Stephanie Holmberg
Overview
As leader of Schwabe’s Real Estate and Construction industry group and as a Shareholder in the firm's Litigation Department, Stephanie Holmberg helps owners, developers, contractors and design professionals resolve disputes at the administrative level and in state and federal courts. She also navigates clients through the public works bidding process and regularly assists with bid protests. Drafting and negotiating contracts is another service Stephanie performs and are topics on which she routinely presents.
Stephanie is former in-house counsel to a national electrical utility contractor and has experience in all aspects of project development and claims resolution. She understands and appreciates her clients’ business priorities. Those considerations, along with her industry knowledge and involvement, make her an effective advocate for her clients.
Experience
Experience
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Obtained arbitration award on behalf of general contractor on payment claim against project owner and successfully defended against counterclaim for liquidated damages.
- Settled payment dispute between civil contractor and City of Portland involving issues of defect and delay.
- Obtained a unanimous jury verdict on a six-figure bond claim relating to work performed on a public works construction project on behalf of a specialty subcontractor.
- Represented a local architecture firm in a payment dispute against a homeowner, including defense against counterclaims and third-party claims.
- Successfully resolved a six-figure payment claim on behalf of a local specialty subcontractor.
- Assisted a local architecture firm in pursuing a seven-figure payment claim.
- Represented a real estate developer in defending against a payment claim by a design professional and pursuing associated counterclaims.
- Defended a national electrical utility contractor in complex construction litigation involving claims for breach of contract and delay.
- Represented a local homebuilder in a breach of contract claim against a homeowner for nonpayment. Assisted in negotiating a favorable settlement.
- Successfully appealed issuance of occupational safety and health citations based on serious injury incidents on behalf of a national electrical utility contractor.
- Successfully negotiated resolution of several cases involving civil rights claims in Oregon federal court.
- Defended national railroad companies in employee actions under Federal Employers Liability Act and Locomotive Inspection Act. Obtained favorable settlements in every instance.
Contract Drafting and Negotiation
- Draft and negotiate contracts between owners and design professionals (architects and engineers), including but not limited to AIA contracts.
- Review and revise remodeling contracts for commercial and residential property owners and contractors.
- Draft and negotiate prime contracts, subcontracts and purchase orders for owners, general contractors and subcontractors, including but not limited to AIA and ConsensusDocs documents.
- Assisted project owner in preparing design and construction contracts for use in large-scale capital improvement project.
- Assisted a national energy supply company in developing delivery project methods and drafting associated construction contracts for several projects in the Northwest region.
Memberships & Awards
Memberships
- Oregon State Bar, Construction Section, Executive Committee, Member
- American Bar Association, Construction Industry Forum, Member
- Association of Corporate Counsel, Member (2012-2014)
- Associated General Contractors, Oregon-Columbia Chapter, Professional and Industry Associates Council, Member
- Defense Research Institute (DRI); Construction Law and Women in the Law committees
- Multnomah Bar Association, Member
- National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Portland Chapter, Member; Board of Directors (2016-2018)
Awards
- Oregon DJC's Women of Vision (2017)
Resources & Ideas
News
- Portland Business JournalNovember 21, 2022
- Top Schwabe attorneys share wisdom for International Women’s DayMarch 8, 2021
- Daily Journal of CommerceOctober 22, 2019
- October 1, 2019
- May 17, 2017
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- Co-Presenter, “Building Your Construction Project: Critical Concepts and Issues, Owner-Architect Relationships,” Oregon State Bar, Construction Section, October 2021
- Participant, “Pacific NW Predictions: Retail Real Estate Reimagined,” September 2021
- Moderator, “Opportunities and Obstacles: How a New Administration Might Impact the Pacific NW A|E|C Industries,” DJC Oregon, April 2021
- Co-Presenter, Oregon Corporate Activity Tax (CAT), Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon (IEC), February 2020
- Co-Presenter, “Successful Claims Management,” Oregon Society of CPAs, May 2019
- Co-Presenter, “Specialty Contractors Council Success EDU Session – Help! I Think I Need a Lawyer!,” Associated General Contractors of Oregon, April 2019
- Co-Presenter, “Legal Panel – Construction Claims and Disputes,” National Association of Women in Construction, Portland Chapter, February 2019
- Co-Presenter, “Change Order Basics,” Lorman Education Services Webinar, January 2019
- Presenter, "DJC Oregon Builder Breakfast Series: Where to Hedge Your Bets in 2019," November 2018
- Co-Presenter, “Prime Contractors and Subcontractors: Friends or Foes?,” Oregon State Bar - Construction Section CLE, October 2018
- Presenter, “Dealing with Construction Sureties and Pursuing Bond Claims,” The Seminar Group: Oregon Construction Law, September 2018
- Co-Presenter, "Specialty Contractors Council Success EDU Session – Safety Culture: The Care and Feeding of Your Dinosaur," Associated General Contractors of Oregon, June 2018
- Co-Presenter, “Appellate Law Update,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, June 2018
- Co-Presenter, “Architect and Contractor: Friend or Foe?” American Institute of Architects, March 2018
- Co-Presenter, “Key Provisions in Washington and Oregon Construction Contracts,” National Association of Women in Construction, Portland Chapter, May 2017
- Co-Presenter, “Deconstructing Construction Contracts,” HalfMoon Education Inc.: Construction Contract Workshop, October 2016
- Co-Presenter, “The More Things Change…The Latest Case Law and Statutory Developments,” The Seminar Group: Oregon Construction Law, September 2016
Publications
- Daily Journal of CommerceDecember 16, 2022
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonNovember 12, 2021
- A recap from the PNW Predictions: Retail Real Estate Reimagined eventSeptember 17, 2021
- Making (Some) Sense Out of Evolving Vaccine MandatesOregon State Bar, Construction Section, Construction Law Newsletter, Winter 2021
- August 7, 2020
- March 25, 2020
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonOctober 22, 2019
- October 9, 2019
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonFebruary 27, 2019
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonOctober 10, 2018
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonAugust 21, 2018
- The Pitfalls of a Poorly Drafted Lien ReleaseOregon State Bar, Construction Law Section, Construction Law Newsletter, Summer 2018
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonApril 2, 2018
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonFebruary 21, 2017
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonJuly 27, 2016
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonAugust 24, 2015
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonJanuary 27, 2015
Community Activities
Community Activities
- Oregon Law Center, Volunteer Attorney
- Oregon Health and Science University, Center for Women's Health, Circle of Giving
- Pittock Mansion Society – Development Committee (former member, Board of Directors)
- Politisit - Board of Directors
- Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) - Multnomah County
Services
Services
Education
- Lewis & Clark Law SchoolJuris Doctor
- Vanderbilt UniversityBachelor of Arts
Admissions
Oregon State Courts
United States District Court, District of Oregon
Washington State Courts
Outside The Office
- Spending time with my husband and young children, hiking locally, trying new recipes, and playing with our dog, Ranger.