Steven J.Kmieciak

Government contractors providing supplies and services to the US Government rely on Steve to aid them in navigating the complexities of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and the related issues of compliance and costs.  When a dispute arises government contractors look to Steve for leadership in preparing and negotiating claims, and when necessary litigating those claims before the Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims.

In his 40 years of practice, Steve has participated in all aspects of major construction projects—international and domestic, public and private. He has represented contractors, industrial owners, commercial developers, and governments, where he drafted and negotiated contracts, advised on matters arising during construction, prepared and presented claims, and resolved disputes in international and domestic arbitrations, as well as federal and state courts. That extensive, diverse experience has shaped Steve's 360-degree approach when guiding clients through the complexities of construction projects.  Steve has been involved in all aspects of many types of projects, including high-rise office and condominium projects, hotels, industrial facilities, dredging, above- and below-ground heavy rail mass transit systems, bridges, airport facilities, container seaports, and wharves and civil works.

As a government contracts lawyer, Steve’s practice has run the gamut from bid protests to counseling on a variety of FAR issues, including compliance, cost accounting, terminations (for convenience and default), false claims, defense of qui tam actions, Foreign Military Sales contract negotiations, and litigating claims before the Boards of Contract Appeals and the US Court of Federal Claims.  Steve has worked extensively with experts in many relevant fields, including aerospace, munitions, geotechnical and structural engineering, chemical engineering, scheduling, and forensic accounting.

Steve's years of experience have taught him to take a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to risk avoidance and problem solving. His dispute resolution experience allows him to recognize and avoid risks during the drafting and negotiation phases of projects more effectively than those with only transactional experience. Steve's drafting and negotiation experience has helped him better understand challenges that arise during performance, and that drive disputes enabling him to effectively and efficiently resolve matters and disputes.

Steve is proud to be part of a great group of attorneys at Seyfarth's Construction and Government Contracts group, who make the practice of law even more satisfying and rewarding. For Steve, working on construction projects has always been fascinating, because of the process, as well as the legal work needed to ensure its success. People in the construction industry are unique in their commitment to solving problems and getting things done—just one more reason that Steve finds his work so satisfying.