Following his military career, Mike Kozakewich attended law school and joined Steptoe & Johnson in 1989. His practice is focused in the area of construction law and he frequently presents instruction on litigation avoidance for construction professionals. In addition to counseling clients, Mr. Kozakewich has tried numerous jury and non-jury cases and has both briefed and argued appeals before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He is admitted to practice before all federal courts in West Virginia, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Obtained settlement while representing an international pharmaceutical manufacturer in a $25 million dollar suit against a nationally-known design-build wastewater treatment firm in a complex design and construction defects case in state court. Also involved as parties were the defendant’s engineering consulting firms and sub-contractors. 
• Defended a property-owning partnership in a complex multi-plaintiff suit brought by business tenants claiming a new commercial building was crumbling due to improper engineering of an adjacent slope. 
• Assisted a large urban public service district manage and prosecute major litigation worth $30 million dollars regarding defective design and construction. 
• Assisted industrial and public owners in evaluating, choosing and administering project delivery systems. Negotiated with builders, design builders, design professionals over teaming and other project criteria.
• Obtained settlement for sub-contractor against supplier in suit dealing with non-specification materials being delivered and installed.
• Counseled large urban board of education in concurrent delay situation while evaluating damages for other associated parties. 
• In conjunction with forensic accountant, establish means and methods to establish, with reasonable certainty, economic damages in a defective design suit dealing with production bottlenecks.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

• Construction law 
• Litigation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1989         Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
1966-86    U. S. Marine Corps, Intelligence Officer

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS 

• WV Representative, Design Build Institute of America 
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia 
• Forum on the Construction Industry, American Bar Association

CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

• Board, United Way of Harrison County
• 2008 Campaign Chair, United Way of Harrison County 
• Judge Advocate, Veterans of Foreign Wars

PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Frequent speaker to design professionals and contractors on liability avoidance and design build topics.