Carol J. Patterson

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is proud to have 15 attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for their work in construction law and construction litigation in New York and New Jersey, including six associates who were recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Zetlin & De Chiara Senior Partner Carol J. Patterson has been named to City & State’s 2022 “Responsible 100,” a list of “New York’s 100 most outstanding corporate citizens.”

The award is intended to honor an “elite group of NY’s most powerful executives, thought leaders, visionaries and influencers, who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication and leadership in improving their communities and making transformative change.”

Zetlin & De Chiara partners Michael Zetlin, Michael De Chiara, Bill Chimos, Tim Hegarty, Ray Mellon, Jaimee Nardiello, Carol Patterson, Loryn Riggiola,  and Jim Terry were once again recognized by Best Lawyers in their 2023 list of top Construction attorneys.

Additionally, Hal Blanchard, Rachel John, Anazette Ray and Roy Schwartz were selected as Ones to Watch.

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP continued to be recognized as leaders in the Construction sector, with the firm and five of its partners receiving high rankings in the Chambers USA ranking of America’s leading business lawyers.

Leading construction law firm Zetlin & De Chiara LLP announced today that eleven of the firm’s partners were selected to Super Lawyers 2021, part of Thomson Reuters. One associate was chosen for the Rising Star list.

Zetlin & De Chiara lawyers received wide recognition by Best Lawyers in their 2022 edition for being among the most skilled and accomplished construction lawyers in New York and New Jersey.

New York, NY (May 20, 2021)– Zetlin & De Chiara LLP has been ranked as a top construction law firm in New York for the 15th consecutive year by Chambers USA in its 2021 guide to top law firms and lawyers. In addition, all four senior partners were ranked as leaders in their field.

New York, NY (November 5, 2020) - Leading construction law firm Zetlin & De Chiara LLP announced today that ten of the firm’s attorneys were selected to Super Lawyers 2020, part of Thomson Reuters. An annual attorney rating service, Super Lawyers recognizes outstanding lawyers who have attained a high level of professional achievement and are well respected by their peers and colleagues. The selection process, culling from over 70 practice areas, includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

New York, NY, (August 20, 2020) -- Zetlin & De Chiara LLP is pleased to announce that nine lawyers have been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

In addition, three lawyers have been included in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognizes lawyers demonstrating outstanding professional skills early in their careers in private practice in the United States.

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Earns Top Recognition in Chambers USA for Being “Top Caliber in Matters Arising in Construction Law”

Z&D Senior Partner Carol J. Patterson Named Real Estate/Construction Law Trailblazer By National Law Journal

Carol J. Patterson served as the lead editor for the newly revised American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law's updated textbook, Construction Law, Second Edition, which is now available. Timothy Hegarty is among the co-authors of the textbook. 

Purchase the book here https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/364203111/

Eleven Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Attorneys Recognized by Thomson  Reuters’ Super Lawyers 2019

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP has been recognized as a leading construction law firm by The Legal 500 US in its annual guide. 

Eight attorneys at Zetlin and De Chiara LLP were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2020. 

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP has been ranked as a top construction law firm in New York for the 13th consecutive year by Chambers USA in its 2019 guide to top law firms and lawyers. Four partners were again ranked as leaders in their fields.

CREWNY, Commercial Real Estate Women New York, announced boutique construction law firm Zetlin & De Chiara LLP as the recipient of the 2018 Sponsor of the Year Award. For nearly 20 years, the firm has supported CREWNY’s dedication to the advancement of professional women in commercial real estate through networking, education and leadership development.

Zetlin & De Chiara LLP announced today that the firm has once again been selected for National Tier 1 in the areas of Construction Law and Construction Litigation by U.S. News for its annual “Best Law Firms” ranking.

Zetlin and De Chiara LLP, a leading construction law firm, is honored to announce that seven of the firm’s attorneys have been named “Best Lawyers in America” for 2019. Additionally, co-founding partner Michael Zetlin has been selected as a “Lawyer of the Year” within the Construction Law practice group in the New York City region by the respected, peer review guide.

Construction law firm Zetlin & De Chiara LLP announced today that for the 12th consecutive year, the firm has been ranked as a  top construction law firm in New York by Chambers USA. Additionally, four partners from the firm were ranked as leaders in their fields.

New York, NY (August 15, 2016) - Zetlin and De Chiara LLP is pleased to announce that seven of the firm’s attorneys were named to the 2017 Best Lawyers in America list. 

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most highly-respected peer review guide to the legal profession worldwide. Ranked attorneys reflect the high level of respect earned among other leading lawyers and clients within their communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.

Michael De Chiara, Michael Zetlin, Ray Mellon and Carol Patterson were named leading construction litigators in the January 26 – February 8, 2010 issue of New York Real Estate Journal.

Michael De Chiara, Michael Zetlin, Ray Mellon and Carol Patterson were named leading construction litigators in the January/February 2010 issue of Super Lawyers.

An article titled “Sustainability: Changing Values Create New Business Opportunities for Green Construction” was published in the July 2009 issue of New York Construction with commentary by Carol J. Patterson.

Carol J. Patterson co-authored Construction Law, the definitive construction law text book to be used by universities throughout the United States and published by the American Bar Association, Spring 2009.

Four New York Partners, Michael S. Zetlin, Michael K. De Chiara, Raymond T. Mellon and Carol J. Patterson, were recognized in the September 23, 2007 issue of New York Magazine as Super Lawyers in the field of construction law. Click here for details.

Carol J. Patterson's interview with Mysore Nagaraja, President of MTA Capital Construction, originally published in the firm's Quarterly Newsletter, appeared in the August 29th, 2007 issue of Real Estate Weekly.

Real Estate Weekly, November 23, 2005, salutes the Association of Real Estate Women's efforts in naming their first "Man of the Year". Carol Patterson, a partner of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, is recognized as a member of the panel responsible for making this historic decision.

Real Estate Weekly, April 2, 2003, No. 35, Vol. 49; Pg. S6; ISSN: 1096-7214, RE industry out in force to celebrate AREW's 25th; Association of Real Estate Women; Carol J. Patterson, Esq., partner at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, served on the 25th Anniversary Committee.

Real Estate Weekly, August 7, 2002, No. 1, Vol. 49; Pg. 4; ISSN: 1096-7214, "Who's News: Management Personnel; Brief Article;" Carol J. Patterson, Esq., a partner at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, received the Association of Real Estate Women's Founders' Award for 2001-2 recognizing outstanding contributions to AREW. She served as president of AREW for the 1998-9 term.

Real Estate Weekly June 7, 2000 No. 45, Vol. 46; Pg. 2, 20166 words THE TOP 100 WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE; Carol J. Patterson, a partner in the law firm of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, is a leading legal counselor and business advisor to clients in the construction industry and building design professionals.

Zetlin & De Chiara Celebrated Our 30th Aniversary!

Summer turned up the heat at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP where we were involved in two of the most prominent construction cases in the nation. With attorneys airborne between the East and West Coasts, the office has been busy on the ground with client matters, fielding questions from the press, speaking at industry events and supporting community and professional organizations. Even as the temperature outside cools, our high level of activity shows no signs of chilling.