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Steve O'Neal has a global practice focused on international arbitration of construction and engineering disputes.  For nearly 40 years Steve has acted as an advocate in international and domestic arbitrations, mediations, administrative proceedings, bench trials, and jury trials.  Steve has been involved in projects including energy (oil and gas, power, and renewables), building, industrial, process plant, pharmaceutical plant, mining, bridge, railway, pipeline, highway, and marine construction throughout the world.

Steve has long been recognized as one of the leading construction attorneys in the world by Chambers, Who's Who Legal, The Best Lawyers in America, and The Legal 500 US, which determined that he "tops the list of construction litigators in the country."  Recognized as a Construction Hall of Fame member, Legal 500 wrote:  “O'Neal is among the market's most respected names in the arbitration and mediation of construction and engineering disputes.”

Construction practices led by Steve have been recognized three times by Chambers USA as Law Firm of the Year — Construction.  Steve has also served as an arbitrator for many years and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

In addition to representing clients in dispute resolution proceedings, Steve has extensive experience advising clients on structuring, drafting, and negotiating construction and infrastructure agreements. He also has substantial experience serving as project counsel, assisting clients in achieving successful completion of their projects.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

A.B., University of California-Los Angeles

California

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Recognized as one of the leading construction attorneys in the United States


Chambers USA: Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and The Legal 500 US. Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

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Recognition

Recognized as one of the leading construction attorneys in the United States


Chambers USA: Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and The Legal 500 US. Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Matters

As lead counsel, achieved multi-billion dollar victory for international energy company in international arbitration and related U.S. litigation, defeating dozens of contractor claims arising in connection with construction of an LNG facility in Australia.

Represented owner in international arbitration against contractor regarding construction of an electric power plant.

Represented a healthcare system on dispute issues regarding hospitals in California.

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Matters

As lead counsel, achieved multi-billion dollar victory for international energy company in international arbitration and related U.S. litigation, defeating dozens of contractor claims arising in connection with construction of an LNG facility in Australia.

Represented owner in international arbitration against contractor regarding construction of an electric power plant.

Represented a healthcare system on dispute issues regarding hospitals in California.

Represented a nationwide healthcare company in structuring contracts and dispute resolution matters relating to turnkey construction in hospitals across the United States.

Obtained favorable settlement for contractor in dispute over construction of fluidized-bed coal-fired power plant including resolution of design and construction issues with boilers, storage tanks, conveyor systems, and fuel supply.

Represented international energy company in project management and completion of multi-billion dollar construction of drilling sites, pipelines, gas processing, and chemical processing plants in China, including successful resolution of disputes with various project participants.

Favorable arbitration award for international energy company in international arbitration venued in London to resolve multi-hundred million dollar dispute arising from construction of undersea gas pipelines off the coast of Nigeria.

Represented international energy company in multi-hundred million dollar dispute over construction of offshore drilling platform in Australia.

Represented CityCenter Las Vegas in billion dollar dispute with contractor relating to construction of $9 billion hotel and casino project in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Obtained favorable settlement for international project management contractor in disputes arising from construction of water pipeline project in California.

Represented public entity owner in project management, project completion, and successful settlement of disputes regarding construction of multi-hundred million dollar mixed use facility in California.

Obtained successful settlement for international engineering and project management company in dispute regarding project management and engineering services for construction of process plant in Spain.

Represented Japanese contractor in disputes arising from fabrication and construction of Carquinez Straits Bridge, California – one of two bridges over the Sacramento River connecting the San Francisco Bay Area with U.S. Interstate 80.

Obtained favorable settlement for Republic of Palau in disputes with international consortium of engineers and contractors regarding collapse of Koror-Babledaob Bridge, the largest bridge of its kind in the world and the artery containing the power, water, and communications infrastructure for the island nation of Palau.

Represented owner/developer in project management/structuring for construction of mining and processing facility in United States.

Represented international project management and engineering contractor in disputes regarding construction of light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

Represented Tesla providing project management advice and construction contract structure for first Gigafactory built in Nevada, United States.

Obtained favorable jury verdict for owner in connection with litigation arising from structural damage to San Francisco office building during earthquake leading to demolition of building.

Obtained favorable jury verdict for electrical contractor in disputes arising from construction of several high-rise residential structures in San Francisco.

