Shareholder

Chicago

Direct: 312.980.5772

Office: 312.980.5760

smroczkowski@buchalter.com

Bar Admissions

Illinois, Wisconsin

Languages

French

Overview

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Steven Mroczkowski is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Chicago office and a member of the Litigation practice group. He represents businesses up and down the construction contract chain—from owners and developers and lenders and sureties to contractors and subcontractors to architects and engineers—helping them deal fairly with other parties and protecting their rights when those other parties fail to meet their obligations.

Steve is the consummate outside construction counsel, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts for clients ranging from large corporations to small closely held companies, but primarily litigating all manner of commercial construction disputes in state and federal courts and mediation and arbitration proceedings throughout the country.

In addition to his construction practice, he regularly advises clients on issues involving breach of contract, complex commercial foreclosures and workouts, lease disputes, liquidations, bankruptcy preferences, and fraudulent transfers. Steve works closely with clients to gain an understanding of their businesses, values, and what drives them, so he can work to obtain wins for clients based on what that means for each client.

Construction Matters

  • Representation of a contractor against an owner in a AAA arbitration and defeated all of the owner’s affirmative claims. The client received a favorable ruling from the arbitrator awarding all damages requested in the contractor’s counterclaims.
  • Representation of large subcontractor in power plant construction dispute resulting in 7-figure recovery related to delay, acceleration, and liquidated damages claims.
  • Defense of member of design joint venture in Florida courthouse construction dispute with 8-figure liability exposure resulting in dismissal in favor of client.
  • Outside general counsel services for construction companies encompassing risk mitigation, contract review, IP protection, and employment advisory services.
  • Prosecution and defense of numerous lien and bond claims.
  • Prosecution of breach of municipal services agreement on behalf of municipal client resulting in favorable settlement related to shared use of road and utilities.
  • Arbitration of claim of general contractor resulting in 100% recovery for client and full denial of counterclaims against client.

Other Matters

  • Representation and settlement in favor of bank client in breach of loan participation agreement case.
  • Representation of lenders in complex commercial foreclosure cases and special servicer clients in numerous CMBS loan default foreclosure matters throughout the country.
  • Defense of bankruptcy preference actions.
  • Prosecution of Section 523 and 727 claims resulting in nondischargeability of client lender debts.
  • Trial of contested cash collateral matters in bankruptcy courts.
  • Prosecution and protection of lender clients’ claims and rights in commercial Chapters 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases.

Reported Decisions

  •   BMO Harris Bank, NA v. Brahos, 16 A 358, Aug. 7, 2018 (In re Charles Z. Brahos, 16 B 2160)
  •   LOMTO Federal Credit Union v. 6500 Western, LLC, 2018 IL App (1st) 173106
  •   Standard Bank & Trust Co. v. Madonia, 2011 IL App (1st) 103516, 964 N.E.2d 118

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Wisconsin
  • United States District Court Northern District of Illinois
  • United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court Eastern District of Michigan
  • United States District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court Western District of Wisconsin
  • United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States Bankruptcy Court Western District of Michigan
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Education

  • Chicago Kent College of Law, J.D.
  • North Central College, B.A. in Economics and French, magna cum laude

  • The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Construction, 2025
  • Super Lawyers Rising Star – Construction Litigation, 2020-2025; Creditor Debtor Rights, Business Litigation, 2025

  • Member, Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys
  • Member and Past-Chairperson, Illinois State Bar Association Construction Law Section Council
  • Member, Chicago Bar Association
  • Past Chairperson, Real Property Law – Construction Law & Mechanics Liens Subcommittee
  • Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)

  • Volunteer, Special Olympics
  • Volunteer, Feed My Starving Children

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