Aileen M. Leipprandt practices in the areas of commercial litigation and construction litigation. She has represented a variety of clients on behalf of the firm in these areas, including large retailers, manufacturers, governmental agencies, owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.
Aileen has been a lecturer speaker and author on a variety of topics involving contract and construction law including Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bidding on Public Works, Public Works Act, MIOSHA Compliance, and the Michigan Construction Lien Act.
She is married to Steve, an agronomist and avid gardener, and they have two young children. They enjoy outdoor activities, especially skiing and golf.
Admitted to Practice
- State Bar of Michigan, 1991
Education
- Alma College (B.A., Business/History, magna cum laude)
- Indiana University (J.D)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association (Sections: Forum on Construction; Product Liability)
- State Bar of Michigan (Sections: Real Property; Negligence)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association (Treasurer and Board of Directors, Young Lawyers, 1991-1995; Committees: Community Relations 1996-1999; Law Day, 1995-1997; Pro Bono, 1999-2001)
- Defense Research Institute (Committees: Construction; Product Liability)
- Associated General Contractors (Committee: Legal Advisory, 1997 - )
- Associated Builders and Contractors, Western Michigan Chapter (President/Board Chair, 2007-2008, Board of Directors, 2004-; Construction Specifications Task Force, 2003-).
- Construction Specifications Institute, 1997 -
- American Subcontractors Association of West Michigan
- National Association of Women in Construction (Board of Directors, 2001 - 2003; Community Giving Committee, 1999 - 2005)
- Home and Building Association of Grand Rapids (Committees: Ethics and Complaint, 1999-2005; Education Task Force, 1998-1999; Community Service, 1999-2001); Alternate Director, Michigan Association Home Builders, 2001- )
Community Affiliations
- Habitat for Humanity (Steering Committee, 2003 Women Build; volunteer laborer)
- Heart of West Michigan United Way (Community Wide Care Review Team Member, 1994 - 2000; Co-Chair Children Ready to Succeed Investment Council, 2000 - 2004)
- White Pines United Methodist Church, Belmont, Michigan (Congregational Care Team)
Presentations
- "Construction Liens," Lunch and Learn Seminar, Chicago Title, September, 2007
- "Construction Documents-What do they all mean?," Real Property Section Summer Conference, State Bar of Michigan, July 2007
- "Construction Law for Engineers, Architect and Contractors: Disappointed Bidder," HalfMoon Seminars, April, 2007
- "Protect Your Business: Liens," Home & Building Association of Grand Rapids, April, September, 2007.
- "Amendments to the Construction Lien Act," Construction Financial Manager's Association, February, 2007
- "Construction Liens/Builders Trust Fund," Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Client Seminar, February, 2007
- “Construction Liens,” Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Client Seminar, November, 2006.
- “Key Issues Affecting the Construction Business,” Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Construction Seminar, September, 2006.
- “Remodeling Experience: Terrific or Terrible,” Home & Building Association of Grand Rapids, March, 2006.
- “Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects in MI”, National Business Institute, February, 2006.
- “Contract Terms, Notice of Repair, Code of Ethics, Warranty”, Home & Building Association of Grand Rapids, January, 2006.
- “Disappointed Bidder”, “Conflicts of Interest”, “Surety Bonds”, and “Ethics and Kickbacks,” Lorman Education Services, October, 2004, August, 2005.
- “Managing Financial Exposure” and “Planning to Get Paid”, Risk Management for the Construction Industry, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Client Seminar, November, 2004.
- “Planning to Get Paid” and “Construction Liens”, Design Professionals Seminar, September, 2004.
