Michael L. Sterling
Practice Focus:
Construction
Public Contracts
Local Government
Mediation and Arbitration
Contact Information
Norfolk Office
500 World Trade Center
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
(757) 446-8626
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Mike is a partner with Vandeventer Black and chair of the firm’s Construction and Public Contracts department. He concentrates his law practice in construction, public contracts and local government matters, as well as arbitration and mediation.
His construction practice has ranged from the resolution of complex disputes involving the construction of co-generation power plants and commercial buildings to residential development projects. Mike has been recognized by Virginia Business magazine as one of Virginia’s Legal Elite in the area of Construction law (2002) , Alternative Dispute Resolution (2005), and as a Virginia Super Lawyer (2006).
Mike’s public contracts practice involves counseling clients on federal, state and local service, supply and construction contracts. His local government practice involves representing municipalities and public authorities.
Mike is a recognized practitioner of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Certified in Circuit Court – Civil Mediation and as a Mediator Mentor by the Supreme Court of Virginia, he focuses his mediation skills in resolving complex construction, public contracts and business disputes. He is a Better Business Bureau Arbitrator, a National Association of Security Dealers Arbitrator Chair and Mediator and a National Arbitration Forum Arbitrator. He also served as a Hearing Officer by appointment of the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1991 - 2001, where he presided over public employee grievance appeals and professional licensure issues.
Mike received a B.A. (cum laude) in Economics from Lawrence University and a J.D. from The College of William & Mary School of Law, where he was admitted to the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Barrister.
Mike is a member of the American Bar Association, Construction Industry Forum, Associated General Contractors of Virginia, Association of Builders and Contractors, International Society of Parametric Analysts and the Society of Cost Estimating Engineers.