Michael T.McKeeman
Partner
Construction
mmckeeman@seyfarth.com
Michael focuses his practice on transactional and litigation matters throughout Northern and Southern California involving construction law, real estate, and complex commercial matters.
More About Michael
Michael is co-chair of the firm's national Construction practice and co-chair of the San Francisco Commercial Litigation practice. Michael has significant experience in representing public and private owners, design professionals, contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in construction disputes. Michael's knowledge of the construction industry is bolstered by several years of field experience in which he participated in the construction of large commercial and multidwelling residential structures. He represents clients on matters involving contract drafting, contract negotiation, contract interpretation, bid protests, differing site conditions, extra work claims, change order and payment disputes, mechanics' lien, stop notice, and bond claims, design defects, construction defects, warranty claims, and delay, inefficiency, acceleration, and other impact claims.
Michael’s practice includes both public and private construction projects. He has worked on a wide variety of projects including stadiums, performance venues, hotels, commercial/retail structures, transportation facilities, high-speed rail, hospitals, high-rise office buildings, condominiums, apartments, single family residences, jails, justice centers, earthwork projects, amusement parks, parking structures, golf courses, and educational facilities.
When disputes arise, Michael assists clients with claim preparation, arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution boards, state and federal litigation, and other viable alternative dispute resolution procedures that offer viable alternatives to expensive and protracted litigation.
Michael’s practice includes both public and private construction projects. He has worked on a wide variety of projects including stadiums, performance venues, hotels, commercial/retail structures, transportation facilities, high-speed rail, hospitals, high-rise office buildings, condominiums, apartments, single family residences, jails, justice centers, earthwork projects, amusement parks, parking structures, golf courses, and educational facilities.
When disputes arise, Michael assists clients with claim preparation, arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution boards, state and federal litigation, and other viable alternative dispute resolution procedures that offer viable alternatives to expensive and protracted litigation.
- JD, Santa Clara University School of Law
Magna cum laude
Merit Scholar - BS, University of California, Berkeley
With honors
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Berkeley Alumni Scholar
- California
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
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- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Construction Law (2019-2025)
- Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" for Construction (California) by Chambers USA (2013-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Real Estate - Construction by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2019-2024)
- Recognized as a "Notable Practitioner" for Construction (California) by Chambers USA (2011-2012)
- Co-chair of the national Construction practice group
- Co-chair of the San Francisco Commercial Litigation practice group
- Associated General Contractors of California
- San Francisco County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- "State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer and Contractor Licensing," California Chapter, Aspen Publishers (2009-2024)
- "Contractors’ Tort Claims Leave Design Professionals Wondering if Liability is Spiraling Out of Control," Cost Engineering (October 2007)
- "Termination Notification Short Circuits Electrical Subcontractor’s Performance Bond," Cost Engineering (September 2007)
- "Bid Awards: Change Order Pulls Rug Out From Under Tunneling Subcontractor," Cost Engineering (August 2007)
- "Bid Proposals: Subcontractor’s Qualified Bid Burns General Contractor," Cost Engineering (July 2007)
- "Liquidated Damages: Court Pulls Plug on Utility Contractor’s Case," Cost Engineering (June 2007)
- "False Claims: Road Embankment Construction Proves to be a Slippery Slope for Contractor," Cost Engineering (May 2007)
- "The Cost of Change," Cost Engineering (April 2007)
- "Getting Paid on Private Projects," Cost Engineering (March 2007)
- "Getting Paid on Public Projects," Cost Engineering (February 2007)
- "New Rules for Electronic Data," Cost Engineering (January 2007)
- "Using a Mechanics’ Lien to Get Your Money in California," National Business Institute (2006)
- "Getting Paid on California Private and Public Construction Projects," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 14, 2006)
- "Government Contract Year in Review," Conference Briefs, West Group (January 30, 2003)
- "Construction Payment Remedies in California," National Business Institute (March, 27, 2003)
- "Mechanics’ Lien Law and Strategies in California," National Business Institute (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002)
- "Advanced Construction Law in California," National Business Institute (1997, 1999, 2002)
- "Drafting Effective Construction Contracts," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (1999)
- "Mandatory Disclosures and Ethical Compliance on Federal Contracts—Best Practices and Lessons Learned," Construction Super Conference, San Francisco (2010)
- "Understanding Buy-America and Requirements Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," Association of General Contractors of California, Legal Retreat (2009)
- "Understanding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," AGC Legal Advisory Committee (2009)
- "Managing Construction Contract Changes," National Business Institute (2008)
- "Understanding the Basics of Mechanics’ Lien Law," National Business Institute (2008)
- "Construction Sites in the Urban Environment: Damages to Adjacent Structures in California," Lorman (2007)
- "Using a Mechanics’ Lien to Get Your Money in California," National Business Institute (2006)
- "Getting Paid on California Private and Public Construction Projects," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (2004)
- "Construction Payment Remedies in California," National Business Institute (2003)
- "Drafting Effective Construction Contracts," Federal Publications (2001)
- "Mechanics’ Lien Law and Strategies in California," National Business Institute (2000, 2001, 2002)
- "Construction and Law Practice," CLE International (1999)
- "Changes and Claims in Government Construction," Federal Publications (1998)
Michael focuses his practice on transactional and litigation matters throughout Northern and Southern California involving construction law, real estate, and complex commercial matters.
