Resume
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
With 40 years of experience in construction litigation and dispute resolution, John D. Hanover, Esq. is a seasoned construction law expert. His litigation practice focused on counseling clients in all roles of the building process for private and public works. His experience includes representing clients in complex, high-value disputes in hundreds of jury and nonjury trials, arbitrations, and mediations in matters involving contract disputes, delay claims, unforeseen site conditions, payment remedies, and claims of defective work.
Mr. Hanover is known as a neutral for his pragmatic and solutions-driven approach, with clients often describing him as “fair, calm, and smart”, “professional”, “practical”, and “relentless”. His deep understanding of construction law, combined with his strong negotiation skills and calm demeanor under pressure, make him an ideal neutral for construction law disputes.
Mr. Hanover’s prior experience includes serving as Leader of the Construction & Government Contracts practice group at Alston & Bird and as Managing Partner of Peckar & Abramson’s three West Coast offices. He also held the role of outside general counsel for an international engineering, project management, and construction services firm, where he managed high-profile U.S. litigation matters.
In 2020, Mr. Hanover was named a “Client Service All-Star” by BTI Consulting Group, as well as one of the “Top Litigators & Trial Lawyers” in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Business Journal. He is honored to be named by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as only one of three distinguished “Senior Statespersons” in California Construction and ranked Band 2 in International Arbitration: Construction USA. He also is identified as a Thought Leader in construction law in the Lexology Index, is listed in The Best Lawyers of America® for Construction Law and Construction Litigation, is a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, and is a member of the Society of Construction Law – North America.
Mr. Hanover holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Tennessee and is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, where he served as Chair of the Construction Law Subsection of the Real Property Section.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- ADR Services, Inc.: Mediator, Arbitrator, Project Neutral, Referee, Special Master, 2024-Present
- Alston & Bird: Partner, Construction & Government Contracts Group, 2017-2024
- Banes Capital Group, LLC: President and General Counsel, 2012-2017
- Peckar & Abramson, P.C.: Independent Contractor, 2012-2017
- Peckar & Abramson, P.C.: Partner, 2004-2012
- Liner, Yankelevitz, Sunshine and Regenstreif: Partner, 2002-2004
- Law Offices of John D. Hanover: Founder, 2002-2004
- Hamburg, Hanover, Edwards & Martin LLP: Founding Partner, 1994-2002
- Fierstein & Sturman: Associate/Partner, 1988-1992
- Hanover, Walsh, Jalenak & Blair: Associate, 1986-1988
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
- Construction Law
- Real Estate
- Neutral Evaluation
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Complex Litigation
- Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Board (DARB)
- International Arbitration
- Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
EDUCATION
- J.D., Vanderbilt University, 1986
- B.A., Tufts University, summa cum laude, 1983
MEDIATION TRAINING
- Certification, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, “Mediating the Litigated Case 2.0”, March 2026
- Certification, American Institute of Mediation, “Mediating Commercial and Litigated Cases”, September 2024
- Certification, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, “Mediating Complex Construction Disputes”, June 2017
BAR ADMISSIONS
- California
- Colorado
- Nevada
- Tennessee
MEMBERSHIPS
- American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law and Litigation Section
- L.A. County Bar Association, Construction Law Subsection of Real Property Section, Chair, 2018-2020
- Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Legal Division, Chair, 2006-2007
- Wexner Heritage Program, 2003-2005
- Los Angeles Hillel Council, President, 2002-2004
- Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow
- Society of Construction Law – North America
HONORS & AWARDS
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Senior Statesperson: Construction, California, 18 years ranked
- Band 2: Construction: International Disputes, Nationwide, 3 years ranked
- Best Lawyers, 2013-Present
- Lexology Index, Thought Leader, Construction, 2017-Present
- Super Lawyers, Construction, 2023-Present
