Stephen B. Shapiro
Partner
Stephen B. Shapiro
+1.202.457.7032
Overview
Stephen B. Shapiro is an attorney and firmwide Construction Industry Practice Group leader in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., and New York offices. He focuses on domestic and international construction, government contracts, commercial litigation and public-private partnerships. Building on his experience representing contractors and public and private owners, Mr. Shapiro has developed in-depth knowledge of infrastructure, industrial and commercial construction. This experience is derived from working on oil, gas, power, rail, water, wastewater and building projects throughout the world. Mr. Shapiro also has an extensive background in public contracting and government contracts, including procurement, dispute resolution and compliance issues.
Mr. Shapiro has served as lead counsel in complex disputes tried before courts, boards and arbitration tribunals throughout the world. He is a Fellow in the Construction Lawyers Society of America and member of the board of directors of the Associated General Contractors of America and is a frequent speaker on topics relevant to the construction industry. He also has published numerous professional articles and contributed to several industry textbooks.
Representative Experience
- Represent an international engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor in a $4.5 billion international arbitration arising from the construction of an oil refinery in South America
- Represent a European EPC contractor as project and claims counsel in connection with electrical power production facility in Central America
- Represent an international turbine manufacturer in two federal court disputes involving large EPC contractors on power plant construction projects
- Served as project counsel for a joint venture formed by three of the largest industrial and infrastructure contractors in the world; scope of work includes advice on all legal issues associated with an EPC contract to build a $6 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility
- Served as arbitrator in a dispute involving an EPC contract for a solar power generating facility; this case involved complex engineering and damage issues that resulted in a five-day hearing
- Represent a large international contractor in connection with multiple design and construction disputes involving three state highway projects
- Represented design-builders, general contractors and owners on rail and subway projects throughout the United States
- Served as litigation counsel multiple disputes involving water and wastewater treatment plant contracts
- Provide advice to a consortium of three of the world's largest international infrastructure contractors in connection with a public-private partnership to upgrade a state highway; this matter also involves representing the joint venture in disputes that total approximately $100 million
- Represent one of the largest infrastructure contractors in the world in connection with two separate multibillion-dollar tunnel projects to construct a highway below the Chesapeake Bay; assignment includes project advice, assisting with claim development and dispute resolution
- Represented a large international contractor in a dispute arising from a dredging project in the navigable waters of San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Represented a large international contractor in a $60 million dispute with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) involving a dam construction project
- Represent a general contractor in a multiparty qui tam action arising from a federal government contract that involves complex government contract compliance and claim issue
- Represented a large international contractor in successfully resolving claims against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on a $180 million dam construction project in Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Represented a general contractor in connection with a default termination arising from the construction of a submarine training facility for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC); the case involved multiple appeals before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and related Miller Act disputes
- Represented the general contractor in successfully resolving multiple appeals arising from a road construction contract with NAVFAC at Camp Lejeune before engaging in extensive document discovery and depositions
- Represented a passenger rail company in connection with a $100 million claim by a design-build contractor involving the construction of a high-speed rail line
- Represented a general contractor in connection with a default termination arising from the construction of a federal office building for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA); GSA terminated the general contractor and later terminated its surety in connection with the completion contract; following depositions, GSA agreed to convert both default terminations to terminations for convenience
- Represented a confidential government agency in connection with a major dispute involving the construction of its headquarters
- Represented several contractors in claims and disputes arising from the construction of laboratory and research facilities at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland
- Represented a design-build contractor on a laboratory construction project at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta
- Represented the owner of new hospital construction in Manhattan in connection with contract administration and claims
- Represented the general contractor in connection with claims and disputes arising from a testing facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Represented a university in drafting contract agreements and administering claims and disputes on hospital construction project in New York
- Represented the general contractor in an arbitration with the electrical contractor in connection with the expansion of perhaps one of the most iconic and well-known college football stadiums in the United States
- Represent the owner of the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in all aspects of its $200 million upgrade and expansion project
- Represented the general contractor in a dispute involving the construction of a state-of-the-art performing arts center on a large public university campus
- Represented one of the largest building contractors in the U.S. in a dispute with the owner of a high-profile museum in Maryland; the case involved a cutting-edge design and was built for a high-net-worth individual for his own purposes and to serve the public
- Represent an international building contractor in claims and disputes with the owner of a signature high-rise condominium in Baltimore, Maryland; case involves multiple claims by the general contractor and several large subcontractors that have resulted in disputes
- Serve as arbitrator in a dispute involving a contract to renovate a historic hotel in Washington, D.C.; this was a multiparty dispute involving complex construction and damage issues
- Represented the prime contractor and key subcontractors involving a high-profile $80 million dispute with the owner of mixed-use residential, retail, hotel and garage facility in Washington, D.C.; case involved litigation with the owner and insurers in New York and the District of Columbia
- Represented a public authority in New York in a 36 party federal court litigation arising from the construction of "vertical campus" for a public college in Manhattan; this case is notable for establishing the law in New York on several important construction issues
- Represented a single-purpose entity in a dispute involving the construction of a multistory residential complex located in Washington, D.C.; the matter was resolved as a result of extensive negotiations between the interested parties
Credentials
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D.
- University of Maryland, B.A.
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Virginia
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- All Courts in the District of Columbia
- All State Courts in New York
- All State Courts in Virginia
Memberships
- Associated General Contractors of America, Past Board Member; America’s Service & Supply Council, Chair; Federal Acquisition Committee, Past Chair
- American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry
- American Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
- American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section
- AGC of Metropolitan Washington, Board of Directors
- Washington Building Congress
- Trial Law Institute
- Diversity Law Institute
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- New York Bar Association
- Virginia Bar Association
- Consulting Constructors' Council of America
Honors & Awards
- BTI Client Service All-Star, 2024
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Construction Law, 2006-2024
- The Legal 500 USA, Construction Litigation, 2010-2012, 2014, 2017, 2022; Real Estate and Construction: Construction, 2016-2022; Hall of Fame, Real Estate – Construction (Including Construction Litigation), 2023, 2024
- Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers magazine, 2011-2024
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Litigation - Construction, Construction Law, 2013-2025
- Who's Who Legal: Construction, 2013-2024; Thought Leader – Construction, 2018-2024; Global Leader, North America, Construction, 2019-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Washington; D.C. Litigation and Controversy - Construction Lawyer of the Year, 2020
- The Best of the Best USA, Construction, Legal Media Group's Expert Guides, 2020
- Charter Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
- Guide to the World's Leading Construction Lawyers, Legal Media Group's Expert Guides, 2013, 2015, 2017
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated; AV Preeminent Attorney – Judicial Edition