Michael C. Zisa
Mike focuses his practice on construction, surety and government contracts law. He is Co-Managing Partner of the Washington, DC office, chair of the Surety and Construction Related Insurance Defense practice, and Co-Chair of the Crisis Management team.
Michael C. Zisa
Co-Managing Partner, Washington, DC Office
Chair - Surety and Construction Related Insurance Defense
Co-Chair - Crisis Management
Washington D.C
P +1 202.293.8815
F +1 202.293.7994
P 202.293.8815
F 202.293.7994
"Whether assisting with contract negotiations, performance disputes, claim analysis, ADR or litigation, I take pride in understanding my clients' businesses and objectives for each matter and use this understanding to address their legal questions but also to develop solutions that meet their business objectives."
Bio
Chambers USA commentary from industry leaders regarding Mike includes:
“Without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable, solution-driven attorneys we have ever worked with. Michael always seeks the most practical and direct solution for all of our construction issues.”
“Mike keeps the big picture and ultimate goal in mind, constantly revisiting it and ensuring things don’t get out of control.”
“He is an outstanding lawyer; detail-oriented and smart. Mike is responsive, knowledgeable and able to identify and fulfill the business objectives of his clients.”
“Mike is highly proficient in surety law and subcontractor disputes. He’s incredibly thorough and presents all the options for business folks to consider so that we can make the best decision.”
“Mike is incredibly thorough and responsive and has provided excellent representation.”
Mike has successfully represented sureties, general contractors, subcontractors and owners in litigation before federal and state courts in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia as well as various contract appeals boards and in alternative dispute resolution forums. Although well-versed in the litigation process, Mike regularly assists and counsels clients to avoid litigation when possible through planning and preemptive actions including contract review and negotiation, contract administration assistance and claim analysis and development.
Mike represents construction clients on public and private projects with regard to a variety of matters ranging from prosecution and defense of breach of contract and request for equitable adjustment claims to payment bond, performance bond and mechanic’s lien claims. His work for surety clients includes analysis and defense of payment bond and performance bond claims, negotiation and administration of takeover arrangements and prosecution of subrogation and indemnity actions. In addition to a construction, surety and government contracts practice, Mike represents business entities ranging from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 companies with regard to commercial litigation and transactional matters.
Mike regularly speaks and writes on construction and surety issues and has been recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers in the areas of construction litigation, surety and government contracts since 2014, Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in the area of construction law and he is a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.
Before joining Peckar & Abramson, Mike was the managing partner of a Chambers USA ranked boutique construction litigation and surety firm. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife and three children.
Highlights
Admissions
• District of Columbia
• State of Maryland
• State of New Jersey
• Commonwealth of Virginia
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Maryland
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Memberships
• American Bar Association (Construction Industry Forum, Fidelity and Surety Law section, Litigation section)
• District of Columbia Bar Association (Government Contracts and Litigation section)
• Virginia State Bar (Construction Law and Public Contracts section)
• Maryland Bar Association
• Construction Lawyers Society of America (Fellow)
• National Association of Surety Bond Producers (Attorney Advisory Board Member)
• Montgomery County Maryland Bar Association
• Washington Building Congress
• Associated General Contractors of DC
• Little Flower Catholic School Fathers Club (President)
• BCC Youth Baseball Coach
Education & Courses
• Seton Hall University, School of Law, J.D.
• Susquehanna University, B.A.