More About Michael
Michael is co-chair of the firm's national Construction practice and co-chair of the San Francisco Commercial Litigation practice. Michael has significant experience in representing public and private owners, design professionals, contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in construction disputes. Michael's knowledge of the construction industry is bolstered by several years of field experience in which he participated in the construction of large commercial and multidwelling residential structures. He represents clients on matters involving contract drafting, contract negotiation, contract interpretation, bid protests, differing site conditions, extra work claims, change order and payment disputes, mechanics' lien, stop notice, and bond claims, design defects, construction defects, warranty claims, and delay, inefficiency, acceleration, and other impact claims.
Michael’s practice includes both public and private construction projects. He has worked on a wide variety of projects including stadiums, performance venues, hotels, commercial/retail structures, transportation facilities, high-speed rail, hospitals, high-rise office buildings, condominiums, apartments, single family residences, jails, justice centers, earthwork projects, amusement parks, parking structures, golf courses, and educational facilities.
When disputes arise, Michael assists clients with claim preparation, arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution boards, state and federal litigation, and other viable alternative dispute resolution procedures that offer viable alternatives to expensive and protracted litigation.
Michael’s practice includes both public and private construction projects. He has worked on a wide variety of projects including stadiums, performance venues, hotels, commercial/retail structures, transportation facilities, high-speed rail, hospitals, high-rise office buildings, condominiums, apartments, single family residences, jails, justice centers, earthwork projects, amusement parks, parking structures, golf courses, and educational facilities.
When disputes arise, Michael assists clients with claim preparation, arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution boards, state and federal litigation, and other viable alternative dispute resolution procedures that offer viable alternatives to expensive and protracted litigation.
- JD, Santa Clara University School of Law
Magna cum laude
Merit Scholar - BS, University of California, Berkeley
With honors
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Berkeley Alumni Scholar
- California
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
Related Key Industries
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Attorney Publication
12/14/2023
Now Available! Seyfarth’s 50 State Lien Law Notice Requirements Guide (2023-2024 Edition)
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Blog Post
Jun 14, 2023
Seyfarth Shaw’s Construction Group Receives Top Tier Recognition from Legal 500
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Construction Law (2019-2025)
- Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" for Construction (California) by Chambers USA (2013-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Real Estate - Construction by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2019-2024)
- Recognized as a "Notable Practitioner" for Construction (California) by Chambers USA (2011-2012)
- Co-chair of the national Construction practice group
- Co-chair of the San Francisco Commercial Litigation practice group
- Associated General Contractors of California
- San Francisco County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- "State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer and Contractor Licensing," California Chapter, Aspen Publishers (2009-2024)
- "Contractors’ Tort Claims Leave Design Professionals Wondering if Liability is Spiraling Out of Control," Cost Engineering (October 2007)
- "Termination Notification Short Circuits Electrical Subcontractor’s Performance Bond," Cost Engineering (September 2007)
- "Bid Awards: Change Order Pulls Rug Out From Under Tunneling Subcontractor," Cost Engineering (August 2007)
- "Bid Proposals: Subcontractor’s Qualified Bid Burns General Contractor," Cost Engineering (July 2007)
- "Liquidated Damages: Court Pulls Plug on Utility Contractor’s Case," Cost Engineering (June 2007)
- "False Claims: Road Embankment Construction Proves to be a Slippery Slope for Contractor," Cost Engineering (May 2007)
- "The Cost of Change," Cost Engineering (April 2007)
- "Getting Paid on Private Projects," Cost Engineering (March 2007)
- "Getting Paid on Public Projects," Cost Engineering (February 2007)
- "New Rules for Electronic Data," Cost Engineering (January 2007)
- "Using a Mechanics’ Lien to Get Your Money in California," National Business Institute (2006)
- "Getting Paid on California Private and Public Construction Projects," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 14, 2006)
- "Government Contract Year in Review," Conference Briefs, West Group (January 30, 2003)
- "Construction Payment Remedies in California," National Business Institute (March, 27, 2003)
- "Mechanics’ Lien Law and Strategies in California," National Business Institute (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002)
- "Advanced Construction Law in California," National Business Institute (1997, 1999, 2002)
- "Drafting Effective Construction Contracts," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (1999)
- "Mandatory Disclosures and Ethical Compliance on Federal Contracts—Best Practices and Lessons Learned," Construction Super Conference, San Francisco (2010)
- "Understanding Buy-America and Requirements Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," Association of General Contractors of California, Legal Retreat (2009)
- "Understanding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," AGC Legal Advisory Committee (2009)
- "Managing Construction Contract Changes," National Business Institute (2008)
- "Understanding the Basics of Mechanics’ Lien Law," National Business Institute (2008)
- "Construction Sites in the Urban Environment: Damages to Adjacent Structures in California," Lorman (2007)
- "Using a Mechanics’ Lien to Get Your Money in California," National Business Institute (2006)
- "Getting Paid on California Private and Public Construction Projects," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (2004)
- "Construction Payment Remedies in California," National Business Institute (2003)
- "Drafting Effective Construction Contracts," Federal Publications (2001)
- "Mechanics’ Lien Law and Strategies in California," National Business Institute (2000, 2001, 2002)
- "Construction and Law Practice," CLE International (1999)
- "Changes and Claims in Government Construction," Federal Publications (1998)