Represented international technology company providing project management advice and dispute resolution advice regarding construction of mission-critical factory in United States.

Obtained favorable settlement while acting as lead jury trial counsel for international technology company regarding faulty design-build construction of critical components for multi-billion dollar product line.

Obtained favorable settlement for MGM Resorts in dispute over design and construction of gantry crane (largest of its kind in the world) supporting movable stage for KA Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.

Favorable arbitration award for international technology company in dispute over construction of office campus in California.

Successful resolution of disputes arising from construction of telecommunications project at major university.

Insights

View all

Matters

As lead counsel, achieved multi-billion dollar victory for international energy company in international arbitration and related U.S. litigation, defeating dozens of contractor claims arising in connection with construction of an LNG facility in Australia.

Represented owner in international arbitration against contractor regarding construction of an electric power plant.

Represented a healthcare system on dispute issues regarding hospitals in California.

See more

Close

Matters

As lead counsel, achieved multi-billion dollar victory for international energy company in international arbitration and related U.S. litigation, defeating dozens of contractor claims arising in connection with construction of an LNG facility in Australia.

Represented owner in international arbitration against contractor regarding construction of an electric power plant.

Represented a healthcare system on dispute issues regarding hospitals in California.

Represented a nationwide healthcare company in structuring contracts and dispute resolution matters relating to turnkey construction in hospitals across the United States.

Obtained favorable settlement for contractor in dispute over construction of fluidized-bed coal-fired power plant including resolution of design and construction issues with boilers, storage tanks, conveyor systems, and fuel supply.

Represented international energy company in project management and completion of multi-billion dollar construction of drilling sites, pipelines, gas processing, and chemical processing plants in China, including successful resolution of disputes with various project participants.

Favorable arbitration award for international energy company in international arbitration venued in London to resolve multi-hundred million dollar dispute arising from construction of undersea gas pipelines off the coast of Nigeria.

Represented international energy company in multi-hundred million dollar dispute over construction of offshore drilling platform in Australia.

Represented CityCenter Las Vegas in billion dollar dispute with contractor relating to construction of $9 billion hotel and casino project in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Obtained favorable settlement for international project management contractor in disputes arising from construction of water pipeline project in California.

Represented public entity owner in project management, project completion, and successful settlement of disputes regarding construction of multi-hundred million dollar mixed use facility in California.

Obtained successful settlement for international engineering and project management company in dispute regarding project management and engineering services for construction of process plant in Spain.

Represented Japanese contractor in disputes arising from fabrication and construction of Carquinez Straits Bridge, California – one of two bridges over the Sacramento River connecting the San Francisco Bay Area with U.S. Interstate 80.

Obtained favorable settlement for Republic of Palau in disputes with international consortium of engineers and contractors regarding collapse of Koror-Babledaob Bridge, the largest bridge of its kind in the world and the artery containing the power, water, and communications infrastructure for the island nation of Palau.

Represented owner/developer in project management/structuring for construction of mining and processing facility in United States.

Represented international project management and engineering contractor in disputes regarding construction of light rail system in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

Represented Tesla providing project management advice and construction contract structure for first Gigafactory built in Nevada, United States.

Obtained favorable jury verdict for owner in connection with litigation arising from structural damage to San Francisco office building during earthquake leading to demolition of building.

Obtained favorable jury verdict for electrical contractor in disputes arising from construction of several high-rise residential structures in San Francisco.

Represented international technology company providing project management advice and dispute resolution advice regarding construction of mission-critical factory in United States.

Obtained favorable settlement while acting as lead jury trial counsel for international technology company regarding faulty design-build construction of critical components for multi-billion dollar product line.

Obtained favorable settlement for MGM Resorts in dispute over design and construction of gantry crane (largest of its kind in the world) supporting movable stage for KA Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.

Favorable arbitration award for international technology company in dispute over construction of office campus in California.

Successful resolution of disputes arising from construction of telecommunications project at major university.

Insights

View all

Credentials

J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

A.B., University of California-Los Angeles

California

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Recognized as one of the leading construction attorneys in the United States


Chambers USA: Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and The Legal 500 US. Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Close

Recognition

Recognized as one of the leading construction attorneys in the United States


Chambers USA: Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, and The Legal 500 US. Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.