Awards & Recognitions
• Best Lawyers, 2023-2025
• Chambers USA, Construction, 2021-2024
• Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, 2014-2024
Publications & Presentations
• Recent Federal Contracting Developments: New Veteran-Owned Small Business Certification Requirements, Joint Venture Regulations and Inflation Relief, National Association of Surety Bond Producers, (February 2023)
• Bonding and Insurance - Risk Management Considerations, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Metro Washington seminar (Fall 2022)
• More Money More Claims: Contractor Disputes With the Federal Government, National Association of Surety Bond Producers – 2022 East Meeting (Fall 2022)
• How to Prepare a Claim that Will Maximize Your Recovery and Maximize Your Costs and Recovery Time, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Metro Washington seminar (Spring 2022)
• Contract Killer Clauses and How to Negotiate Out of Them, ConsensusDocs Webinar (Winter 2022)
• Who’s the Designer? Recognizing and Mitigating Design Risk in Construction Contracts, NASBP Webinar (Fall 2021)
• Force Majeure & Beyond – How to Protect Your Right in the COVID-19 World, Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)’s Hybrid Conference & Exhibition (Summer 2021)
• From Planning to Delivery – Building Surety Confidence, Risk Management in Underground Construction Conference (Spring 2021)
• Risk Management in Underground Construction: From Planning to Delivery – Building Surety Confidence (Spring 2021)
• Joint Ventures in Construction, Part 3: Joint Ventures Involving the Federal Government’s Small Business Programs, Surety Bond Quarterly, (Spring 2021)
• Joint Ventures in Construction, Part 2: The JV Agreement, Surety Bond Quarterly, (Winter 2020)
• Joint Ventures in Construction, Part 1: Benefits, Risk & Considerations, Surety Bond Quarterly, (Fall 2020)
• “Subcontractor Failure to Pay Employee Wages Could Fall on General Contractors,” Construction Executive (November 2020)
• Killer Contract Clauses and How to Neutralize Them (January 2019)
• Special Circumstances in Surety Bonding: Death, Disability, Divorce, Departure, and More, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (Summer 2019)
• Killer Contract & Bond Clauses & How to Neutralize Them, Tokio Marine HCC - Surety Group, Best Bond on the Beach (Spring 2019)
• A New Risk to Consider: A Surety's Liability Under the False Claim Act, The Construction Lawyer, ABA Forum on Construction Law, Volume 38, Number 3 (Summer 2018) (co-author)
• Navigating the Construction Risk Minefield: Surety, Legal and Otherwise, International Risk Management Institute’s 37th Construction Risk Conference (Winter 2017)
• Performance Bonds in Virginia, Virginia Bar Association, 38th Annual Construction and Public Contracts Law Seminar (Winter 2017)
• Killer Contract Clauses & How to Neutralize Them, 98th Annual Associated General Contractors National Convention (Spring 2017)
• Pursuit of Claims on Public Projects, HMS Insurance (Spring 2017)
• Preparation of Claims Against the Federal Government – It's Not the Same Claim You Would Submit on a Private Project, Surety Bond Quarterly (Spring 2017)
• Top Ten Contract Killer Clauses & How to Neutralize Them, Associated General Contractors of America (June, 2016)
• Joint Ventures in Construction, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (Spring and Fall, 2016)
• Fraud: The New Mantra of Federal Contracting & How it will Affect the Surety Industry, Tokio Marine HCC - Surety Group, Best Bonds on the Bayou (May, 2016)
• Fraud: The New Mantra of Federal Contracting & How it will Affect the Surety Industry, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (February, 2016)
• Why Bond Forms Matter…A Practical Guide to Better Bonding, ConsensusDocs (January, 2015)
• Alternative Project Delivery, Alternative Risks: Are Construction Managers More at Risk?, Surety Bond Quarterly (Fall, 2015)
• Mid-Project Changes in Construction Financing - Practical Consideration, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (May, 2015)
• Federal Construction Contracting Seminar, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (June, 2015)
• Top Ten Killer Contract Clauses, Construction Financial Management Association (Spring, 2015)
• Killer Contract Clauses, ConsensusDocs Construction Law Newsletter (Summer, 2015)
• Surety's Entitlement to Contract Proceeds, Tokio Marine HCC - Surety Group (Fall, 2014)
• Joint Ventures in Construction, National Association of Surety Bond Producers (Fall, 2014)
• Accidental Waiver of Claims, Tokio Marine HCC - Surety Group (Fall, 2012)
• Legal Implications for Building Code Violations, Lorman (Fall, 2012, 2013)
• Performance Bond Surety’s Right to Complete, Tokio Marine HCC - Surety Group (Fall, 2010)
• Subcontracting Issues, NECA and SMACNA Maryland Chapters (various dates, 2008-2009)
• Federal Mentor-Protégé Program (Winter, 2004) (co-organizer)
• Opportunities for Small and Growing Businesses with the District of Columbia and Federal Government (Winter, 2003) (co-organizer)
• Researching Bankruptcy Law on the Internet, The Construction Lawyer, Spring, 2002 (co-author)
• The District of Columbia Practice Manual, Government Contracts Section, 11th Ed. 2002 (co-author)
News & Events
• ABA 2025 Fidelity and Surety Law Midwinter Conference – “Austin, We Have a Problem: Selecting a Performance Option and Issues with Re-Letting, Qualifying Bidders, and Takeovers”
• Peckar & Abramson Has Largest Number of Construction Law and Litigation Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers 2025
• Chambers USA Names Peckar & Abramson to Band 1 Level in Construction Law; 29 P&A Lawyers Recognized as Leading Attorneys; Six Regions and Government Contracts Practice Recognized
• Super Lawyers® Names Five Peckar & Abramson Attorneys to 2024 Washington, DC Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Lists
