About the firm
Construction payment counsel — built for the way projects actually run.
Fred Shestopal, P.C. d/b/a My Lien Lawyer represents contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and manufacturers in mechanics lien, bond claim, and collections matters across the country. One point of contact. Decades of focus. Follow-through on every deadline.
20+
Years focused on construction law
50
States covered through local counsel
1
Point of contact for every matter
IL
Home jurisdiction · Lake Forest
How we work
A practice organized around payment risk — from notice through enforcement.
Nationwide coordination
Single point of contact across all 50 states. We coordinate enforcement through a vetted network of licensed local counsel — no scrambling for separate counsel state-by-state.
Compliance, not surprises
Preliminary notices, Section 24 notices, certified mailings, and deadline tracking — set up as a one-off project review or an ongoing program for your accounts.
Enforcement when needed
Mechanics lien foreclosure, bond claims, Miller Act and Little Miller Act claims on commercial, industrial, and public projects.
Built around your team
On-demand general counsel for construction and manufacturing companies — contracts, lien waivers, credit applications, and project-level review.
What we do
Services across the construction payment lifecycle.
Project Risk Management
Comprehensive review of project documentation and procedural gaps to identify compliance and payment risks.
Learn moreCompliance & Preliminary Notices
Request preliminary notice filings on a single project, or set up an ongoing compliance program — preparation, certified mailing, and deadline tracking on commercial and public construction work.
Learn moreMechanics Lien & Bond Claim Enforcement
Single point of coordination for multistate enforcement, working with vetted local counsel where required.
Learn moreCollections
Alternative collection strategies for suppliers without lien or bond claim rights, or where notice deadlines have passed.
Learn moreLegal Counsel (On-Demand GC)
On-demand general counsel for construction and manufacturing companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Learn moreDocument Drafting & Review
Pre-drafted and customized contract forms, lien waivers, and credit applications. Flat-fee options available.
Learn more
Who we serve
Companies that get paid by completing work — and need to make sure they actually get paid.
Our clients range from regional subcontractors to multinational manufacturers supplying materials on commercial, industrial, and public construction projects.
- General contractors & subcontractors
- Material suppliers & manufacturers
- Equipment lessors
- Construction lenders
- Design professionals
- Owners and developers
Meet the founder
Fred Shestopal
Founding attorney · 20+ years in construction law
Fred founded My Lien Lawyer after two decades litigating and arbitrating construction payment disputes — representing contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in mechanics lien, bond, and Miller Act matters across the country.
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