Venable Strengthens Chicago Construction Law Practice with Addition of 25-Year Litigator Charles “Cully” H. Wahtola, III

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Chicago (May 5, 2025)Venable LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Charles “Cully” H. Wahtola, III, a seasoned attorney with more than 25 years of experience, to the firm’s Construction Law Group in Chicago. Mr. Wahtola brings a wealth of knowledge and skill, enhancing the firm’s capabilities in handling complex construction matters.

Mr. Wahtola focuses his practice on the litigation, arbitration, and mediation of high-stakes design and construction disputes. He has extensive experience representing owners, developers, EPCM contractors, general contractors, construction managers, and design professionals in complex matters involving design errors and omissions, construction defects, delays, cost overruns, catastrophic injuries, and property damage claims.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cully to our team,” said Ken Roberts, chair of Venable’s Construction Law Group. “His extensive experience and deep understanding of the construction industry will significantly enhance our ability to serve clients facing complicated legal challenges. Cully’s track record in high-stakes disputes makes him a perfect fit for our firm.”

Mr. Wahtola expressed his enthusiasm for joining the firm, stating, “I am thrilled to be joining Venable’s preeminent Construction Law Group. The synergy between my experience and deep knowledge base regarding complex construction litigation, coupled with the firm’s top-tier construction law practitioners and wealth of multidisciplinary resources, will allow us to provide the highest level of representation and deliver positive results to our clients across the broad spectrum of the construction industry.”

His advisory work spans large-scale projects, including federal and state transportation initiatives, infrastructure developments, power and energy facilities, global mining and distribution projects, as well as healthcare and municipal facilities. In addition to litigation and dispute resolution, Mr. Wahtola provides project-specific legal consulting and contract drafting services for design and construction matters. He is adept at managing trial teams in both federal and state courts nationwide and conducting arbitrations before prestigious forums, including the International Commerce Commission and the American Arbitration Association.

Mr. Wahtola holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 900 professionals across the country, in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.Venable.com/.