Partner
Jon Straw focuses on construction law and government contracts with experience in claim preparation, litigation, arbitration, mediation arising from changes, delays, and payment disputes. Jon has successfully represented and assisted prime contractors, subcontractors and public and private owners in both state and federal courts and before arbitration panels.
Recent types of projects and locations:
- Enhanced Perimeter Security Project, Washington, D.C.
- Veterans Administration National Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska
- Flood Control Project, New Orleans, Louisiana
- New State Court Complex, Norfolk, Virginia
- Several Highway Transportation Improvement Projects through the Commonwealth of Virginia
- U.S. Department of Commerce, Office and Research Facility, Hawaii
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Air Traffic Control Tower and
Office Building, Nevada - U.S. Department of Defense Projects, OCONUS
- U.S. General Services Administration, Building Security
Improvements, D.C. and Maryland - Several Underground Cabling and Pipeline Projects, Virginia
- Electric Substation and Switchyard, Manitoba
- Hydro-Electric Power Generation Plant, Pennsylvania
- 12-mile Highway Connector, North Carolina
- Hydro-Electric Pumped-Storage Plant, California
- Wastewater Treatment Plant, Virginia
- U.S. Air Force Base Housing Development, Missouri
- Transcontinental Oil Pipeline, Midwestern United States
- U.S. Army Base Housing Development, Georgia
- IDIQ U.S. Department of Defense Contract, South Carolina
Jon has a concrete foundation in advocacy with a thorough understanding and proven ability to use all available means of persuasion to solve problems for clients. Before practicing law, he worked on several political fundraising and grassroots issue campaigns for corporate and association clients by crafting and delivering targeted persuasive
messages. His training and experience are well-suited to analyzing and simplifying complex construction matters while understanding the interests of all parties involved to effectively and efficiently advocate for clients.
Jon is a graduate of Western State University College of Law (J.D., 2010) and Missouri State University (M.A., 2003; B.A., 2001). He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia, District of Columbia, State of Maryland, State of Arizona and related Federal Courts.
Roads & Bridges | Life, Liberty and Contract Claims
LIFE, LIBERTY AND CONTRACT CLAIMS The Declaration of Independence Doubles as a Familiar Lesson in Construction Contracts Look to the Declaration of Independence for the spirit of contract enforcement, risk allocation and the ultimate right [...]
Jonathan Straw: Editor
CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE: ARIZONA ADDS PROMPT PAY PROTECTIONS TO REVITALIZATION DISTRICTS Arizona contractors operating in public and quasi-public sectors sometimes rely on Prompt Pay statutes to help maintain cash flow. However, a statutory loophole created [...]
Roads & Bridges | What Counts as a Contract Document
WHAT COUNTS AS A CONTRACT DOCUMENT A recent decision clarifies how attachments and background reports can fall outside the contract A DOCUMENT for informational purposes only may not support a differing site condition claim and [...]
Roads & Bridges | Award Upheld in W. Va. Caisson Dispute
AWARD UPHELD IN W.VA. CAISSON DISPUTE Federal court reinforces high bar for overturning arbitration In 2018, the West Virginia Department of Highways (DOH) awarded a contract for construction of a section of King Coal Highway [...]
Roads & Bridges | Let the Contract Lead
LET THE CONTRACT LEAD Documents offer guidance needed to manage risk without derailing projects Construction is an industry of managed risk. Whether the prices of raw materials are fluctuating, the unpredictability of the weather or [...]