About Our Firm

Who We Are

We offer seasoned counsel in all aspects of construction law, and serve as counsel for all stakeholders in the construction industry, focusing on subcontractors/suppliers and trade associations. We are experienced with drafting/negotiating contracts, mechanic’s liens and bond claims, dispute avoidance and resolution, and drafting legislation for the construction industry.

Richard Stockenberg, Founder

Dick Stockenberg has over 35 years of in-depth experience in construction law. His practice is devoted exclusively to serving the construction industry as an advocate, adviser, and consultant representing subcontractors and suppliers as well as owners, design professionals, and general contractors.

He specializes in filing and perfecting mechanic’s liens, bond claims, negotiating and drafting contracts, finding solutions for problems as they arise day to day in the field, and drafting legislation for permanent solutions to complex industry problems.

Dick has tried cases in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas in both state and federal courts, including appeals courts in all three jurisdictions. He has successfully mediated and arbitrated countless claims, both prosecuting and defending.

He has achieved success in making law in the courts, but also the Missouri legislature where working in partnership with trade associations he has drafted legislation changing the landscape of the construction industry, dealing with retainage, liens, bonds, indemnification, and recovery of attorneys’ fees.

Dick is a prolific author and speaker on subjects relating to construction law on topics such as design/build, liens, bonds, retainage, risk allocation, contracts, liquidated damages, contingent payment clauses, bid shopping, change orders, termination for convenience, delay damages, economic loss doctrine, and more.

For more than 30 years, he as served as counsel to the American Subcontractors Association Midwest Council covering Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. He chairs the Chapter’s Contract Review Committee. He has chaired the National Association’s Attorneys’ Council and its Task Force on the Reform of Retention.

Most importantly, Rachel, Lauren, Millie, and Maevis call him Grandpa.

J.D. and A.B. University of Missouri, Columbia
Licensures
• Missouri
• Illinois
• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
• United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
• United States District Court for the District of Kansas

Michelle L. Zeller, Paralegal

Michelle Zeller is a paralegal with over 25 years' experience who focuses primarily in construction and real estate law. Michelle also has extensive knowledge in litigation and corporate law. She assists clients in large document reviews in preparation for filing mechanic’s liens, drafts necessary pleadings and assists in contract reviews. Michelle has worked at several large and small boutique law firms in St. Louis, and in-house at a large architectural firm, giving her a vast knowledge of different aspects of construction and real estate law. She also successfully ran her own house flipping business and when she is not spending time with her family, you can find her designing and implementing landscaping and hardscaping projects.