Margaret M. Underwood (vCard)

Margaret M. Underwood is a shareholder of Jacoby Donner, P.C.  She concentrates her practice in the areas of construction litigation, commercial litigation, construction accident defense, and construction law.  She is also the Chair of the Litigation Department.

Ms. Underwood is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.  In June 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009, Ms. Underwood was named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer by Law & Politics and Philadelphia Magazine. Considered among the best in their profession, Super Lawyers represent the top 5% of practicing attorneys in Pennsylvania.

Ms. Underwood earned her Juris Doctor Degree from Villanova University School of Law. At Villanova, Ms. Underwood was a Member of the Moot Court Board. As a Moot Court member, she was the winner of the 1993-1994 Rabbi Seymour Siegel Memorial Moot Court Competition at Duke University School of Law. Ms. Underwood earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, cum laude, from Temple University.

Ms. Underwood is admitted to the bar in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is a member of the Litigation Section and the Forum on the Construction Industry of the American Bar Association. She is also a member of the Business Litigation Committee and the State Civil Rules Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Ms. Underwood is active in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), where she has served as President and Board Member of the Philadelphia Chapter. She also sits on the Construction Advisory Council of the American Arbitration Association for the Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey areas.

AV® Peer Review Rated "CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies."

Detailed Resumé

Career History

• Jacoby Donner, P.C.
  Partner - commercial and construction litigation (2001-present)
  Associate - commercial and construction litigation (1999-2001)
• Baldwin Renner Clark & Buckwalter, P.C. (1995-1999)
  Associate - commercial and construction litigation  

• Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, PA (J.D. 1994, Moot Court)
• Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (A.B. 1974, cum laude)

• Pennsylvania - All State Courts; Federal Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Third Circuit Court of Appeals
• New Jersey - All State Courts; Federal District Court

• American Bar Association (Litigation Section; Forum Committee on the Construction Industry).
• Philadelphia Bar Association (Commercial Litigation Committee; State Civil Procedural Rules Committee).
• National Association of Women in Construction
  (President 2002-2004, Board Member 2005; Philadelphia Chapter).
• General Building Contractors Association (Affiliate Member).
• Arbitrator Court of Common Pleas of Chester County Pennsylvania (1997-2000).

• Selected as a 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer" through balloting by more than 34,000 attorneys across Pennsylvania. Ms. Underwood was recognized for her work in construction law and commercial litigation.
• Selected for United Who's Who Registry 2005-2006; 2006-2007.
• Selected by Madison's Who's Who Registry 2006-2007.
• Identified in 2007 and 2008 Philadelphia Business Journal as one of Philadelphia's "Leaders in the Law" in the area of litigation.
• Selected by American Arbitration Association to sit on its Construction Advisory Counsel.
• AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Publications

Margaret M. Underwood contributed to The Philadelphia Business Journal on the topic of recent changes in Pennsylvania law regarding direct liability of design professionals to contractors who rely upon the design professional's plans and specifications.

Margaret M. Underwood contributed to The Philadelphia Business Journal on the topic of the "pay-when-paid" provisions of the Pennsylvania Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act.

Margaret M. Underwood contributed to The Philadelphia Business Journal on the topic of waivers of Mechanics' Liens.

Margaret M. Underwood contributed to the Book of Lists edition of The Philadelphia Business Journal on the topic of waivers of owner's immunity from suit under the PA Worker's Compensation Act.

Margaret M. Underwood contributed to The Philadelphia Business Journal on the topic of special notice requirements for subcontractors under Pennsylvania Mechanics' Lien Law.

Seminars/Speaking Engagements

Margaret M. Underwood was a Panelist in Drexel University College of Law's first Career Symposium on the topic "Buying, Selling, and Building:  The Real Estate and Construction Lawyer.

Margaret M. Underwood addressed the Full Membership Meeting of the Building Contractors Association of South Jersey on "A First Look at the New AIA Documents and Consensus Documents." 

Margaret M. Underwood presented "Avoiding Lawyers - Ten tips for reducing legal entanglements on construction projects... What you can do now!"

Margaret M. Underwood presented several seminars sponsored by the American Arbitration Association on "Best Practices in Complex Case Arbitration."

Margaret M. Underwood addressed the Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Northern New Jersey on the topic of "Collections -- A Legal Perspective."

Margaret M. Underwood addressed the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction on the issue of Mechanics' Liens.

Margaret M. Underwood presented several seminars sponsored by the National Business Institute titled "Pennsylvania Construction Law: What Do You Do When…?" The seminars covered issues relating to bidding, contract formation, change orders, delays, payment and dispute resolution.

Margaret M. Underwood addressed the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction on the issue of construction contract drafting.

Margaret M. Underwood spoke to the Construction Financial Management Association on current legal issues in construction.

Margaret M. Underwood conducted a seminar at the Computers for Construction 2001 Conference. The topic of the seminar was "Women In Construction."