Steven K. Stawski represents corporations, limited liability companies, lenders, owners, and individuals in advisory and litigation matters arising from the financing, purchase, development, management, leasing, sale, and preservation of real property interests. Representative clients include architectural and engineering firms, banks, mortgage lenders, owners, contractors, design sub-consultants and material suppliers.
He also counsels manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and service providers in contract and litigation matters relating to the manufacture, delivery and installation of products for commercial purposes.
He co-chairs the State Bar of Michigan's Real Property Section's Construction Law Committee and is active in writing and speaking on recent legal developments and industry trends.
Steve and his wife Michelle, along with their three sons, enjoy outdoor and sporting activities.
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
- Listed as a "Rising Star" in Michigan Super Lawyers
- Jurisprudence Achievement Awards in Evidence (2001); Research, Writing, & Advocacy (2001); and Advanced Criminal Procedure (2003)
- Eve August Moot Court Award, Best Brief (2002)
- Best Brief and Team Finalist, Irving R. Kaufman Memorial Securities Law Competition, Fordham University School of Law, New York City (2002)
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
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association (Litigation Section and Construction Industry Forum)
- State Bar of Michigan
- Grand Rapids Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
Community Affiliations
- Member, Board of Directors, YMCA Camp Manitou-lin
- American Inns of Court, Gerald Ford Chapter
- Economic Club of Grand Rapids
Admitted to Practice
- State Bar of Michigan
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Articles and Publications
- "The Rules of Construction: Legal Relationships in the Design-Build and Integrated Project Delivery Era," Michigan Real Property Review, Vol. 36, No. 3, Fall 2009.
- "Merger Clauses in Commercial Real Estate Purchase Agreements," SHRR Legal Alert, March 2009.
- "Contract Damages: How is a $14.5 Million Dollar Award Possible on a $400,000 Job?" SHRR Construction Law Newsletter, September 2008.
- "A Practical Resource for Managing UCC-Based Litigation," FDCC Quarterly, Vol. 58, No. 4, Summer 2008.
- "Managing UCC-Based Litigation: A Practitioner's Guide," Michigan Defense Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 1, July 2008.
- "Architect and Engineer Seal Requirements: AG Opinion Excludes Finished Basements from Calculation," SHRR Construction Law Newsletter, January 2008.
- "Failure to Perform Condition Precedent Can Eliminate Owner's Obligation to Pay," SHRR Construction Law Newsletter, October 2007.
- "Challenging Claims that "Sound in Tort": The Economic Loss Doctrine in the Construction Setting, SHRR Construction Law Newsletter, June 2007.
- "Plans, Specifications, and Lawsuits: Recent Trends in Design Professional and Contractor Liability," SHRR Construction Law Newsletter, March 2007.
- "Cutting Off Claims Against Architects, Engineers, and Contractors Part II: The Limited Exception to the Statute of Repose," SHRR Construction Law Newsletter, November 2006.
- "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.
Presentations
- "Roundtable: Spotting the Top 5 Contract Clauses for Your Company," Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Construction Law Seminar, April 30, 2009.
- "The Power of Purchase Orders," West Michigan Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, February 5, 2008.
- "Green Building-Product, Performance or Promise?" Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Construction Law Seminar, January 24, 2008
- "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.
