Heidi Hennig Rowe

Partner
Heidi Henning Rowe

Heidi Hennig Rowe is the deputy practice group leader of Venable's Construction Law Group and a member of the firm's Board. Heidi has more than 25 years of experience helping developers and project owners manage construction-related risks. She drafts and negotiates more than a billion dollars in design and construction contracts on an annual basis for projects of many types throughout the country and regularly advises clients on claims management and claims enforcement, helping clients to resolve claims before they become formal disputes.

Heidi focuses on finding practical business solutions to construction-related risks. She understands the various concerns and priorities of the parties around the negotiation table, which makes her an effective negotiator and problem solver. Her approach is also informed by her experience as a construction litigator, having prosecuted and defended against construction defect claims, complicated delay claims, and claims for non-payment, among other issues, in mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

Heidi has been recognized by Chambers USA, Legal 500, Law Bulletin Media, and Chicago Business Journal; by Crain's Chicago Business as one of Chicago's "Women of Influence"; and by several other publications.

Related Industries

Experience

Government Experience

  • Staff associate, U.S. House of Representatives, International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific

Representative Matters

  • Serves as lead counsel for drafting and negotiating all major design and construction contracts for the development arm of an S&P 500 REIT
  • Serves as construction counsel to a prominent real estate developer and investor based in New York City for drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts for office towers, residential property, and industrial facilities throughout the U.S.
  • Successfully mediated a $40 million delay and lost productivity claim arising out of utility construction, the result of which was overall cost savings to the project
  • Successfully defended an architectural design firm in arbitration, resulting in a zero dollar verdict against the client
  • Successfully settled multiple condominium construction defect claims in the early stages of litigation
  • Drafted and advised a major convention center owner regarding best practices and procedures for public procurements

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. high honors Chicago Kent College of Law 2001
    • Order of the Coif
    • Executive notes and comments editor, Chicago-Kent Law Review
    • Judicial extern, Honorable Rebecca Pallmeyer, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • B.A. Political Science magna cum laude Valparaiso University 1997
    • Christ College Scholar, Humanities

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Court Admissions

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

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
  • Member, Chicago Bar Association
  • Member, Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys
  • Member, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Board of Directors, 2014 - 2016
  • Member, Filipino American Bar Association of Chicago, Honorary Board of Advisors, 2017 - 2020
  • Fellow, Cook County Commission on Human Rights, Public Interest Law Initiative
  • Co-chair, Asian Pacific Excellence Affinity Group, Venable

Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Construction, 2022 – 2025
  • Chambers USA, Construction, Illinois, 2020 – 2026
  • Law Bulletin Media
    • Leading Lawyer, Construction Law, 2017 – 2021
    • Emerging Lawyer, Construction Law, 2015
  • Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Illinois, 2009, 2011 – 2015
  • Legal 500
    • Construction, 2016 – 2023
    • Leading Lawyer, Real Estate - Construction (including construction litigation), 2024, 2025
    • Next Generation Partners, Real Estate: Construction (Including Construction Litigation), 2025
    • Leading Partner, Construction (Including Construction Litigation), 2026
  • Chicago Business Journal, Women of Influence honoree, 2020
  • Crain's Chicago Business, Notable Women in Law, 2020, 2026
  • Best Lawyers, Litigation – Construction, 2022
  • Lawyers of Color, Law Firm Leaders, 2022