Overview
Jaimee L. Nardiello is a Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP. She focuses her practice on disputes involving construction, contracts, and environmental/energy laws. She manages litigations from inception and has worked on some through trial, developing and executing strategy, and advocating on behalf of clients in court. Ms. Nardiello represents clients in all stages of commercial litigation. She has a proven track record for winning dismissals, mitigating liability, and preserving the reputations of her clients.
Ms. Nardiello negotiates contracts in transactions for high-profile construction projects. She also advocates for design professionals in complex intellectual property disputes.
Ms. Nardiello is a leader in the construction industry. She serves as Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law and is a former member of the Governing Committee. She is also a past president and current member of the Executive Board of Commercial Real Estate Women of New York (CREW) the leading organization for professional women in commercial real estate in New York City. Ms. Nardiello is a Past Chair of the Design Division of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law. She was selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law (2011-2014) and currently serves as Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Construction Lawyers Society of America. She is also a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute.
Ms. Nardiello was named to Crain's New York Business 2023 Notable Women in Law, a list that recognizes attorneys who are remarkable for both their professional accomplishments and their leadership outside the legal sphere. She was also previously named to Crain's New York Inaugural List of Leading Women Lawyers. She was named to New York Real Estate Journal’s 2023 Women in Commercial Real Estate Spotlight. Ms. Nardiello was awarded the CREW NY Founder's Award. and named a “Leading Lady” by The Mann Charitable Foundation. She was also named an Outstanding Woman in the Building Industry by the Women Builders Council. Ms. Nardiello has been recognized for her construction law practice by Super Lawyers, including being named as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in New York, The Legal 500 United States, The Best Lawyers in America, and Who’s Who Legal. Engineering News-Record (ENR) New York named her to its “Top 20 Under 40.”
Ms. Nardiello writes and speaks frequently on construction law. Some of her publications include: "Architect-Engineer Contracting," in the ABA's Federal Government Contracts, Third Edition; “AAA Construction Arbitration: A Step-By-Step Guide, Annotated Construction Glossary;” “Civil Liability for False Claims in Public Construction;” and “The Bar Exam Survival Guide: The Insider's Handbook to Passing the Bar Exam.”
Experience
Representative Matters
The following are select representative matters:
- 10.23.2020
Honors
Honors & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers
- City & State New York, Above and Beyond Awards, Real Estate
- Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow
- Crain's New York, Notable Women in Law, 2023
- Crain's New York, Inaugural List of Leading Women Lawyers
- Engineering-News Record's (ENR) Top 20 Under 40 Industry Professionals
- Founder's Award, CREWNY
- “Leading Lady” by The Mann Charitable Foundation
- "Leading Lady 2018" by Real Estate Weekly
- Outstanding Woman in the Building Industry, Women Builders Council
- Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers Rising Star
- Who's Who Legal, Leading Lawyers in Construction Law
News & Events
News
- 02.26.2025New York Real Estate Journal
- 08.15.2024
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.
- 09.17.2022New York Real Estate Journal
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner, was featured in the New York Real Estate Journal as an industry leader. The publication asked her about her career.
- 08.18.2022
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.
- 09.30.2021
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.
- 08.19.2021Best Lawyers®
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.
- 11.05.2020
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.
- 08.20.2020
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.
- 05.19.2020New York Real Estate Journal
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, was recognized by the New York Real Estate Journal in its Women and Real Estate feature.
- 09.25.2019
Eleven Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Attorneys Recognized by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers 2019
- 09.11.2019
Zetlin & De Chiara LLP has been recognized as a leading construction law firm by The Legal 500 US in its annual guide.
- 08.15.2019The Best Lawyers in America 2020
Eight attorneys at Zetlin and De Chiara LLP were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2020.
- 08.06.2019New York Real Estate Journal
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner, was honored by CREWNY with its Founder's Award as a member who exemplifies the finest qualities of the organization, consistently supports CREWNY's mission and goals, and does so with remarkable generosity in sharing both time and talent in support of others.
Zetlin & De Chiara LLP Partner Jaimee Nardiello has been elected to the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law Governing Committee.
