Samuel B. Cavnar

Samuel Cavnar represents school districts, community colleges, municipalities, and various other public entities, along with private clients including owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and various other commercial interests.  Sam is an experienced negotiator of commercial and construction-related contracts, and he regularly counsels clients in the areas of board governance, bidding, procurement, tort immunity and risk management.  Sam has been appointed Special Assistant State’s Attorney in several matters involving construction-related transactions and litigation.  Sam has successfully prosecuted and defended numerous lawsuits related to defaults, delays, extras, liquidated damages, design and construction defects, performance issues, non-payment and other similar commercial claims.

Awards

• Illinois “Rising Star”, by Super Lawyers Magazine, in the area of Construction Litigation (2012-2017)

Education

• J.D., Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, MI; Managing Editor, The Wayne Law Review 
• B.A., Accounting, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Admitted to Practice

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

Organizations

• American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry
• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois Association of School Business Officials

Recent Publications

• Co-Author, “Contagion Waivers as a COVID-19 Pandemic Risk Management Tool” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (2020)
• “How Public Sector Entities Can Protect Themselves in Premise Liability Cases,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (2018)
• “Property Tax Exemption for Charitable Organizations Remains Gray Area,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (2017)
• Contributing author, “Organization, Finance, and Property,” ILLINOIS SCHOOL LAW, IICLE (2017)
• “School Districts and Zoning Exemptions,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, (2015)

Recent Presentations

• Navigating the Public Bidding and Contract Process, IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference (January 2020)
• Statutory Requirements and Ethical Considerations for Public Officials, Illinois GFOA Annual Conference (September 2019)