Steven M. Henderson
As a registered professional engineer and attorney, Steven represents owners, contractors, and design professionals in all aspects of the construction and design process. He successfully litigates cases in state and federal courts, and regularly manages the resolution of disputes for clients. Having spent time working as an engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prior to becoming an attorney, Steven continues to maintain in-depth knowledge of the multiple demands placed on owners, design professionals and contractors involved in complex transportation projects. Steven is chair of the firm's Construction Service Group.
Best Practices for Presentation of Damages in Arbitration
Speaker, 2024 Construction Law Institute, Lexington, KY, October 17, 2024
Preventing Structural Failures Through Improved Communication of Design Intent: Recent Revisions to the AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges
co-presenter, 2024 Annual Conference, Structural Engineers Association of Kentucky, May 24, 2024
Navigating The Trenches: How to Avoid, Manage, and Resolve Construction Disputes
Speaker, Dig Down Deep Spring 2023, NUCA of Middle Tennessee, March 31, 2023
Labor Shortages, Supply Chain Issues, and Inflation in the Construction Industry
co-presenter, 2022 Construction Law Institute, UK Rosenberg College of Law CLE, October 20, 2022
ARTBA 12th Annual Law & Regulatory Forum – Live Online
Webinar presented by American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), June 4, 2020
Professional Ethics for Structural Engineers
Thirty-Ninth Annual Structural Conference, Structural Engineers Association of Nebraska (SEAON), Omaha, Nebraska, September 20, 2019
Guided Choice and Emerging ADR Trends
ARTBA Southern Regional Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, October 30, 2018
Project Delivery Trends and Practical Advice for Public Infrastructure Projects
From the Backstretch to the Finish Line and Contested Results - Bid Protests
Bid Protests: Tips for Navigating Procedural and Substantive Obstacles in Local Procurements
Ethics, Laws, and Regulations
Court of Appeals Approves Franklin Rock Quarry
Subsurface Trespass in Kentucky for Coal and Aggregate Producers: Adopting Net Value Rule and Elimin
Joint Ventures: Considerations for Effective Organization and Execution
OSHA Is Coming . . . OSHA Issued Your Company a Citation . . . Now What?
Subsurface Conditions & Construction Contracts - What you Need to Know
False Claims Act Warnings to Heed
Building Information Modeling (BIM): Past, Present and Future
Ethics: Where Does Your Responsibility End
Public Contracts & Procurement Regulations for Kentucky
Documentation Requirements for Construction Projects
Insurance Issues in the Construction Industry
Legal Issues for Kentucky Design Professionals
Engineering Ethics - Understanding the Relationship between Professional Ethics and Legal Liability
Ethics: Where does your responsibility end?
Kentucky Construction Law
What you need to know about contracting with the government
What to do When a Construction Project Goes Bad
Construction Compendium
Legal Handbook for Architects, Engineers and Contractors, Issues in Construction and Technology 2006/2007
Kentucky Construction Law Handbook
Walking the Line Between Contract and Tort in Construction Disputes: Assessing the Use of Negligent Misrepresentation to Recover Economic Loss after Presnell
Fundamentals of Construction Contracting
Defending multiple engineering firms in cases involving allegations of property damage caused by defective design or construction.
Defending engineering firm in a multi-party dispute involving personal injury claims arising from a propane gas explosion.
Defending major international equipment manufacturer in multiple product liability cases.
Assisted contractors in protesting multiple OSHA citations and penalties.
Successfully resolved dispute on behalf of a contractor accused of submitting fraudulent payment documents to a government agency.
Obtained a favorable settlement of subcontractor’s delay claim against a government agency arising from relocation of water and sewer lines on a highway project.
Negotiated a favorable settlement with a state transportation agency concerning payment for material on a highway project that allegedly did not comply with the agency's standard specifications.
Successfully represented multiple contractors in bid protests challenging the award of contracts for highway and bridge projects.
Representing multiple contractors in pursuing or defending performance and payment bond claims related to subcontractor defaults.
Obtained summary judgment in a complicated commercial construction dispute involving delay claims and allegations of defective construction.
Successfully resolved a design and construction defect case on behalf of a condominium owner’s association.
Successfully litigated a multi-party case for a national developer involving claims of fraud and defective construction asserted by a condominium owner's association.
Successfully resolved complicated payment dispute on contracting mining project that resulted in multi-million dollar payment to client.
Drafted multi-million dollar construction contracts for several owners, including manufacturing facilities, hotels, museums and a recycling facility.
Drafted design-build contract and proposal documents for quasi-public agency.
Successfully litigated a contractor’s claims against a manufacturer and a design engineer involving a poorly designed telecommunications tower. The client obtained a substantial settlement during early mediation and avoided substantial litigation costs.
Drafted and negotiated various design and construction contracts on behalf of contractors, subcontractors and design professionals.
Drafted and negotiated multiple contract mining agreements for a multi-million dollar surface mining project.
Construction Service Group, Chair
Kentuckians for Better Transportation, Board of Directors (Chair, 2021-22)
Shelby Co. UK Alumni Association, Board of Directors
magna cum laude
University of Kentucky College of Law
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Order of the Coif
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Kentucky Law Journal, Member
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CALI Award in Contracts, Evidence & Bankruptcy
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Outstanding 2nd & 3rd Year Journal Staff Member Award
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Stoll Keenan Ogden Law Journal Service Award
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John Darsie Memorial Scholarship Fund
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Chelsey Williams Bailey UK Alumni Association Scholarship
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Swinford Writing Club, Best Overall Advocate
University of Kentucky
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Southeast Transportation Institute Fellowship
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Teaching Assistant & Research Assistant, 1997-99
cum laude
University of Kentucky
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Chi Epsilon, National Civil Engineering Honor Society
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Delta Tau Delta Fraternity
Steven is a member of the Board of Directors of Kentuckians for Better Transportation, the Shelby Co. UK Alumni Association, and the finance committee of Centenary United Methodist Church in Shelbyville, Ky. Steven is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, backpacking, snow skiing, and any other activity that gives him the opportunity to enjoy some quiet time in the woods. He also enjoys golf (most of the time) and spending time with his wife, Emily, and his daughter, Clara.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
Best Lawyers in America®, Construction Law and Litigation - Construction (2017-25)
Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Construction Law (2021, 2025)
Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2018-25)
Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Rising Star (2015-17)
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 47 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2025
The 2025 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 47 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 34 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
2024 Construction Law Institute
Time: 7:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
The Campbell House, 1375 South Broadway Road, Lexington, KY 40504
Construction attorney Bill Geisen is the Institute Chair and will give the Welcome announcement for the 2024 Construction Law Institute in Lexington on October 17, 2024. Attorneys Steven Henderson, Cassidy Rosenthal and J.P. Stilz will also be presenters at the event.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications
Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
Dig Down Deep Spring 2023
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Construction attorneys Steven Henderson and Ross Hutchison will be featured speakers at this NUCA of Middle Tennessee's breakfast and networking event.
Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 37 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.
Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications
LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.