- “Risk Transfer of Financial Exposure For Contractors”, Berends Hendricks Stuit Risk Transfer Seminar, February, 2004
- “Defending Builder Licensing Complaints”, Home & Building Association of Grand Rapids, December, 2003
- “Surety Relationships and Responsibility for Failing to Procure Performance and Payment Bonds For a Public Entity,” Lorman Education Services, July 2003 and April, 2003
- “Bid Protests and Remedies for the Disappointed Bidder,” Lorman Education Services, April, 2003
- Remodelors School, Home & Building Association of Grand Rapids, June 2003, February, 2003, September, 2005
- Panelist, “Projects for Special Ministry Groups”, “A Time to Build Faith Leadership Conference”, Habitat for Humanity, February, 2003
- “The Michigan Construction Lien Act,” National Women in Construction, May, 2002
- “Surety Relationships and Responsibility for Failing to Procure Performance and Payment Bonds on Behalf of a Public Entity,” Lorman Education Services, March, 2002
- “Bid Protests and Remedies for the Disappointed Bidder,” Lorman Education Services, March, 2002
- “Consumerism in the Residential Construction Industry – Defending Consumer Protection Claims and Licensing Complaints,” Home & Building Association of Grand Rapids, Legal Issues Seminar, October, 2001
- “Contractor Jeopardy”, Associated Builders & Contractors, Western Michigan Chapter, Leadership Development Series Seminar, September, 2001
- “Responding to MIOSHA Citations”, MIOSHA Construction Safety Seminar, Lorman Education Services, June 2001
- “What To Do When The Inspector Comes Calling”, MIOSHA Construction Safety Seminar, Lorman Education Services, June, 2001
- “Construction Liens”, Critical Construction Issues in Michigan, Lorman Education Services, December, 1998
- "Alternative Dispute Resolution", Defense Research Institute, Construction Law Conference, San Diego, California, March 1996
Publications
- “Construction Lien Remedy Not Available For Improvements On “to-be-installed” Trade Fixtures,” AGC Legal Advisory, October, 2006.
- “Court Reaffirms Limitations On Miller Act Payment Bond Requirements,” AGC Legal Advisory, October, 2006.
- “Contractor Gets Another Bite At Unforeseen Conditions Claim,” AGC Legal Advisory, October, 2006.
- “Contract Terms, Notice of Repair, Code of Ethics, Warranty,” April, 2006.
- “Following a Code”, Home and Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids, HOMEwords, December, 2005.
- “Healthcare Construction—An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure,” Health Law Alert, November, 2005.
- “Disappointed Bidder”, “Conflicts of Interest”, “Surety Bonds”, and “Ethics and Kickbacks,” of “Public Contract Code and Competitive Public Bidding in Michigan”, Lorman Education Services, October, 2004, August, 2005.
- "Copying Doesn't Pay", Home and Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids, HOMEwords, October, 2004
- “MIOSHA: Chapter IX”, "A Contractor's Guide to Michigan Construction Law", Associated General Contractors, Michigan Chapter, 2004.
- “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors? Maybe Not”, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, Legal Ease, February, 2004
- “Sworn Statements With Teeth”, Home & Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids, HOMEwords, May 2003
- “Mold – What a Mess!”, Business Update, March 2003
- “Get Legal or Get Lost”, Grand Rapids Home and Building Association, HOMEwords, September, 2002
- “MIOSHA: Evidentiary Considerations at Trial”, Michigan Defense Quarterly, Volume 18, No. 4, May 2002
- “Handling a MIOSHA Investigation”, Michigan Defense Quarterly, Volume 18, No. 3, March 2002
- “The Best Offense Is A Good Defense; Handling A MIOSHA Investigation”, Business Update, March 2002
- “Consumerism In The Residential Construction Industry - Defending Consumer Protection Claims and Licensing Complaints”, seminar materials Home & Building Association of Grand Rapids, October, 2001
- “So...You Didn’t Get What You Paid For”, Grand Rapids Home and Building Association. HOMEwords, October, 2001
- “Disturbing 2X2 - The Lowdown on Lead”, Grand Rapids Home Builders Association, HOMEwords, October, 1999
- “When The Contract Says “X”, But Instead You Do “Y””, Grand Rapids Home Builders Association, HOMEwords, August, 1998
