Steven J. "Steve" Slawinski

Milwaukee, WI Directions

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014

Awarded Practice Areas

Construction Law

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Awarded Practice Areas

Construction Law

Works at

O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC

18 Best Lawyers awards

Biography

For over 35 years Steve has represented his clients in complex construction, business, and real estate litigation. The emphasis of his practice is in the areas of construction litigation and construction law—representing general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and design professionals, in construction disputes, both in court and in arbitration. His practice also emphasizes real estate litigation, including representing title insurance companies and their insureds, in real estate title disputes. He has argued cases before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

His recent work has included defending complex multi-million dollar lawsuits arising from failed commercial construction projects located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in Kansas City, Missouri. He has litigated cases arising from both public and private construction projects, including such high-profile projects as Miller Park and the WE Energies Elm Road Power Plant. Steve has defended contractors in construction accident personal injury cases, and has represented both owners and engineers in design professional malpractice cases. Steve has represented contractors regarding objections and protests to competitive bids for public construction projects. He drafts and reviews construction contracts and subcontracts; and represents contractors, owners, and title insurers regarding construction lien and payment bond claims. He also represents client in insurance coverage disputes.

Mr. Slawinski is a past chair of the Wisconsin State Bar Construction and Public Contract Section Board. He was named one of “Wisconsin’s Top Construction Attorneys” by the Wisconsin Law Journal/Daily Reporter. He is a frequent speaker at seminars for attorneys and construction industry professionals on construction law and on real estate law topics.

Steve Assists Clients With

Construction Litigation and Arbitration
Title Insurance Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Liability Insurance Coverage Disputes
Construction Law
Construction Lien Law
Construction Bond Claims
Commercial and Business Litigation

Locations

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

414-276-5000

111 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1400
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Languages

English

Education

Marquette University, J.D., graduated 1986

Bar Admissions

Wisconsin, State Bar of Wisconsin

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Affiliations

American Bar Association (Litigation Section and Forum on the Construction Industry) - Member
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) - Member (former)
American Subcontractors Association (ASA) - Member (former)
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) - Board of Directors (former)
Associated General Contractors (AGC) - Member
Milwaukee Justice Center - Volunteer Attorney
Specialty Contractors of Wisconsin (SCW) - Member (former)
State Bar Construction Lein Law Committee - Member
State Bar of Wisconsin (Litigation and Construction/Public Contracts Sections) - Past Board Member
Wisconsin State Bar Construction and Public Contract Law Section Board - Chair
Wisconsin State Bar Section Leaders Council - Member

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Construction Law

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers^® for:

Construction Law, Milwaukee (2022)

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2026 for work in:

Construction Law

Special Focus:

COVID-19

Awards:

- Named 2022 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law
- Selected for inclusion in 2009–2023 Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine (Construction Litigation)
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®–Construction Law in 2014–2024
- Rated a 10.0 out of 10.0 by Avvo, a national attorney rating service which uses a mathematical model to rate attorneys based on experience, professional achievements, industry recognition, and professional conduct
- Named one of "Milwaukee's Leading Lawyers" in Construction/Development by M Magazine, 2012 and 2015 issues. Only 2-5% of the top ranked attorneys published by Avvo for each category, were recognized
- Named one of “Wisconsin’s Top Construction Attorneys” by The Wisconsin Law Journal/Daily Reporter, December 2006 issue

Additional Information

Case History

Cases

Case History

Successfully defended HVAC subcontractor against prime contractor's indemnity claim, resulting in dismissal of claim that was affirmed on appeal
Successfully represented contractor in lawsuit against municipality arising from public construction project resulting in favorable settlement for client

