Karen A. Denys

Construction Contracts

Karen has spearheaded billions of dollars in large-scale transactions, adeptly drafting and negotiating a wide variety of design, engineering, and construction contracts. Her experience ranges from standard industry forms to highly complex, specialized agreements tailored to diverse project delivery methods. This includes traditional design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager at risk (CMAR), and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC). Karen is skilled at strategically guiding clients through the entire lifespan of a project — from predesign to postconstruction. Her portfolio focuses heavily on large-scale industrial/logistics, office, mixed-use, residential/multi-family, life science, and data center developments.

Karen is deeply embedded in the leadership of the construction law community. She has been an active member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law for the past fifteen years, currently serving on the governing committee and previously chairing its 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). Karen also is an active member of the National Association of Women Lawyers Construction Affinity Group.

Construction, Real Estate, & 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 more than 20 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 daughters. Most recently, she has visited Portugal, Alaska, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. On the weekends, you can find Karen in Virginia or Georgia visiting her girls. On those occasions when Karen has some free time to herself, she focuses on tending to her yard, hiking with her husband, or simply enjoying nature.