About The Firm

Canfield Venusti & Madden LLP was founded in 1981 by James W. Canfield, Julius "Jay" Venusti, and John P. Madden, and sought to establish itself as an advocate to small business.  The Firm's success over the past thirty years is the result of the founder's diligent application their knowledge of the legal and construction industries, and an empathy for the realities of small business.  The founders were followed over the decades since by more than a dozen other attorneys trained in the firm's specialty and sharing in the firm's commitment to our clients.

Canfield, Madden & Ruggiero, LLP  is the current day progeny of the founding firm, and continues to provide superior representation to our small business clientele.  Our practice focuses upon representation of the construction industry, and we are keenly aware of specialized issue affecting those clients.  Our attorneys provide pre-construction representation during the critical contract formation stage, and through the review and negotiation of contracts on behalf of our clients. Our attorneys are comfortable with both commercially drafted forms such as the AIA series, as well as privately drafted agreements, and we review, edit, and negotiate contractual clauses to assist our clients in fully understanding contractual exposures.

Canfield, Madden & Ruggiero, LLP provides  construction phase support through representation of clients involved in troubled projects.   Our attorneys help to ensure compliance with contractual notice requirements necessary to preserve rights to contract extensions and additional compensation.  We meet with architects and engineers to articulate design deficiencies and design omissions impacting the contractor's ability to perform.  We contact owners, architects, and construction managers regarding failures of direction or payment to protect our client's rights.  We also meet with public and private owners, architects, construction managers and surety representatives regarding contemplated contract terminations, and to argue issues of justification and project ramifications.  Our focus in these instances is to ensure that contractual rights and remedies that a client may have are not lost to procedural error before substance can be considered.

Canfield, Madden & Ruggiero, LLP provides extensive dispute resolution services when amicable resolution of disagreements cannot be avoided.  The partners will argue our clients' positions regarding contract balances, change orders, coordination of trades, time extensions, liquidated damages, actual damages, contract terminations, performance bond claims, completion agreements, payment bond claims, insurance coverage, mechanic's lien filings, design deficiencies and design omissions.  Our attorneys litigate in federal and state courts throughout New York; try cases before the various Federal Boards of Contract Appeals; arbitrate before the American Arbitration Association; and mediate through both court sponsored mediation programs and private ADR organizations.

Canfield, Madden & Ruggiero, LLP has in-depth experience with the issues and challenges specific to the construction industry.  Our attorneys understand the obligations that each of the parties has to the project and to each other, and we know the remedies available when those obligations are not met.  This focused knowledge of the business and the law of construction offers a significant benefit to our clients.

To speak with David J. Canfield, call 516-294-4180 or click here to send an email.