Won summary judgment dismissing general contractor’s multi-million dollar construction lien claim against hotel property
Represented corporate purchaser of defective industrial visual inspection machine in action against seller for breach of warranty and misrepresentation resulting in favorable settlement for purchaser
Won summary judgment, which was affirmed on appeal, dismissing subcontractor’s construction lien claim against commercial development
Won judgment on the pleadings in favor of title insurance company dismissing insured's claim for coverage under title insurance policy
Won summary judgment in favor of lender in mortgage priority dispute with competing lender
Won summary judgment in favor of title insurance company resulting in dismissal of insured’s claim for coverage under title insurance policy
Represented general contractor in action against municipal owner to recover payment for work preformed on disputed public construction project resulting in favorable settlement for contractor
Successfully represented design professional in professional liability insurance coverage dispute with insurer arising from multi-million dollar design defect claim by owner
Represented municipal sewerage commission in claim against design professional and contractors for damage to its underground infrastructure resulting in favorable recovery
Successfully defended condominium developer against condominium association’s multi-million dollar claim alleging defective construction and mismanagement of association resulting in favorable settlement
Represented apartment complex developer regarding termination of general contractor and claim for damages resulting in favorable recovery for developer
Won summary judgment, and subsequent appeal before United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, dismissing general contractor’s Federal Court lawsuit against subcontract bidder that declined to execute a subcontract in connection with the construction of a downtown Milwaukee high-rise office building, C.G. Schmidt Inc. V. Permasteelisa N. Am., 825 F.3d 801(7th Cir. 2016)
Won summary judgment, and subsequent appeal before United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, in key case regarding title insurance coverage under loan policy for construction liens due to inadequate project funding, BB Syndication Services, Inc. v. First American Title Insurance Co., 780 F.3d 825 (7th Cir. 2015)
Won jury trial in franchise dispute, resulting in jury verdict awarding all damages claimed by client franchisor and rejecting defenses and counterclaim of franchisee, plus an award of all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by client
Won trial and appeal in multi-million dollar will contest case, protecting client’s inheritance under will and dismissing objections to will alleging undue influence
Won summary judgment dismissing mortgage lender’s multi-million dollar Federal Court lawsuit against client title insurer, arising from financial collapse of a $100 million commercial real estate development
Won a jury trial and recovered a $1.2 million award, representing full recovery of all damages claimed plus interest, for an eight unit condominium association in an engineering malpractice case

Successfully defended a lender’s lawsuit against a title insurance company seeking over $20 million in damages arising from the failure of a high-rise condominium development
Successfully represented Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. in a multi-million dollar arbitration with one of its subcontractors in a contract dispute arising from the Miller Park Stadium construction project
Defended Bechtel Power Corporation in two separate lawsuits filed by subcontractors arising from the WE Energies Power Plant project, the most expensive private construction project in Wisconsin history, resulting in favorable settlements in both cases
Successfully represented close corporation and its majority shareholders in litigation against minority shareholders resulting favorable settlement.
Successfully represented franchisor in arbitration against franchisee, resulting in favorable settlement
Successfully represented a precast concrete supplier in a multi-party dispute during construction of an apartment building, resulting in a favorable outcome for the client
Lobbied the Wisconsin Legislature on behalf of a construction equipment supplier resulting in the adoption of a favorable amendment to recent revisions to Wisconsin’s Construction Lien Law
Prevailed in a direct action by a title insurance company against a title agent’s errors and omissions insurer, winning a favorable insurance coverage ruling resulting in a substantial recovery for the title company client
Won summary judgment dismissing all claims against a contractor in an asbestos wrongful death case
Successfully defended an equipment supplier in a construction accident personal injury case venued in Illinois, resulting in a favorable settlement at trial
Won a jury verdict in favor of a lender as assignee of an owner, in a lawsuit seeking damages arising from a fire during construction
Defended an engineering firm in a professional malpractice lawsuit arising from a grocery store roof collapse, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client
Successfully defended an engineer in a lawsuit by the purchaser of a contaminated property alleging malpractice in connection with a Phase I environmental study
Won a jury verdict in favor of the developer of a residential subdivision in a home purchaser’s lawsuit alleging failure by the developer to enforce restrictive covenants
Won a jury verdict in favor of a home builder in a lawsuit by an owner alleging construction defects
Defended a contractor in a construction accident personal injury lawsuit arising from the collapse of the structure during construction, resulting in the pretrial dismissal of all claims against it
Won partial summary judgment dismissing a city’s delay counter-claim for substantial liquidated damages, and recovered payment for the contractor
Defended an electronic component manufacturer against a product manufacturer’s lawsuit alleging manufacturing defects and breach of warranty, resulting in a favorable settlement for the manufacturer

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