In decades of representing many of New Jersey’s premier general contractors, subcontractors and building materials suppliers, Steve Brawer has become passionate about the capabilities, competitiveness and business success of his clients. He has guided these entrepreneurs and their enterprises, both large and small, through a wide range of construction and surety litigation, arbitration and mediation; public contracting and public bidding disputes; construction-related administrative proceedings; and a myriad of financial, corporate and commercial matters. His zeal and skill have earned him a reputation as one of the state’s leading construction lawyers.
The most important services Steve provides to clients are focused insight about the details of their businesses and a keen appreciation of how individual matters relate to each client’s “big picture.” His long-term representation of clients and his broad network of construction contacts reflect his almost instinctive understanding of what these construction businesses are about, what they need, what their challenges are and what they want to accomplish. A highly experienced courtroom advocate, Steve has pursued important cases to precedent-setting decisions in the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Steve’s involvement with the New Jersey construction industry is underscored by his longtime service as legal counsel for three preeminent trade groups: the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey, the Drywall and Interior Systems Contractors Association of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Association. He is an active member of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry and a former chair of the Fidelity and Surety Law Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Areas of Practice
Construction Law & Litigation
Litigation
Real Estate
Professional Career
Professional Associations
New Jersey Executive Study Commission on Public Procurement Law
Member (1985-1986)
American Arbitration Association
Panelist, Construction Industry Arbitration
Master; Arthur T. Vanderbilt Inn of Court
Master; Founding Member, Executive Board, Justice Marie L. Garibaldi; American Inn of Court for Alternative Dispute Resolution
Founding Member, Executive Board
American Bar Association
Construction Industry Forum, Public Contract Law Section
Occupational Safety and Health Subcommittee
New Jersey State Bar Association
Construction and Public Law Section
Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, (Past Chair)
Essex County Bar Association
Passaic County Bar Association
Publications
25 Years and Still Going Strong, February 2011
A Dose of Common Sense for Unknown Subsurface Conditions, December 2000
A First Class Choice, August 2000
A Simple Fix for a Chronic Problem, February 2005
A Sound Principle Re-Affirmed, February 2001
A Tough Case Makes Good Law, August 2002
A Victory for Open Competition, June 2002
An Expensive Lesson: Take MBE/WBE/DBE Requirements Seriously, June 2011
CCA Treated Wood - What's Next?, June/July 2002
Checks and Balances, December 2001
Contractors Beware - Recent Decision May Mean Personal Liability For Faulty Construction Work, August 2011
Court Settlement Heralds Revolutionary Changes in State MBE/WBE Programs, August 2003
DAM IT ALL!!, April 2004
Determining Where To File Suit In Construction Matters - Part I, August 2004
Determining Where To File Suit In Construction Matters - Part II, October 2004
Emergency Regulations Implement Changes in the State's Set-Aside Programs, October 2003
Go Forth And Build - If You Can!!, February 2003
Improper Notice Leads to Spoliation, March 5, 2001
It’s Time To Re-Examine Arbitration As The Process Of Choice To Resolve Construction Disputes, October 2010
Job Documentation Made Easy, August 2005
Knowledge Is Good, April 2003
Landmark Appellate Decision Considers Impact of Bidder Financial Ratings Where Alternates are Involved, December 2003
Looking Back, Looking Ahead, June 2001
Material suppliers and the Public Works Contractor Registration Act - Changes on the horizon?, March 31, 2002
Mischief On The Waterfront, April 2004
More Than The Law Provides, April 2002
Navigating New Jersey's Residential Construction Lien Process, April 2005
New Claims, Old Policies: Understanding and Maximizing Your Company's Insurance Coverage for Asbestos Claims, March 2003
New Jersey Construction Law 2008 Case Law Round-Up, February 2009
New Jersey Contractors, Real Estate and Clean Fill Reuse: Saving Money and the Environment, March 2005
New Jersey Enacts Unprecedented Public School Construction Program, Summer 2002
New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Corporate Officers Not Personally Liable for Alleged Negligence, February 2002
New Jersey Supreme Court Issues Landmark Bidding Decision: Non-Bidder Held to Have Standing to Challenge Bid Specifications, March 2009
New Legislation Provides For Withdrawal of Mistake Bid Proposals, April 2011
Nine Years After Boston Harbor, Public Sector Project Labor Agreements Are Permissible In New Jersey, October 2002
Nowhere For "Pay-To-Play" in a "Low Bid" World, April 2005
Pre-Qualification By The Rules, June 2003
Quality Assurance in Public Procurement, June 2005
Recent Construction Defect Case Highlights Importance of Handling Physical Evidence With Care, March 2001
School Construction Program Puts Low Bid System at Risk, June 2000
Settle It Now!, October 2000
Strength Through the Rule of Law, October 2001
T.N. Ward, Inc. v. South Jersey Transportation Authority Issues Important Reminder to Bidders: Be Aware of Bidding Scheme Nuances, March 2011
The Public Contractors Registration Act -- Politics and Government Bureaucracy at Its Worst, December 2004
The Public School Construction Program: What Is It and How Does It Affect You?, January 2002
There's No Substitute for a "Positive" Experience, April 2000
When Even A Low Bid Isn't Enough, December 2002
Why Not Provide Project Budgets and Engineer’s Estimates?, June 2004
Working With NJDOT, April 2001
Workplace Injuries: OSHA's New Multi-Employer Work Site Doctrine, November 6, 2000
You Can't Beat Competition!!, August 2001
Bar Admission
New York, 1981
New Jersey, 1974
Court Admissions
1974, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
1981, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
-2147483648, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Education
George Washington University Law School (J.D. , 1974 ), with honors
