About Justin N. Leonelli
Justin N. Leonelli is a projects and infrastructure attorney who helps owners, developers, contractors, design professionals, manufacturers, suppliers, and other businesses navigate their most important projects, contracts, and disputes.
Recognized by Chambers USA, Justin serves as both project counsel and dispute counsel on some of the most sophisticated industrial, energy, manufacturing, and commercial infrastructure matters across the United States and internationally. Clients rely on him to provide practical, business-oriented advice throughout the project lifecycle, from contract strategy and risk allocation through project execution, claims management, and dispute resolution.
Justin’s practice spans the full spectrum of project delivery and infrastructure development. He regularly advises on the negotiation and administration of engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”); design-build; engineering; procurement; construction management; supply chain; and other complex commercial agreements. When disputes arise, he represents clients in litigation, arbitration, mediation, and other forms of dispute resolution involving delay, disruption, defective work, productivity impacts, scope disputes, payment disputes, warranty issues, and major contract claims.
Bloomberg Law has recognized Justin’s practice for “bringing continuity from contract negotiation through execution and dispute resolution.” Among other areas, his experience includes matters involving:
- Energy and Power: Power plants, pipelines, oil refineries, coal mines, natural gas transmission and distribution facilities, solar fields, wind farms, battery storage facilities, and other conventional, renewable, and emerging energy assets;
- Industrial and Manufacturing: Manufacturing plants, steel mills, chemical facilities, refineries, and industrial processing facilities;
- Technology and Mission Critical Facilities: Data centers, cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure, telecommunications infrastructure, defense-related facilities, and other mission-critical assets;
- Transportation and Public Infrastructure: Aviation, rail, roadway, and related public works projects; and
- Commercial and Institutional Development: High-end commercial, retail, mixed-use, higher education and university projects, and other institutional developments.
In addition to his projects and infrastructure practice, Justin advises clients on complex commercial disputes and supply-chain matters. He has substantial experience negotiating and resolving disputes involving domestic and international supply agreements, manufacturing contracts, equipment procurement, and large-scale commercial transactions. He is regularly working on matters involving issues under both the Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”) and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (“CISG”).
Justin’s clients range from Fortune 500 companies and global engineering and construction firms to project owners, developers, manufacturers, design professionals, and suppliers. He is particularly valued for his work ethic, creative approach, and his ability to bridge the gap between legal strategy and practical business objectives.
Before joining Blank Rome, Justin practiced at two Am Law 50 firms, where he developed a national practice focused on construction, infrastructure, energy, and high-stakes commercial disputes.
Outside the Firm
Justin grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where he attended Cardinal Mooney High School. He now resides in a northern suburb of Pittsburgh. In his spare time, Justin likes to hang out with his wife and kids.
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
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Experience
- Counsel for a global light rail and transportation manufacturer in a dispute arising from the modernization of an urban light rail transit system.
- Counsel for global engineering firm in dispute arising from the design and engineering of a first-of-its-kind industrial chemical processing facility.
- Counsel for a diesel manufacturer in an International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) arbitration in New York, brought with client’s consortium partner and co-claimant against the project owner of five separate diesel-fired power plants in the Republic of Chile. The claims relate to a dispute over project delays and breach of five engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”) contracts.
- Counsel for a synthetic rubber manufacturer regarding a $40-million breach of contract dispute regarding a butyl synthetic rubber production facility in Canada. The matter is against the manufacturer of O-ring seals that the client contracted for its refrigeration compressors; the seals ultimately failed, causing the client damage to its rubber production.
- Counsel for the owner of the largest commercial building in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in relation to its defective construction claim against trade contractors, construction manager, and engineer of record. Specifically, this matter involved construction and design defects to the façade of the building, leading to millions of dollars in repair costs and related damages.
- Counsel for a Taiwanese civil/structural subcontractor in connection with disputes arising out of the construction of a new 500-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Taiwan. The seat was Taipei, and the arbitration was being conducted under the auspices/rules of the Hong Kong ’International Arbitration Center (Domestic). The applicable law was Taiwanese law, and the language of the arbitration was English.
- Counsel for a global light rail and transportation manufacturer in relation to the failure of certain guideway ride plates located at the Phoenix International Airport.
- Counseled for a global wind turbine manufacturer and supplier in relation to construction of several different wind farm projects involving claims for delay, defect, force majeure, and changes, and defending against liquidated damages.
- Counsel for an international EPC contractor in connection with claims arising out of the construction of the largest oil refinery in South America. Claims and cross-claims exceeded $2.2 billion in one of the largest ICC arbitrations on record.
- Counsel for a university in dispute involving claims from multiple general contractors in relation to COVID-19 and other force majeure delays.
- Counsel for a German manufacturer in multimillion-dollar dispute related to the construction of its carbon black manufacturing facility in the United States.
- Represented a national meal delivery start-up in multimillion-dollar dispute related to the construction of its east coast food processing facility. This matter implicated numerous mechanic’s lien claims, nearly a dozen change order disputes, and various defective construction claims.
- Counsel for an international manufacturer of advanced thermal technology in multimillion-dollar dispute alleging claims of defective supply related to the construction of a natural gas-fueled generating facility.
- Counsel for an international engineering firm and design-build contractor in multimillion-dollar lawsuit alleging claims of negligent misrepresentation related to its design of a municipal ash recycling and processing facility.
- Counsel for a renewable energy company in relation to a five-site solar field project involving claims of delay. This matter initiated across the state of Maine and involved delay claims valued at $40 million. This matter also involved the defense of numerous subcontractor and supplier mechanic’s liens.
- Counsel for a turbo-machinery manufacturer in relation to the construction of its manufacturing facilities throughout the United States.
- Counsel for an affordable housing start-up in relation to construction of its residential buildings throughout Western Pennsylvania.
- Counsel for owner of former federal courthouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in relation to claims for breach of commercial sale agreement.
- Counsel for a national coal exploration company in breach of coal lease dispute related to client’s underground mining operations.
- Counsel for for a town in Pennsylvania in multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving claims for defective construction and differing site conditions related to the construction of the township’s subsurface sewer system.
- Counsel for a national petroleum and natural gas exploration company in multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving various claims related to the subsurface contamination of protected forestland.
- Counsel for owner of a nuclear and coal-fired power plant in lawsuit brought by coal mine alleging, among other claims, breach of a long-term coal supply agreement and claiming damages in the hundreds of millions.
- Counsel for owner of the nation’s most efficient and cleanest coal-fired power plant in lawsuit brought by coal mine alleging breach of a long-term coal supply agreement.
- Counsel for a regional energy and infrastructure maintenance provider in lawsuit against competing business alleging claims for trade secret infringement and unfair competition.
- Counsel for a conglomerate of entities in intracompany deadlock over financing for a multimillion-dollar luxury apartment complex.
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
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News & Views
Honors & Awards / Ranking
Chambers USA 2026 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and PracticesJune 4, 2026
Events & Webinars / Speaking Engagement
Justin N. Leonelli: Noteworthy Speaking EngagementsThrough to 2026
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
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Recognitions
- 2026, Construction Law, listed in Chambers USA
- Allegheny County Council Proclamation
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Legal Research & Writing
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Advanced Legal Writing: Writing in Law Practice
- Best Appellate Brief in Academic Mock Appeal
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
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Memberships
- Society of Construction Law - North America
- Allegheny County Bar Association
Professional Activities
- Society of Construction Law – North America, Regional Director – Delaware Valley Region
- New Century Careers, Director (2017–2021)
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.
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Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Pennsylvania
Education
- Duquesne University, BA
- Duquesne University School of Law, JD
A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.