S3:E1 Kathleen Ropka - Getting to Know the Cotney Chicago Office

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Learn about the brand new Cotney office in Chicago and some of the hottest topics and legal trends in the Midwest.  

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips, RoofersCoffeeShop® Partner Heidi J. Ellsworth visits with Cotney Construction Law attorney, Kathleen C. Ropka based in the new Chicago office. This Cotney Around the Globe – Roofing Road Trips combo podcast touches on Kathleen’s practice as well as Cotney’s focus on providing in-person legal services in Chicago. They also discuss Cotney’s expansion and their role as general cousel for National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), whose home base is in Chicago.  

Before joining Cotney, Kathleen worked with a general litigation firm for 16 years. She particularly excelled in the areas of construction litigation, contract review and drafting, lien and bond law and contract negotiations. Never one to back down from a challenge, Kathleen started her own construction company with her two brothers while working full-time at the firm.  

“I grew up in the construction business,” said Kathleen. “After my father retired, we started the business and named it after him, it’s J. Quinn Construction, Inc. And we are members of Iron Workers Local #1 in Chicago.” 

Kathleen found her experience working in the construction business as extremely helpful for her legal practice. She still operates the construction company alongside being an attorney for Cotney and feels that her first-hand knowledge of the construction industry assists her tremendously when working through the various legal processes of construction law, especially as the Chicago office continues to increase in legal business.  

“We are rapidly growing in our Chicago office and hiring more attorneys to assist in our increasing caseload. I have to say, I am working with some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys that I've ever worked with,” said Kathleen.  

Cotney covers every legal aspect of the construction industry from employment, immigration, contract law and more. Since Kathleen’s start with Cotney, she’s had her hands full with new cases especially in dealing with legal issues related to COVID-19.  

“We've mainly been addressing legal concerns of COVID at the office and on the job site. We have been assisting our clients with keeping their contracts, their employment manual and safety programs current with the ever evolving and the changing guidelines for COVID,” said Kathleen. “Contractors are dealing with everything from job delays up to job shutdowns. They need to be kept up to date with the proper safety requirements on a job site, which includes everything from proper personal protective equipment, such as masks, eye wear as well as having sanitizer stations and proper distancing on the job site.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about the new Cotney Chicago office and the expansion of legal services in the Midwest.