Robinson+Cole expands practice by adding Trunkes as partner

Manhattan, NY Robinson+Cole has welcomed Virginia Trunkes to the firm as a partner in the construction law group. Trunkes returns to the firm bringing more than two decades of experience representing clients in complex construction and real estate litigation. Her practice focuses on advising general contractors, developers, and institutional clients in disputes involving payment claims, contract interpretation, project delays, and construction defects. Prior to rejoining Robinson+Cole, she was in-house at OHLA USA, a builder of complex public infrastructure and vertical construction projects, where she was senior national construction counsel. Trunkes will be based in the firm’s New York office.

Trunkes has litigated cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts and has experience in arbitration and mediation for clients in the commercial/retail, energy, health care, hospitality, education, and industrial sectors. Her addition strengthens the firm’s ability to deliver strategic counsel to clients navigating large-scale complex construction projects at all phases of development.

“We’re very excited to welcome Ginger back to our Construction practice and further strengthen our exceptional and accomplished group of construction lawyers, especially in industry and geographic markets that have long been a focus of our group,” said Martin Onorato, construction law group chair at Robinson+Cole. “Her experience and familiarity with the industry and our firm will enhance our collective ability to provide excellent service to our clients in highly competitive markets.”

“Rejoining Robinson+Cole truly feels like a homecoming,” said Trunkes. “It’s an opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the firm’s continued growth and evolution while reconnecting with colleagues and collaborating with new ones to cultivate synergies to best serve our clients.”

Trunkes provides strategic and practical business solutions spanning high-stakes construction contract drafting and negotiation, project counsel support, claims strategy, dispute de-escalation, and litigation and appellate matters for companies’ executive management and project teams. Her experience as a lead litigation partner and in-house counsel offers a unique 360-degree perspective on jobsite risk and how to navigate obstacles in complex commercial and public infrastructure projects. Additionally, she guides clients about immediate contractual rights — providing interpretations of complex contract provisions, case precedent, statutes, and regulations — and fiercely advocates on their behalf on matters including construction disputes, design and defect issues, bond claims, mechanic’s liens, delay and lost productivity claims, and force majeure events.

A frequent author and speaker, Trunkes has published articles in numerous bar journals and newsletters and operates the blog steelglasscity.com, which explores legal historic challenges behind iconic urban structures. She is also the editor of Practical Law Real Estate’s Construction Laws and Customs: New York. Trunkes is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law, and former chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Construction Law Committee. She volunteers with organizations such as the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA), of which she is a past president.