Zetlin & De Chiara partner Jaimee Nardiello is featured in NYREJ's 'Year in Review'.
Jaimee Nardiello, a partner at construction law firm Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, will speak at the 2019 American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law’s midwinter conference on Public Construction Projects: Not Always a Hollywood Ending. The conference will celebrate the town's creativity and vitality as it explores the characteristics of public construction.
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.
"CREW New York’s history is an inspiration to all of us, recreated real estate in our city, and offered countless opportunities to women,” said Jaimee Nardiello, 2018 CREW New York presidenta and a partner with Zetlin & De Chiara LLP. “With such a great foundation, we’re about looking to the future, helping women enter, learn and succeed in our industry.
Partners Jaimee Nardiello and Loryn Riggiola of construction law firm Zetlin and De Chiara LLP have been recognized as “Leading Ladies” of the commercial real estate and development community by Real Estate Weekly.
- 12.11.2012Women in Real EstateThe Commercial Observer
- 12.2011Worried About The Bar Exam?Student Lawyer Magazine, American Bar Association
Speaking Engagements
- 12.14.2022
Zetlin & De Chiara Celebrated Our 30th Aniversary!
- 05.05.2022Virtual and Sheraton New York Times Square
Michael J. Vardaro, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP
Joeann Walker, Con Edison
Michael Hanahan, Perkins Coie
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of . . . Good Contracts): Understanding and Navigating the Ancillary Contracts in Construction
Michael Vardaro, Managing Partner, will join a panel at the ABA Forum on Construction Law to discuss the nuances of construction contracts. In-house counsel frequently draft and negotiate core construction contracts, but projects often require a variety of other specialized ancillary agreements, including joint venture arrangements, special project access issues, non-disclosure and confidentiality, unusual project finance, letters of intent, and other issues. You can sleep soundly when you have adequately papered the deal for these critical, and often unique, situations.
This session will equip counsel to recognize the need for an ancillary agreement as well as the purposes, principal components, and strategies for negotiating such specialized contracts.
- 09.23.2021Virtual Event
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara, participated in the Commercial Observer's 5th Annual Healthcare Construction Forum on September 23, 2021.
- 06.23.2021Virtual
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP
Patricia Harris, LEED AP, Special Counsel, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP; Founder and CEO, Licensure LLC
Elena Brescia, RLA, FASLA
Lina Telese, Hon. AIA- General Counsel, Jaros, Baum & Bolles
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner, and Patricia Harris, Special Counsel, will speak on a panel, Business Up Front: Contracts and Compliance at the ASLA SKILL | ED program. The panelists will share their expertise regarding the practical challenges faced by all design professionals when they establish their own practices.
- 11.07.2020Virtual
Jaimee Nardiello-Judge
Jaime Nardiello, Partner and CREW New York leader will serve as a judge at a mock RFP Team Challenge.
DIG This: A CREW Careers Program in collaboration with NEW (Nontraditional Employment for Women) and CREW Foundation.
Program will focus on the Development Lifecycle to educate and encourage NEW graduates about CRE careers available to them beyond the construction trades, culminating with a Mock RFP Team Challenge, in which NEW graduate teams develop project proposals responding to a Mock RFP, and present them to a panel of distinguished judges, which will determine the winners.
- 04.23.2020WEBINAR
Jaimee L. Nardiello, Partner, Panelist
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner, will participate in a panel that will discuss Contract and Common Law Claims, Prosecution of Claims and Remedies.
- 11.08.2019Trepp LLC, 600 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner, will participate in a panel discussion about leadership at the UCREW Program. The program, geared to undergraduate and graduate students, is an exceptional opportunity to meet with and learn from dynamic industry professionals who will share their hard-earned and honed real estate experience.
- 09.24.2019200 Liberty Street
Jaimee Nardiello, Moderator
Charles Bendit - Taconic Investment Partners; Joseph Moinian - The Moinian Group; Edward Shenderovich - Knotel
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner, moderated a panel that discussed the most important drivers in the office market in Lower Manhattan at Commercial Observer's 3rd Annual Downtown Forum. 2018 was a banner year in the Downtown market for commercial office leasing, and 2019 shows no change in this trend. Leasing activity continues to diversify and there is plenty of new supply coming to market.
