Neal&LeroyLLC

Mr. Richter is a litigator, mediator and arbitrator concentrating in the areas of commercial disputes, torts, real estate, construction law, and appellate practice. He has extensive experience in his specified practice areas and has represented a wide variety of clients including major corporations, public clients, small businesses and individuals. Mr. Richter is an experienced mediator trained by the American Arbitration Association.  He is also an experienced arbitrator. Mr. Richter is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell.

Representative Matters

• Successfully defended the Public Building Commission of Chicago against a finding of liability in an administrative review claim by a general contractor seeking a multi-million dollar judgement.

• Represented the Public Building Commission of Chicago in construction and lien litigation.

• Conducted numerous commercial real estate sales and purchases.

• Represented private plaintiffs in civil litigation including:

• To redress property damage caused by adjacent construction.

• Legal, architectural and surveyor malpractice.

• Commercial real estate foreclosures.

• Defamation involving Internet postings.

• Defended commercial building owner against improper foreclosure.

• Represented a health care provider in ERISA claims against insurers and CHAMPUS for payment of mental health care.

• Defended tort suits involving claims of negligence and premises liability arising out of railroad, automobile and workplace accidents.

Professional Activities

• Mediator, Will County Circuit Court volunteer mediation program.

• Arbitrator for the Circuit Court of Cook County, Court-Annexed Arbitration Program

• Past President of the Board of the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois (now “Landmarks Illinois”)

• Past Adjunct Instructor, Land Use Law at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

• Past Chancellor, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary

• Member of the Society of American Military Engineers; Past Chicago Chapter Vice President

• American Bar Association – Served as head of the judges’ panel for the National Championship Round of the American Bar Association Student Arbitration Competition

• Author of articles on historic preservation and real estate law

Speaking Engagements

• Taught "Public Construction Payment Disputes", on-line CLE Course.

Reported Decisions

• Norfolk & W. Ry. Co. v. Liepelt, 444 U.S. 490 (1980).

• Venture Associates Corp. v. Zenith Data Sys. Corp., 987 F.2d 429 (7th Cir. 1993)

• Van Abbema v. Fornell, 807 F.2d 633 (7th Cir. 1986)

• Citicorp Sav. of Illinois v. Ascher, 196 Ill. App. 3d 570 (1990)

• Speedy Gonzalez Landscaping, Inc. v. O.C.A. Const., Inc., 385 Ill. App. 3d 699 (2008)

• DT Boring, Inc v. Chicago Pub. Bldg. Comm'n, 2013 WL 5835703 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 28, 2013)

• Camelot Care Centers, Inc. v. Planters Lifesavers Co., 836 F. Supp. 545 (N.D. Ill. 1993)

• People ex rel. City of Canton v. Crouch, 79 Ill. 2d 356 (1980) (Amicus Brief)

• SW Illinois Dev. Auth. v. Nat'l City Envtl., L.L.C., 199 Ill. 2d 225 (2002) (Amicus Brief)

​