Attorney Ben Hammond head shot

Benjamin H. Hammond

Business, Real Estate, and Construction Law Attorney

Kimberly Genther, Paralegal

Ben Hammond is a founding member of Hilger Hammond. With over 20 years of legal experience, he practices business and real estate law, focusing on construction law.

Ben helps clients create, buy, and sell small businesses. He assists in the transition of businesses from one generation to another or to key employees. Ben is involved in negotiating various contracts for his business clients and litigating disputes that cannot be avoided. Ben also counsels businesses with planning, formation, financing, licensing and corporate reorganizations. He also works with many churches and nonprofits assisting them with articles of incorporation, bylaws, and the legal steps to properly leave a denomination. In doing so, much of his time is spent as a proactive problem solver.

As a member of the firm’s real estate practice, Ben focuses on commercial transactions — from letters of intent, preparing and negotiating purchase agreements, to due diligence through closing and leasing. He is a deal maker, not a deal breaker, ensuring that the terms of the deal are reasonable and fair. Related examples of work in this area include drafting easement, shared driveway agreements, and deeds. Ben also represents clients with real estate tax appeals.

A large part of Ben’s time is devoted to the people, companies, and non-profit organizations that make up the construction industry. Ben has served on boards for the Associated Builders and Contractors of West Michigan and the Association of Subcontractors of Michigan for over a decade. His clients include owner, general contractors/construction managers, trade contractors, suppliers and design professionals. Ben’s wide array of experience in this area ranges from simple construction liens to large and complex lawsuits and arbitrations. Ben frequently drafts and negotiates multi-million dollar construction contracts with an eye toward fairness and brevity wherever possible. With his diverse litigation experience, he represents his clients in state, federal, and Michigan appellate courts. He has also tried cases before administrative agencies and arbitration panels.

Ben is also an accomplished mediator. He is typically sought after to mediate construction, real estate, business or contract disputes and has a reputation for being patient, knowledgeable, and prepared.

Ben is well respected by his peers, not only for his legal work, but also for his other volunteer efforts, including serving as the President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association in 2021-2022.

“Helping people and their businesses is more than a job. It’s a calling. There’s nothing more satisfying than guiding clients through some of their most difficult legal challenges.”

    Education

     

    Cornerstone University

    Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude

    Grand Rapids, MI 

     

    Michigan State University

    College of Law

    J.D., cum laude

    East Lansing, MI

    Bar Admissions

    • Michigan

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western District of Michigan

     

