Steven K. Stawski practices construction law, business and corporate litigation, and insurance litigation and is a member of the firm’s Construction Industry Team. He is primarily involved in the representation of architects, engineers, contractors, and owners, and is active in public speaking on such topics as risk management, design/build contracting, claims submission, payment and performance bonds, and contracting.
Steve is married to Michelle and they have two sons, Matthew and Ryan.
Admitted to Practice
- State Bar of Michigan, 2003
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2003
Education
- Princeton University (AB, 1992)
- University of Michigan (MHSA, 1997)
- Michigan State University College of Law, cum laude (JD, 2003); Executive Director, Moot Court.
Noteworthy
- Jurisprudence Achievement Awards: Evidence (2001); Research, Writing, & Advocacy (2001); and Advanced Criminal Procedure (2003)
- Eve August Moot Court Award, Best Brief (2002)
- Best Brief, Irving R. Kaufman Memorial Securities Law Competition, Fordham University School of Law, New York City (2002)
- Team Finalist, Irving R. Kaufman Memorial Securities Law Competition, Fordham University School of Law, New York City; Hon. Richard A. Posner, United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, presiding (2002)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association (Litigation Section and Construction Industry Forum)
- State Bar of Michigan
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel
- American Inns of Court
Community Affiliations
- Economic Club of Grand Rapids
Previous Professional Experience
- Extern – United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan for the Honorable David McKeague
- Law Clerk, Michigan 54-B District Court for the Honorable David L. Jordon
- Senior Consultant, Huron Systems, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI
- Corporate Fellow, Aurora Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI
Presentations
- "The Power of Purchase Orders," West Michigan Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, February 5, 2008.
- "Green Building - Product, performance or promise?," "Building a Solid Sub-Consultant Agreement," Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Construction Law Seminar, January 24, 2008
- "Payment and Performance Bonds," Michigan Construction Law for Architects, Engineers & Contractors through Half Moon LLC, a registered continuing education sponsor for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Grand Rapids, MI, April 26, 2007.
- “Claim Submission: Timing and Detail is Everything,” Construction Law Seminar, Traverse City, MI, February 28, 2007.
- “Design/Build: From the Contractor’s Perspective,” Construction Law Seminar, Traverse City, MI, February 28, 2007.
- “Plans, Specifications, and Lawsuits: Recent Trends,” Construction Specifications Institute’s (CSI) Roundtable, Hudsonville, MI, January, 2007.
- “Ending Claim Exposure,” Construction Law Seminar for Architects, Engineers, and Contractors, Grand Rapids, MI, September, 2006.
- Panelist speaker: Home & Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids remodeling presentation featuring an attorney, banker, and builder, September, 2006.
- Recent Decisions concerning Eminent Domain and Consumer Protection, Construction Law Seminar sponsored by the Home & Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids, January, 2006.
- “Conflicts of Interest and Ethics in Public Contracting,” seminar sponsored by Lorman Educational Services, August, 2005.
- “Contribution and Indemnification in the Construction Industry,” in-house presentation to field representatives of the Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Grand Rapids, MI, July, 2005.
- “Remodeling Experience: Terrific or Terrible,” panelist for seminar sponsored by the Home & Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids, May, 2005.
- “Risk Transfer for Contractors,” seminar sponsored by Berends Hendricks Stuit, Grand Rapids, February, 2004.
- “Executive Decisions: Qualities and Characteristics of Effective Decision Models,” University of Michigan Department of Health Management and Policy, Ann Arbor, MI (1999).
- “Design and Development of a Corporate Intranet: An Introduction,” University of Michigan Department of Health Management and Policy, Ann Arbor, MI (1999).
Publications
- "Cutting Off Claims Against Architects, Engineers and Contractors," West Michigan Builder, Vol 1 No. 9, September, 2006.
- “Home Equity: The Need to Build Predatory Lending Legislation on a Fundamental Legal and Ethical Foundation,” Michigan State University College of Law, 2002.
- “The Component Alignment Model (CAM): A New Approach to Healthcare I/S Strategic Planning,” Topics in Health Information Management, Vol 19, No. 1, Aspen Publishers, 1998.
- “DNA Data Banking and the Public Interest,” DNA on Trial: Genetic Identification and Criminal Justice, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1992.
