Karen P. Layng Receives Inaugural CLSA Barbara G. Werther Construction Law Woman of the Year Award
Tamara Boeck, Karen Layng, and Steve Henry at the award presentation during the 2024 International Conference & Induction of Fellows.
The Construction Lawyers Society of America is honored to present the inaugural CLSA Barbara G. Werther Construction Law Woman of the Year Award to Karen P. Layng, CEO of M.A.I.T. Co., of Chicago, Illinois. This prestigious award honors women who have demonstrated leadership, resilience, and exceptional contributions to construction law, a legacy inspired by 2018 CLSA President Barbara G. Werther, of Werther & Mills, LLC, in Rockville, Maryland, who is a trailblazer and visionary in the field of construction law. The award was presented to Karen by 2022 CLSA President Tamara L. Boeck, at the CLSA 2024 International Conference & Induction of Fellows in Palm Springs, California.
Karen’s career is a testament to what it means to thrive in a complex, ever-evolving industry. She has not only risen to the top of her field but has done so with passion and an unwavering commitment to her clients, colleagues, and the broader legal and construction communities. In addition to being the CEO of M.A.I.T. Co., a strategic legal consulting firm in the construction and engineering industries, she is a former Shareholder and Board Member of the international law firm Vedder Price, where she served as chair of its trial and construction practice areas, as well as former Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel of Scheck Industries. She is an arbitrator and mediator, serving on the AAA’s mega case construction, commercial, and energy panels. She is a member of the AAA Board of Directors, where she serves as vice-chair, and also serves on the Northwestern University Industry Advisory Board. Karen is also an Adjunct Professor in the Northwestern College of Engineering’s Master of Science in Executive Management in the Design Construction program, and is a member of Dispute Resolution Boards. She was the first woman president of the 7th Circuit Bar Association and the immediate-past National President of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Among her many awards and honors, Karen recently received the University of Illinois Alumni Association’s 2023 Comeback Illini Achievement Award, the College of Economics 2021 Social Impact Alumni Award, and was named to Crain’s 2022 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders list.
Karen is a trusted advisor and respected authority in her field. Her expertise spans a wide range of issues in the construction, manufacturing, energy and engineering industries. What truly sets her apart is her ability to navigate these complexities with a sense of fairness, creativity, and clarity—qualities that have made her an invaluable partner to contractors, developers, and engineers alike.
As a role model who inspires others to push boundaries and aim for excellence, she has mentored countless women and young professionals, encouraging them to break through barriers and redefine what leadership looks like. The CLSA is honored to name Karen as the inaugural recipient of the CLSA Barbara G. Werther Construction Law Woman of the Year Award.