Bruce W. Ficken

Co-Chair, Construction Law

Bruce is co-chair of the firm’s Construction Law Group and is a recognized authority in representing clients in construction and commercial litigation, as well as managing risk in construction projects. As lead counsel he has successfully conducted more than 60 major trials in the United States and in international arbitrations. He has also helped numerous owners and developers with contract documentation, contract and project administration, and dispute avoidance and resolution. Bruce is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and as a mediator he has successfully helped resolve major construction disputes.      

Bruce is one of only a few construction litigators ever to be invited to be a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and he was named by Best Lawyers as the 2017 and 2020 Philadelphia Construction “Lawyer of the Year.“ Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business ranks Bruce in Band 1 for construction law. Chambers reports clients saying he is “great in front of a jury” and “as good as they get.”

For several years, Bruce has served as co-chairman of the Construction SuperConference, held annually as one of the leading conferences in his field. He frequently lectures at the invitation of various professional groups. He has presented at events sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Bar Association, Federal Publications, the Contract Specification Institute, the School of Engineering of the University of Wisconsin, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), and the Practising Law Institute.

He is co-editor and co-author of Construction Litigation, (Editions I and II) published by the Practising Law Institute, and Hazardous Waste Disposal and Underground Construction Law, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. He is a contributing author for the Construction Law Handbook (Aspen Publications) and Moisture Control in Buildings (ASTM Publications).

Bruce received his bachelor's degree from Susquehanna University and earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Dickinson School of Law. While in law school, he was the managing editor of Dickinson Law Review

Experience

News

Bruce Ficken Named to City & State’s 2024 Trailblazers in Building & Infrastructure List

August 26, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, August 26, 2024 — Bruce Ficken, co-chair of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been named to City & State’s 2024 Trailblazers in Building & Infrastructure List.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Legal 500 Recognizes Seven Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2024 Legal Guide

July 10, 2024

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, Maritime, and Mergers & Acquisitions practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Michael Deutsch, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, Jonathon Foglia, David Heffernan, Matthew Howell, James Kwartnik, Robert Magovern, Jeffrey Mullen, Patrick Rizzi, Rachel Schwartz, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2024 Legal Guide.

31 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 11, 2024

Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys are named Super Lawyers; only 2.5 percent of attorneys are listed as Rising Stars.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Troutman Pepper Construction Team Jumps to Cozen O'Connor in LA

March 21, 2024

Bruce Ficken and Marion Hack were quoted in a Law.com article discussing Marion and her team’s transition to Cozen O’Connor.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Attorneys in its 2023 Guide

July 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

42 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

May 24, 2023

Super Lawyers has selected 42 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Bruce Ficken and Raymond DeLuca Named to City & State’s 2023 Construction Power 100 List

April 20, 2023

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Bruce Ficken and Raymond DeLuca, co-chairs of the firm’s Construction Law Group, have been named to City & State’s 2023 Construction Power 100 list.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 14 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2022 Legal Guide

July 11, 2022

For 30 years, The Legal 500 has assessed the strengths of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions. The rankings use a series of criteria, including client feedback, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

49 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 01, 2022

Super Lawyers has selected 49 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Bruce Ficken Named to City & State’s 2022 Construction Power 75 List

March 14, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Bruce Ficken, chair of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been named to City & State’s 2022 Construction Power 75 list.

Cozen O’Connor Construction Practice Named Law360 2021 Practice Group of the Year

January 18, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that the firm has been named a Law360 2021 Practice Group of the Year in Construction.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 12 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2021 Legal Guide

June 17, 2021

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Jeff Vogel, and Rachel Welford to its 2021 Legal Guide.

47 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 28, 2021

Super Lawyers has selected 47 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Bruce Ficken selected as Lawyer of the Year Construction Law – USA by Lawyer Monthly

December 11, 2020

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Bruce Ficken, chair of the firm’s Construction Law Group, was selected by Lawyer Monthly as Lawyer of the Year 2020 for Construction Law – USA.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 13 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2020 Legal Guide

June 22, 2020

The Legal 500 United States named Cozen O’Connor’s Aviation, Construction, Immigration, Insurance, and Maritime practices and Cozen O’Connor attorneys Scott Bettridge, Stephen Cozen, Raymond DeLuca, Geoffrey Ferrer, Bruce Ficken, David Heffernan, Jeffrey Lawrence, Robert Magovern, Anne Mickey, Jeffrey Mullen, Josh Stein, Christopher Sweeney, and Jeff Vogel to its 2020 Legal Guide.

Fifty-Eight Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 05, 2020

Super Lawyers has selected 58 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

63 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2020 Guide

May 14, 2020

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.

64 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 21, 2019

Super Lawyers has selected 64 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Fifty-four Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 12, 2018

Super Lawyers has named 54 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Events & Seminars

Upcoming Events

2024 Construction Super Conference

December 09, 2024 - Las Vegas, NV

Cozen O’Connor is sponsoring the 2024 Construction Super Conference at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Past Events

Construction SuperConference 2021

December 06, 2021 - Orlando, Florida

2018 Construction SuperConference

December 10, 2018 - Las Vegas, NV

2017 Construction SuperConference

December 04, 2017 - Las Vegas, Nevada

Education

  • Dickinson School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1976
  • Susquehanna University, B.A., 1970

Awards & Honors

City & State, Trailblazers in Building & Infrastructure List 2024

City & State, Construction Power 100 List 2023

City & State, Construction Power 75 List 2022

Chambers USA for Construction Law 2014-2024

Philadelphia Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers 2017, 2020

Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2025

The Legal 500 "Leading Lawyer" for Construction 2016-2019, "Hall of Fame" for Construction 2020 - 2024

Pennsylvania Super Lawyer 2004-2024

Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers

Who’s Who Legal Construction: Lawyers

Philadelphia Business Journal 2019 Best of the Bar

2019 "Influencer of the Law" by the Philadelphia Inquirer

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2020 for Construction Law – USA

Lexology Index, Thought Leaders Construction, 2025

  • Pennsylvania
  • The Whitemarsh Foundation- Board Member
  • Legacy Youth Tennis and Education- Board Member
  • Susquehanna University – Board Member, Emeritus