Stephen M. Seeger

Member

Steve knows construction — he’s spent over 30 years handling construction disputes. He understands that every client and every case is unique — that there is no silver bullet that resolves all problems. He listens first, then strives to achieve what the client wants, not what maximizes billable hours.

Steve’s cases include EPC power plants, liquefied natural gas facilities, locks and dams, subway lines and station construction, hospitals and health care facilities, as well as office buildings, apartments, condominiums, and super luxury residences. He represents owners and contractors including subcontractors for electric, concrete, mechanical/HVAC, earthwork, dewatering, support of excavation, masonry, and building envelope scopes of work.

One industry leader said, “Steve Seeger is one of the most talented construction litigators in the United States,” Chambers & Partners quoted other highly regarded lawyers saying Steve is: “a superior trial lawyer,” “a hard working straight shooter,” “very knowledgeable and great to deal with,” and “accessible and an excellent listener.” 

Steve serves his construction clients best when involved from project conception through final completion. He assists clients in: contract drafting and negotiation; on-site performance and contemporaneous documentation; insurance matters; and change order or claim development and analysis. If projects cannot be closed without disputes, Steve protects and guides his clients through mediation, arbitration — in the United States or across the globe — or court.

Steve understands government contracts — he concentrated his George Washington University law school curriculum in that focus. Since then, Steve has represented contractors with virtually every agency from bid submission to final payment in matters from Annapolis to Afghanistan.  And, again, when necessary, he captains their claims through agency dispute procedures, boards of contract appeals, or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. 

For more than 10 years, Steve has been rated by his peers as AV Preeminent, the highest ranking for ethics and legal ability. He is ranked in Band 1 for Construction by Chambers USA. His profile can be found in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Who’s Who Legal as a Global Leader. He was included in the Washington, D.C. “Legal Elite” by Smart CEO Magazine. For the last five years, Steve was named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Washington, D.C.

 

News

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.

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.”

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

April 22, 2024

Seven attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and four were named Rising Stars, a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.

Stephen Seeger Named American College of Construction Lawyers Fellow

September 20, 2023

Stephen Seeger, a member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been named a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL).

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.

14 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2023 D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 30, 2023

Super Lawyers has named 14 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2023 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

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.

13 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2022 D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

July 12, 2022

Super Lawyers has named 13 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2022 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

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.

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.

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.

Twelve Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 05, 2021

Super Lawyers has named 12 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2021 Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.

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).

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.

Fourteen Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

April 20, 2020

Super Lawyers has named 14 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2020 Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.

Publications

Federal Contractor Hourly Minimum Wage Increased to $17.20 Starting January 1, 2024 [Alert]

October 11, 2023

Stephen Seeger and Josephine Bahn outline changes to the minimum wage for federal contractor employees taking effect on January 1, 2024.

Bad Vibrations [CLM Magazine]

November 30, 2021

Stephen Seeger contributed an article to CLM Magazine which discusses the cause and effect of construction vibrations.

UPDATE: Several Midwest States Close Non-Essential Businesses – Potential Construction Impacts

April 10, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, and Alex Busch detail the various stay-at-home orders issued by Midwest states and the impact of each on the construction industry.

D.C. Closes Non-Essential Businesses, Restricts Sick Employees of Essential Businesses [Alert]

March 31, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, Kelly Trout, and Alex Busch discuss the D.C. mayor's order closing all non-essential businesses and how it impacts the construction industry.

Maryland and Virginia Close “Non-Essential” Business [Alert]

March 30, 2020

Christopher Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, Kelly Trout, and Alex Busch discuss how the Maryland and Virginia executive orders will impact the construction industry.

COVID-19 Construction Update: NJ, NY, DE, and PA Close Businesses

March 27, 2020

Nicholas Berenato, Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, and Alex Busch review the executive orders from the governors of Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and the impact on the construction industry.

West Coast States Close Businesses Due to COVID-19 [Alert]

March 25, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, and Alex Busch discuss orders in California, Oregon, and Washington closing businesses due to coronavirus.

COVID-19 Strategies for the Construction Industry

March 20, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, and Jesse Keene discuss steps the construction industry can take now to better prepare them for the impact of COVID-19.

Education

  • George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1990
  • Lehigh University, B.A., 1985

Awards & Honors

Chambers USA for Construction Law

Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers in America "Lawyer of the Year" for Construction Law, 2022 and 2024

Washington, D.C. "Super Lawyer" (Top 100)

Who's Who Legal Global Leader

Super Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers in Washington, D.C. 2019-2024

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court -- Maryland
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Michigan
  • Member of Society of Construction Law, North America – Co-chair of Mid-Atlantic Division
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America, Member 
  • ABA Forum on Construction Law
  • American Arbitration Association (AAA), Construction Panel Member 
  • Washington Building Congress 
  • American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL), Fellow