- 01.30.2019
Jaimee L. Nardiello
Most lawyers already know that losing bidders often target the owner and winning bidder when they believe that bid criteria or due process requirements were not followed. But what about advisors to the owner, such as architects, construction managers, and owner’s reps? Can they be liable to the losing bidder on theories like defamation, tortious interference, and other creative claims? This session explores theories of liability of those parties for the consequences of their advice, including a discussion of defamation and other potential claims for an architect’s recommendations on bid selection.
- 10.04.2018
Jaimee Nardiello, Moderator
Tommy Craig - Hines; Marylou Berk - Le Frak; Joanne Podell - Cushman & Wakefield; Amy Rose - Rose Associates
- 10.20.2016
Jaimee Nardiello, Moderator
Amy Cuddy; Mary Ann Tighe; Sallie Krawcheck; William H. McRaven
- 2016"Contract Administration" ABA Forum on Construction Law, Regional Program on Construction Contracts
- 2016"Preliminary Hearings and Scheduling Orders" The Anatomy of a Construction Arbitration, Litigation SeminarNew Jersey
- 2015“Post occupancy Evaluations, A Legal Perspective” NY Region A&D Sustainable Design Leaders
- 11.14.2013Construction Law: Current Issues in Contracts and LitigationCenter for Real Estate Studies at New York Law School Master Class
- 2013"Making Dollars & Sense of Construction Damages," ABA Forum on Construction IndustryNaples, FL
- 04.2012American Bar Association's Forum on the Construction Industry Annual Meeting: One Nation Under the International Green Construction Code
- 2011ABA Construction Industry Forum Annual Meeting: Bridging the Hoover DamScottsdale, AZ
- 2010Arbitration, Mediation and Litigation
- 2009Legal Implications of Social Media in the Workplace
Publications
- 11.01.2021
Healthcare construction and design has changed dramatically as a result of the events of the last 18 months, which will have a lasting impact on the industry, noted Jaimee Nardiello, Partner at leading construction law firm, Zetlin & De Chiara.
As part of Commercial Observer's 5th Annual Healthcare Construction Forum, Ms. Nardiello moderated a panel of industry experts who gave their unique perspectives on how the pandemic will change healthcare facilities and thus design in a post-covid world.
Topics discussed included building add-ons like airborne pathogen detectors, negative pressure rooms, and air handling systems, as well as how designers, managers, and construction teams can work together to build care-centered facilities.
- 04.28.2021ABA Forum on Construction Law | Design Professional’s Guide to Construction Law
Jaimee Nardiello, Partner and Patricia Harris, Special Counsel authored a chapter in the ABA published book, Design Professional's Guide to Construction Law.
Chapter Abstract: The licensing of design professionals can be a confusing patchwork quilt of disparate state regulations. States have professional boards or registration agencies that handle licensing, disciplinary proceedings and other professional matters. Most states have separate legislation and supporting regulations for the design professions such as architecture and engineering.
- 10.07.2019
“Lower Manhattan has re-emerged as a dynamic, thriving market as 24/7 live-work communities show their strength and desirability and property owners, landlords and builders work to enhance its appeal,” observed Jaimee Nardiello, Partner at Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, at Commercial Observer’s “3rd Annual Downtown Forum” on September 24th.
- 10.23.2018
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.
- 10.12.2017
- 2017Architect-Engineer ContractingFederal Government Construction Contracts, Third Edition, ABA, 2017
- 2010Annotated Construction GlossaryAmerican Bar Association
- 2009Civil Liability for False Claims in Public ConstructionConstruction Advisory Report
- 2008The Bar Exam Survival Guide: The Insider's Handbook to Passing the Bar ExamProfessional Publishing Group
Affiliations
General Counsel / Board Membership
Education
New York Law School, J.D.
Marist College, B.S.
Admissions
- New York
- New Jersey
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey