practice, the firm has affiliated practice groups who counsel contractors on labor and employment matters, corporate and regulatory compliance issues including D/M/WBE compliance and general corporate and real estate matters.