Wendy K. Venoit

Member

Boston

(617) 849-5002

(857) 488-4871

New York

(212) 509-9400

Recent News:

Wendy Venoit Inducted into the National Academy of Construction

Wendy Venoit, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Practice, has been inducted into the National Academy of Construction (NAC).

Wendy has more than 25 years of experience as a construction lawyer and arbitration advocate whose practice focuses on representing contractors and owners in litigation and arbitration of construction disputes. Wendy has extensive first chair experience in domestic and international construction disputes, including litigation in state and federal forums and mediation and arbitration before the AAA, JAMS, LCIA, ICDR and ICC. She is also regularly asked to counsel clients with respect to ongoing construction projects (serving as project counsel) to draft and negotiate contracts, interpret contract terms, assert and defend claims, and resolve disputes so as to avoid litigation.  

Wendy has counseled clients and served as lead trial/arbitration counsel in a number of domestic and international arbitrations and lawsuits involving construction projects. These have included renewable energy (offshore wind, hydroelectric, and solar power), oil and gas facilities (refineries, upgraders, and terminals), infrastructure and transportation projects, traditional power plants, and vertical construction projects. As an advocate, Wendy has litigated before state and federal forums throughout the United States and arbitrated cases administered by the AAA, JAMS, ICC, ICDR and the LCIA, as well as ad hoc arbitrations. Several of these disputes have involved mega projects with amounts in controversy of more than $1 billion. Most recently Wendy achieved an arbitration award of more than $237 million (including all attorney's fees and costs) on behalf of her client in an international arbitration administered by the ICDR involving the wrongful termination for cause of a combined cycle power plant project.

Wendy also regularly sits as an arbitrator in domestic and international construction arbitrations and is part of the AAA panel of construction arbitrators, the AAA Mega Projects Panel, the ICDR panel of international arbitrators, the CPR Distinguished panel of neutrals, the LCIA panel of arbitrators and is a member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Prior to joining the firm, she was a partner in the Construction & Public Contracts group of Hinckley Allen. She was also the vice president, general counsel, and secretary for Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. In that role, she provided legal advice to the executive committee, corporate departments, and regional management; oversaw the negotiation of the company’s largest construction management agreements; proactively worked with management to identify risk on construction projects and implement risk mitigation plans; managed and worked with outside counsel on litigation matters; and generally handled all legal matters for the corporation.

Wendy is recognized for Construction Law and Litigation – Construction in the International Who’s Who of Construction Law, Hartford Business Journal Who’s Who of Construction Law. She was recently named a 2021 Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year for her achievement of one of the largest arbitration awards in Massachusetts history.

Wendy earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross and her law degree, magna cum laude and graduated valedictorian, from Pace University School of Law.

Experience

News

Wendy Venoit Inducted into the National Academy of Construction

October 11, 2024

Wendy Venoit, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Practice, has been inducted into the National Academy of Construction (NAC).

Two Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2024 Massachusetts Super Lawyers

October 11, 2024

Super Lawyers has named two Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2024 list of top practitioners in Massachusetts.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Cozen O’Connor Continues its Boston Expansion adding Veteran Labor and Employment Lawyer Walter M. Foster

May 29, 2024

Foster comes to the firm from Eckert Seamans and joins Cozen O’Connor’s national Labor & Employment Department as a shareholder.

Wendy Venoit Discusses High Stakes Construction Projects with the Construction Super Conference

December 01, 2023

Wendy Venoit was interviewed by the Construction Super Conference to share insights about her experience with high-stakes construction projects.

Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to 2023 Massachusetts Super Lawyers

October 24, 2023

Wendy K. Venoit was named a 2023 Massachusetts Super Lawyer and Michael Filbin was named a 2023 Massachusetts Rising Star.

Wendy Venoit Reinstalled as Member of the GSUSA National Board Development Committee

July 31, 2023

Wendy Venoit, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been reinstalled as a member of the National Board Development Committee of the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA).

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Attorneys in its 2023 Guide

July 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.

Newest CSC EAB Member: “Old Pay-To-Play Format Is Long Gone”

June 22, 2023

Wendy Venoit was quoted in an article discussing her new role as a Construction SuperConference educational advisory board member and her opinions on the educational sessions that contribute to a successful conference.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

Wendy Venoit Named a 2023 Massachusetts Go To Construction Lawyer by Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly

May 31, 2023

Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce that Wendy Venoit, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been named a 2023 Massachusetts Go To Construction Lawyer by Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly.

Wendy Venoit Inducted into The Moles

May 01, 2023

Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce that Wendy Venoit, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Practice, has been inducted into The Moles, a highly prestigious nationwide fraternal organization of heavy construction professionals.

Wendy Venoit Elected to American College of Construction Lawyers Board of Governors

March 07, 2023

Wendy Venoit, member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been elected to the American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL) Board of Governors.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

Wendy Venoit Named a 2021 Lawyer of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly

March 18, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Wendy Venoit, member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been named a 2021 Lawyer of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly.