    • Grand Rapids Bar Association, Former President; Former Vice President; Former Secretary and Trustee; Former Chair, Young Lawyers Section
    • West Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Member
    • American Institute of Architects, Grand Rapids, Former Professional Affiliate Director, Government Affairs Committee, 2011 to 2014
    • Associated Builders and Contractors  Western MI Chapter, Former Chair, Board Member
    • American Subcontractors Association, Western MI Chapter, Former Board Member
    • Associated General Contractors of Michigan, Legal Advisory Committee
    • Ada Bible Church, Former Board Member
    • Legal Aid of West Michigan, Pro Bono Services
    • Mediation Services, Pro Bono Volunteer Mediator
    • 2024 Best Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers
    • 2023 Top Construction Lawyer, Grand Rapids Magazine
    • 2022 Top Construction LawyerGrand Rapids Magazine
    • AV Rated Preeminent Attorney, Martindale & Hubbell, 2014-Present
    • Super Lawyers, 2013-Present
    • Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2010-2012
    • President’s Award, Grand Rapids Bar Association, 2017
    • Up & Coming Lawyer, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2012
    • 40 Under 40 Business Leader, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 2012
    • “Best Lawyer in America”, Construction Law, 2012
    • Commercial Real Estate Summit, co-presenter, Commercial Alliance of Realtors, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2021
    • “Dealing with COVID — Closings, Conflicts and  EO Updates”; co-presenter, Commercial Alliance of Realtors, October 2020
    • “Out With The Old, In With The New-2017 AIA Documents Updates”; co-presenter, joint meeting of the Construction Financial Managers Association and the American Subcontractors Association of Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 2018
    • Moderator, Construction Advancement Forum, American Subcontractors Association of Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2018
    • “Why Entity Selection Matters”; West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2017
    • “Liens, Bonds and Common Misunderstandings”; West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2017
    • Moderator, Excellence in Construction Awards, Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, West Michigan Chapter, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2017
    • “Law of Engineering Malpractice”; co-presenter, Managing Engineering Liability and Risk, Half Moon Education, Inc., Lansing, Michigan, June 2017
    • “BIM Contract Negotiations and Risk Allocation”; AGC of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, February 2017
    • “Judges Panel”; moderator, Grand Rapids Bar Association, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, February 2017
    • “Construction Advancement Forum”; moderator, American Subcontractors Association of Michigan, Hudsonville, Michigan, December 2016
    • “Negotiation Skills: Gaining the Edge Without Falling Off the Cliff”; co-presenter, AGC of Michigan’s Michigan Construction Industry Professional Development Day, Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 2016
    • “Top 10 Contract Clauses: Traps and Tricks for the Wary”; co-presenter, AGC of Michigan’s Michigan Construction Industry Professional Development Day, Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 2016
    • “Bricks and Mortar: An Overview of Construction Law Issues”; co-presenter, Grand Rapids Bar Association, Real Property Section Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 2016
    • “Space Matters”; co-presenter, West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2016
    • “Potential Pitfalls of Doing Business Out of State”; co-presenter, Construction Financial Management Association’s Midwest Regional Conference, Oak Brook, Michigan, September 2016
    • Master of Ceremonies, ABC Excellence in Construction Awards, Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan Chapter, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2016
    • “Negotiation Skills”; co-presenter, Construction Financial Management Association’s Regional Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, June 2016
    • “Contract Provisions that Unfairly Shift Financial Risk”; co-presenter, Don’t Bet Your Construction Company Event, Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 2016
    • “Construction Advancement Forum”; moderator, American Subcontractors Association of Michigan, Hudsonville, Michigan, April 2016
    • “Contract Clauses You Love to Hate”; co-presenter, West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2015
    • “Negotiation Skills – Gaining the Edge Without Falling Off the Cliff”; co-presenter, West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2015
    • “BIM Contract Negotiations and Risk Allocation”; American General Contractors of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, May 2015
    • “BIM Contract Negotiations and Risk Allocation”; American General Contractors of America, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, February 2015
    • “Contractor Quizbowl”; American Subcontractors Association of Michigan, Hudsonville, Michigan, December 2014
    • “Joint Ventures: Friends With Benefits”; West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, co-presenters Beene Garter and HUB, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2014
    • “Construction Defects”; Construction Financial Management Association Midwest Regional Conference, Oak Brook, Illinois, September 2014
    • “2014 West Michigan Political Update with Congressman Justin Amash, Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, and State Representative Ken Yonker”; moderator, Construction Financial Management Association, American Subcontractors Association of Michigan, Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan Chapter, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2014
    • “BIM Contract Negotiation and Risk Allocation”; Associated General Contractors of America, Chicago, Illinois, May 2014
    • “Casualty Insurance – Beyond the Basics”; Construction Financial Management Association, Kalamazoo, Michigan, January 2014
    • “Contractor Quizbowl”; American Subcontractors Association of Michigan, Hudsonville, Michigan, December 2013
    • “Top 10 Overlooked Contract Clauses”; West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2013
    • “Legal Review 2012: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”; Construction Specifications Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 2013
    • “Insurance Coverage for Construction Defect Claims”; IRMI Construction Risk Conference, Orlando, Florida, November 2012
    • “Top 20 Contract Clauses – General Contractor/Subcontractor” and “Top 20 Contract Clauses – Design Professionals”; West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2012
    • “Insurance Coverage for Defective Work”; West Michigan Construction Industry Forum, Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 2012
    • “Michigan Lien and Bond Seminar”; Wisconsin Credit Association, Webinar, May 2012
    • “Legal Issues Facing Architects Today”; AIA, Southwest Michigan Chapter, Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 2012
    • “Top Ten Contract Clauses – Deal Breakers and Deal Makers”; AIA Grand Valley Lunch and Learn, Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 2012
    • “Casualty Insurance: Beyond the Basics”; Construction Financial Management Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 2012
    • “Top Ten Legal Issues Facing Design Professionals”; AIA Grand Valley Lunch and Learn, Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 2011
    • “Evaluating the Rights, Wrongs and Responsibilities in Construction Competitive Bidding”; West Michigan Design and Construction Expo, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2011
    • “Construction Jeopardy”; National Association of Women in Construction, Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2011
    • “Avoid the Road Bumps when Working Out of State”; moderator, Construction Financial Management Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 2011
    • “What’s the Fuss All About? Do ConsensusDOCS Treat Design Professionals Fairly?”; Grand Rapids Chapter – Construction Specifications Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 2011
    • “The Unwritten Rules: What You Didn’t Learn in Law School”; New Attorney Orientation Program, Grand Rapids Bar Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 2010
    • “ConsensusDOCS – What Are They and How Are They Different Than AIA Documents?”; AIA Grand Valley Lunch and Learn, Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 2010
    • “Roundtable: Top 10 A201 Contract Clauses”; Construction Law Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2008
    • “ConsensusDOCS”; Construction Law Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 2008
    • “The Future of Construction Contract Documents Workshop”; Panelist, co-sponsored by the Associated Builders and Contractors, Western Michigan Chapter and American Subcontractors Association of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 2008
    • “ConsensusDOCS”; Client Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan, December 2007
    • “Indemnity and ConsensusDOCS 750”; American Subcontractors Association of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, November 2007
    • “CSI Construction Law Roundtable: Spearin Doctrine”; Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 2007

    Recent Publications from attorney Ben Hammond: