Christopher J. Sheehy

Christopher J. Sheehy

Co-founder, Member

Fax (516) 794-1277

Overview

Chris is a co-founding member of WSSG. Chris has more than 20 years experience in commercial litigation, with an emphasis on construction and surety law. Chris has handled multi-million dollar disputes involving a wide array of complex public and private projects, including, but not limited to, schools, bridges, waste management facilities, office towers, hotels, condominium complexes, parking facilities, apartment complexes and other projects located throughout New York and New Jersey. He also assists sureties in claim review and resolution, including by working with public and private owners to find cost effective ways of resolving complex performance bond claims while also managing related trade debt and the resulting labor and material payment bond claims and subsequent indemnity recoveries. Chris has tried and mediated cases in state and federal court and has successfully handled appeals involving a multitude of issues. In addition, Chris has contributed to various articles on construction and surety law and has spoken at various industry events on topics involving surety and construction claims management and administration.

Chris received his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University and his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in May 1990. Chris then commenced his legal career working in New York City at the commercial litigation firm of Bickel & Brewer before becoming associated with the firm of Westermann & Tryon in Garden City, New York, where he became a partner in 1991. While at Westermann & Tryon, Chris concentrated his practice in construction and surety law. In 1998, he co-founded Westermann Hamilton & Sheehy, which has evolved into WSSG.

Representative Cases

  • East 49th Street Development II, LLC v. Prestige Air and Design, LLC, 33 Misc.3d 1205(A), 938 N.Y.S.2d 226 (N.Y. Sup., Kings County, 2011)
  • 150 Nassau Assocs., LLC v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 36 A.D.3d 489, 826 N.Y.S.2d 567 (1st Dep’t 2007)
  • 153 Hudson Development, LLC v. DiNunno, 8 A.D.3d 77, 778 N.Y.S.2d 482 (1st Dep’t 2004)
  • 120 Greenwich Development Associates, LLC v. Reliance Insurance Company, No. 01 Civ. 8219, 2004 WL 1277998 (S.D.N.Y. June 8, 2004)

Articles and Presentations

Publications

  • Co-Author, 'A Surety's Guide to Financing: Point, Counterpoint', ABA Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, 1999
  • Contributor, The Construction Claims Deskbook: Management, Documentation and Presentation of Claims (Construction Law Library), John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1996
  • Contributor, New York Construction Law: What Do You Do When…?, National Business Institute, Inc., 1996

Presentations

  • 'A Surety's Guide to Financing: Point, Counterpoint', ABA Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, 1999
  • Speaker, Proposed Amendment to Miller Act, New England Bond Claim Association Spring Luncheon

Practice Areas

  • Construction and surety law
  • Commercial litigation and general business law

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1991
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 1991
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1995

Education

  • J.D., Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York, 1990
    • International Law Journal
  • B.S., Binghamton University, 1987