Howard A. Metz

Howard A. Metz

Howard A. Metz is an experienced legal professional known for his expertise in advising and representing various private and public entities, including school districts, community colleges, park districts, and municipalities. His legal practice spans a range of areas, with a primary focus on real estate, commercial transactions, construction law, and land use and zoning matters.

Howard has made significant contributions, particularly in resolving complex construction cases. His expertise includes handling disputes related to architectural fees, construction defects, bidding issues, and construction delays. Additionally, Howard has been actively involved in litigating matters pertaining to zoning laws and municipal control over school property.

Howard’s legal practice is diverse and includes areas such as commercial law, construction law, education law, energy law, litigation, municipal law, public finance and taxation, real estate law, and zoning, planning, and land use. 

As a prolific writer, Howard has contributed to various publications, sharing his insights on topics crucial to his practice.

Education

• J.D., IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
• B.S., Political Science, University of Iowa

Admitted to Practice

• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• Supreme Court of Illinois

Organizations

• Illinois Association of School Business Officials
• Illinois Council of School Attorneys

Recent Publications

• “Navigating Public Bidding Under the Illinois School Code” UPDATE Magazine, Illinois ASBO
• Contributing author, “Joint Purchasing Everything You Want to Know but Are Afraid to Ask!” UPDATE Magazine, Illinois ASBO (2019)
• Contributing author, “Public Body Social Media Rules Make Retention, Ready Retrieval Imperative,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (2019)
• Contributing author, “How Far Does the Law Allow Schools to Go?” UPDATE Magazine, Illinois ASBO (2018)
• Co-author, “School Construction from Start to Finish: A Project Checklist,” School Business Affairs Magazine, ASBO (2018)
• Contributing author, “Organization, Finance, and Property,” Illinois School Law, IICLE (2017)
• “Look Before You Leap: Evaluating Your Joint Purchasing Options,” UPDATE Magazine, Illinois ASBO (2016)
• Contributing author, “School Property and Environmental Issues,” Illinois School Law, IICLE (2010 and 2012)

Recent Presentations

• Innovative Solutions to Student Transportation Challenges, Illinois ASBO School Business Essentials Lunch & Learn Series (January 2024)
• Purchasing and Bidding from the Basics to the Advanced, Large Unit District Association School Administrators’ Conference (October 2023)
• Bidding from the Basics to the Advanced, Robbins Schwartz Virtual Legal Update for Illinois Higher Education Institutions Conference (September 2023)
• The Open Meetings Act: FAQs and Answers, Community College Trustee Training (June 2023)
• Financial Oversight and Accountability, Community College Trustee Training (June 2023)
• Preventing Your Construction Project from Turning Sour and What to do if Problems Arise, Robbins Schwartz Purchasing and Construction Virtual Conference (April 2023)
• So You Want to Go Solar? Alternate Ways to Structure the Transition to Best Meet Your Needs, Robbins Schwartz Purchasing and Construction Virtual Conference (April 2023)
• Interactive Problem Solving for Purchasing and Construction, Robbins Schwartz Purchasing and Construction Virtual Conference (April 2023)
• School Bidding, Procurement, and Prevailing Wages: From the Basics to the Advanced, Illinois Association of School Administrators Spring Legal Seminar (March 2022)
• Legal Considerations Related to Renewable Energy, Illinois ASBO Administrator Academy: Sustainability for PK-12 Schools (November 2021)
• Bidding, Purchasing and the Continued Movement Toward Cooperative Purchasing, Robbins Schwartz Purchasing and Construction Conference (April 2021)