Each year, Midwest Real Estate News elects a new class to its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Here’s a look at one of our new inductees, Lawrence Dudek, principal with Miller Canfield in Detroit.
Lawrence Dudek shines when he is working on large, complex real estate projects with several stakeholders and multiple moving parts. That’s when his knowledge of commercial real estate law truly benefits his clients.
Dudek, a principal with Detroit law firm Miller Canfield, boasts more than 45 years of experience in the field of commercial real estate law. During his long career, Dudek has helped his clients navigate the legal challenges that come with developing major projects. This often means that Dudek is dealing with a multitude of project participants at any one time, including ownership, design professionals, owner reps, construction managers, specialty contractors and several commercial and professional liability insurers and sureties.
An example of this? Dudek played a crucial role in advising and representing project participants in the construction of some of Detroit’s most important developments including Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, and Ford Field, home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. He has also represented project participants in the renovation for the Renaissance Center GM World Headquarters, Dime building and 1001 Woodward building, all key projects in Detroit’s current rejuvenation.
Working with so many people on so many projects can sometimes lead to challenges. When asked what the biggest challenges in his career have been, Dudek points to “Trying to find consensus among constituencies with different, and sometimes competing, interests.”
Dudek overcomes this challenge by listening to his clients, presenting them with the legal facts and advising them on the best possible strategies they can take to reach the outcomes they need to complete their projects. By dealing with his clients in this fact-based manner, Dudek has earned their trust. And this has earned Dudek plenty of repeat business throughout his career.
Another secret to Dudek’s success? He works with highly skilled partners.
“I have surrounded myself with highly competent people over the years, and I have stayed abreast of developments in the industry,” he said.
Not all of Dudek’s work is on projects generating big headlines, of course. This legal veteran has also guided owners through the challenges posed by contractor default and developed the strategies they need, while explaining the risks involved, when declaring contractor default and contract termination. This work includes dealing with the surety on matters where performance bonds have been provided and assisting ownership in arranging for the completion of the work by the trades after a contractor default.
Dudek has also worked with ownership on issues involving the resolution of design and construction defects during the construction of their projects. He has been instrumental in drafting strategies to help secure the necessary experts to assist his clients in finding a path to completion of their projects.
Based on this experience, it’s not surprising that Dudek is a frequent speaker at commercial real estate events or that he has earned several key industry honors.
For example, Dudek has been a speaker and presenter on topics such as construction claims, real estate foreclosure and commercial real estate receiver issues for the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, a group in which he was inducted as a fellow in 2005. He is also a leader within the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section, which he chaired from 2003 to 2004. He chaired the State Bar of Michigan Land Title Standards Committee from 2017 to 2019.
When he’s not working, Dudek focuses on health and family. He says he enjoys spending time with his family, running and cycling.