Hub Hires: Ropes & Gray, Fisher Phillips, Nutter

March 01, 2022

Wendy Venoit was quoted in a Law360 article that featured a long list of attorney moves in Boston during the month of February.

Cozen O'Connor Expands Into Boston With Construction Pro

February 02, 2022

Wendy Venoit was featured in a Law360 article that discusses her move to Cozen O'Connor.

Cozen O’Connor Expands its Geographic Reach to Boston with Addition of Well-Known Construction Lawyer and Arbitrator, Wendy K. Venoit, to the Construction Practice Group

January 31, 2022

Venoit brings a distinguished history of litigation and arbitration of infrastructure, power, renewable energy, oil and gas, and vertical construction projects throughout the United States and internationally.

Publications

Design-Build and EPC Contracting: A Practical Legal Guide [American Bar Association]

August 06, 2024

Wendy Venoit served as an editor of the Design-Build and EPC Contracting: A Practical Legal Guide published by the American Bar Association.

IRS Proposes Helpful Rules for Energy Tax Credits [Alert]

November 27, 2023

Chris McLoon and Wendy Venoit discuss the Internal Revenue Service’s proposed regulations concerning energy tax credits.

Structuring and Laying the Foundation for an Effective Complex Construction Arbitration

June 23, 2023

Wendy Venoit, Ralf Rodriguez, and Josephine Bahn contributed an article to the Jus Connect June 2023 Construction Arbitration Report.

The International Compendium of Construction Contracts

May 10, 2021

Wendy Venoit co-authored the United States chapter of The International Compendium of Construction Contracts.

Follow the Money: Interpretation and Evaluation in a Forensic Schedule Analysis [The Construction Lawyer]

December 01, 2019

Wendy Venoit co-authored an article for The Construction Lawyer that discusses the third phase of Forensic Schedule Analysis in the context Rule 702.

Events & Seminars

Upcoming Events

18th Annual Women in Construction Leadership and Networking Conference

October 18, 2024 - Arlington, VA

Stephen Seeger, Wendy Venoit, and Josephine Bahn will speak on panels at the 18th Annual Women in Construction Leadership and Networking Conference.

Past Events

Dispute Resolution in the Renewable Energy Sector

September 24, 2024 - New York, NY

2023 Construction Super Conference

November 29, 2023 - Hollywood, FL

View From the Arbitrator’s Bench

September 28, 2023 - Washington, D.C.

Offshore Wind: Managing Legal Risk

May 09, 2023 - Boston, Massachusetts

What Doesn’t Beat Us Makes Us Stronger

April 27, 2023 - Amherst, Massachusetts

Discovery Best Practices for Construction Arbitration

April 20, 2023 - New York, New York

Discovery Best Practices in Construction Arbitration

March 24, 2023 - Rancho Mirage, California

2022 Construction Super Conference

December 06, 2022 - Las Vegas, Nevada

Arbitration v. Litigation

October 26, 2022 - Boston, MA

What is Really Out There?

July 28, 2022 - New York, NY

Where Are We Headed?

April 14, 2022 - Amherst, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Construction Law

February 20, 2022 - Webinar

2021 Construction SuperConference

December 06, 2021 - Orlando, FL

ABA Forum on Construction Law 2021 Regional Meeting

September 30, 2021 - Nashville, TN

International Perspectives on COVID-19

June 30, 2020 - Webinar

Education

  • Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, J.D., magna cum laude, 1996
  • College of the Holy Cross, B.A., 1993

Awards & Honors

International Who’s Who of Construction Law, 2013-2014, 2016-2024

Chambers USA for Construction Law 2022-2024, Band 1. This award is conferred by Chambers & Partners. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, “Corporate Achiever” Award, 2008

Hartford Business Journal Who’s Who of Construction Law, “40 under Forty,” 2007

Connecticut Law Tribune New Leaders of the Law Award for “Development of the Law,” 2005

Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year, 2021

Massachusetts Super Lawyer. This award is conferred by Super Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Go To Construction Lawyer, 2023

  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Massachusetts
  • Connecticut
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- New Hampshire
  • U.S. District Court -- New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court -- Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

ABA Forum on Construction Law; former Chair of the Forum; former Membership Committee and International Construction Committee Chair; and former Governing Committee Member

American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL), Fellow; 2023-2026 Board of Governors; former International Law Committee Chair; ACCL 2023 Annual Meeting Chair

American Arbitration Association (AAA), AAA Board Council; Construction Panel Member; ICDR Panel Member; Mega Projects Panel Member; former National Dispute Resolution Committee Co-Chair

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Board Member North American Branch; Boston Chapter Co-Chair

International Bar Association (IBA), International Construction Projects Group Member

International Centre for Dispute Resolution, Neutral and International Advisory Committee Member

National Academy of Construction, Fellow

Professional Women in Construction, Connecticut Chapter, Founder; former President, Treasurer, and Secretary

Women in Construction, Board Member

Girl Scouts of America, National Board Development Committee Member 

The Moles

Construction SuperConference, Educational Advisory Member