Diana Z. Bowman
With 15 years dedicated to construction law, Diana resolves disputes and drives project success.
Diana Bowman represents owners and contractors in resolving construction disputes through negotiation, alternate dispute resolution, and trial practice. She has prosecuted and defended a range of construction claims relating to construction defect and payment disputes, construction delays and disruption, design defect disputes, economic losses, mechanics liens, and payment and performance bonds.
Diana develops strategies to mitigate project disruption by assessing claims during construction. She drafts and negotiates form and manuscript agreements and advises on claim avoidance strategies. Diana has successfully resolved disputes involving large-scale commercial, residential, energy, infrastructure, research, and transportation facilities.
In contracting, Diana manages engineering procurement construction (EPC) work, design-build projects, and master service agreements, as well as traditional owner-architect and owner-contractor agreements.
A frequent writer and speaker on construction-related topics, Diana has also taught construction law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- The John Marshall Law School, LL.M., Real Estate, 2007
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 2005
- DePaul University, B.A., Political Science, with honors, 2002
Bar and Court Admissions
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Illinois
Additional Languages
- Russian
Professional Recognition
Recommended Construction Attorney by The Legal 500 U.S., 2019
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Construction Law, 2025
Recognized as Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers, 2015-2019
Listed as an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers, 2014, 2015
*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Experience
- Currently representing an owner in a more than $75 million dispute in connection with warranty and related defect claims arising from defectively engineered solar trackers. The dispute relates to 21 separate projects located in five states and is presently being litigated.
- Currently representing an engineering firm that was named as one of nine defendants in a lawsuit arising from a $1.2 billion highway upgrade and expansion project. The action involves myriad errors and omissions claims and disruption claims totaling more than $80 million.
- Currently representing a leading owner of renewable energy generation facilities in claims involving the supply of wind turbines.
- Regularly negotiate construction and design agreements on behalf of owners, design professionals, and family offices in connection with commercial and residential projects.
- Recently resolved a dispute that was being arbitrated on behalf of a solar developer involving claims for abnormal conditions.
- Recently completed a seven-week trial in San Francisco superior court involving claims for defective construction and delay arising from the development of a 350-unit luxury high-rise project. The team prevailed on “prevailing party” post-trial motion practice, and the court held the client was entitled to recover attorneys’ fees, including trial fees and costs.
- Recently settled a payment dispute on behalf of a Midwestern power cooperative. The claim arose in connection with a more than $85 million decommissioning of a nuclear facility. She continues to represent the client in contract administration and close-out matters.
- Arbitrated claims arising out of the development of a 56-unit luxury condominium project. The dispute has a particularly complex posture, with numerous underlying lawsuits, duplicative claims by the owner in multiple forums, and a primary arbitration action being handled through JAMS.
- Representing an engineering procurement construction (EPC) contractor in connection with claims arising from the design and installation of anaerobic digestion and gas upgrading facilities.
- Represented an owner in a three-week arbitration involving claims arising from defective construction. The client was awarded damages for defective construction and attorneys’ fees and cost.
- Represented a city (population of more than 500,000 residents) against claims asserted by a contractor in connection with an infrastructure project. The claims were settled in mediation on favorable terms in which the client paid the contractor a small percentage of its claims.
- Represented the U.S. Department of Energy against claims asserted by an engineer that was retained to perform sampling in connection with the demolition of a nuclear research facility. The engineer filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The claims were settled in mediation on favorable terms without the need to file a responsive pleading or engage in any motion practice.
- Regularly provide contract administration counseling to utility, energy, and other owner-clients, including resolving sizable change order claims for delay and back charges and other contract claims.