John M. Sier

John Sier heads the firm’s commercial and construction litigation practice. With more than three decades of experience, Mr. Sier concentrates his practice on dispute avoidance and resolution of commercial, healthcare, and construction issues.

Mr. Sier is licensed to practice law in Michigan, the U.S. District Courts of Eastern and Western Michigan, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Sier is committed to helping businesses resolve their legal disputes without costly and time-consuming litigation and has received certification as a mediator from the Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office.

In addition to his distinguished legal practice, Mr. Sier is active in a variety of professional organizations. He serves as Director of Christian Legal Aid of Southeastern Michigan, a board member of St. Joseph’s Helpers, Emeritus Director of the Catholic Lawyers Society and was a founding member of the Board of Trustees for Detroit Cristo Rey High School (DCRHS) and chaired the DCRHS Corporate Work Study Council.

On September 21, 2023, Mr. Sier was awarded The Roberts P. Hudson Award. The Roberts P. Hudson Award is the State Bar of Michigan’s highest honor. This award is periodically presented to honor an attorney for their outstanding service to and on behalf of the State Bar of Michigan, the legal profession, and the public.

Mr. Sier has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer annually since 2007. Only five percent of the attorneys in the state are named Super Lawyers, and in 2010-2021, he was recognized as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the State of Michigan and one of the Top 50 Business Lawyers in 2013 and 2016. In 2023, he was recognized as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in the State of Michigan. In 2024, he was ranked number one. Since 2014, Mr. Sier has been recognized as a Top Lawyer by DBusiness Magazine in Construction Law and Litigation. He was recognized by Best Lawyers in America as a “Best Lawyer” in the field of Construction Law and Litigation, 2009-2026, and was recognized as Lawyer of the Year in Construction Litigation - Detroit, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. He was also recognized as a Leader in the Law in 2020.

He is AV Peer Review Rated by LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell. The AV Peer Review rating is the highest rating allowed. It attests to a lawyer’s legal ability and professional ethics, and reflects the confidential opinions of the Bar and the Judiciary.

Mr. Sier is the editor of the Wolters Kluwer publication, State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer, and Contractor Licensing, Second Edition, in addition to being a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Engineering Society of Detroit.

He received his J.D. from Drake University Law School, as well as an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from Drake University Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from Loyola University in Chicago.

Designations/Training:

Mediator, Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office, 2005

Surprise Medical Billing Arbitrator, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, 2022

Professional Memberships:

State Bar of Michigan, Insurance and Indemnity Law Council

Detroit Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution CommitteeDetroit Bar Foundation, Access to Justice/Pro Bono Committee, Chair 2017-2024

Federal Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee, Law Day Committee

Catholic Lawyers Society, President 1999-2001, Emeritus Director, 2002-2013

Associated General Contractors, Detroit Chapter, Legal Advisory Committee, 1999-2024

American Institute of Architects - Michigan

Construction Association of Michigan

American Arbitration Association, Construction Panel of Neutrals, 1999-2024

Building Owners and Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit, Secretary, Board of Directors and Co-Chair Government Affairs Committee, 2002-2024

Defense Research Institute, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Construction Committee

Construction Owners Association of America, Communications/Editorial Committee, 2003-2011, Contract Documents Committee, 2005-2019, Associate General Counsel, 2008-2024

National Association of Construction Auditors, Construction Control Professional, 2011-2024

Engineering Society of Detroit, Construction & Design Committee 2004-2019; Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 2006-2014

Society for Construction Law, 2012-2017

Mass for Commerce, Steering Committee, 1999-2024

Board Memberships:

ACE Mentor Program (Architecture, Construction and Engineering), 2008-2024

Christian Legal Aid of Southeast Michigan, 2001-2024

St. Joseph’s Helpers, 2022-2024

Detroit Bar Foundation, 2017-2024

Detroit Cristo Rey High School, 2007-2013

Detroit Cristo Rey High School Corporate Work Study Program, Chair 2008-2017

Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center/Wayne Mediation Center, 2010-2024

National Association of Construction Auditors, Advisory Board, 2010-2024

Honors, Awards, and Other Recognitions:

Charter fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America

Chapter Recognition Award, Federal Bar Association, 2024

Roberts P. Hudson Award, 2023, State Bar of Michigan

Leaders in the Law 2020, Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Frank Murphy Award, Detroit Bar Association, 2020

President’s Award, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Metropolitan Detroit, 2018

Rey of Hope Award, Detroit Cristo Rey High School, 2014

fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation, 2014

fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2014

Monsignor Charles J. Mallory Lifetime Achievement Award, Catholic Lawyers Society of the Archdiocese of Detroit, 2010

Michigan Super Lawyer, Construction Litigation, 2007-2024 [Michigan’s Top 100 Lawyers, 2010-2022, Michigan’s Top 10 Lawyers, 2023 & 2024, Michigan’s Top Lawyer, 2024]

Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law 2009-2026[Lawyer of the Year in Construction Litigation - Detroit, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025]Distinguished Service Award, Engineering Society of Detroit, 2007

Supplier Member of the Year, Building Owners and Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit, 2006

Distinguished Service Award, Building Owners and Manager Association of Metropolitan Detroit, 2003

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