Jesse S. Keene

Member

Jesse’s practice is focused on construction law and government contracts with particular concentration on litigation, international and domestic arbitration, claim preparation, and strategic project advice. 

For close to twenty years, Jesse has represented owners, general contractors, design professionals, and subcontractors in every phase of a construction project. Clients rely on Jesse’s candid, straight-forward, and strategic advice in drafting contracts, providing project counsel during design and construction, preparing and evaluating claims, or participating in post-project dispute resolution. They know that Jesse’s objective is achieving the best possible business result. 

Jesse is an experienced litigator having successfully tried numerous cases in state and federal courts and before administrative panels. Jesse also regularly represents clients in international construction arbitrations under the ICC, UNCITRAL, and ICDR rules. In his international practice, Jesse has assisted clients on shipping and supply contracts and in disputes on mega-projects for the engineering, procurement, and construction of liquified natural gas production and storage facilities, power plants, and the construction of overseas facilities for the U.S. Departments of State and Defense.

Jesse is a Chambers & Partners-ranked construction lawyer in Washington, D.C., and a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry, the Society of Construction Law – North America, the Board of Governors of the Virginia State Bar’s Section on Construction and Public Contracts Law, and the Washington Building Congress. Additionally, Jesse was an editor of the Virginia Practice Guide Construction Volume published by Thomson Reuters (2016 through 2019 editions) and has been listed by Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer or Rising Star in Washington, D.C., for Construction Law since 2014.

Jesse earned his Bachelor of Arts from Washington State University where he served as student body president. He earned his J.D. from the Gonzaga University School of Law and served on the Gonzaga Law Review editorial board. After practicing construction and commercial litigation in the state of Washington, Jesse moved cross-country and earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) from The George Washington University Law School. His master’s thesis was published in the Federal Circuit Law Journal and has been cited before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is an avid baseball fan and runner and lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and three children.

 

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

April 22, 2024

Seven attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and four were named Rising Stars, a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

14 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2023 D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 30, 2023

Super Lawyers has named 14 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2023 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Reflect on Serving Veterans

November 11, 2022

This Veterans Day, we share the reflections of our attorneys who have dedicated their time to assisting veterans in a variety of legal capacities.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Jesse Keene Announced as Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the Society of Construction Law North America

August 17, 2022

Jesse Keene, member of the firm’s Construction Law Group, has been announced as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the Society of Construction Law, North America (SCL-NA).

13 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2022 D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

July 12, 2022

Super Lawyers has named 13 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2022 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Twelve Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 05, 2021

Super Lawyers has named 12 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2021 Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list.

Jesse Keene Named a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America

October 22, 2020

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Jesse Keene, member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department, has been named a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America. The

Publications

Washington State Reopens Some Construction, with Restrictions [Alert]

April 27, 2020

Jesse Keene discusses Governor Inslee's addendum allowing limited construction projects to resume in Washington.

UPDATE: Several Midwest States Close Non-Essential Businesses – Potential Construction Impacts

April 10, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, and Alex Busch detail the various stay-at-home orders issued by Midwest states and the impact of each on the construction industry.

D.C. Closes Non-Essential Businesses, Restricts Sick Employees of Essential Businesses [Alert]

March 31, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, Kelly Trout, and Alex Busch discuss the D.C. mayor's order closing all non-essential businesses and how it impacts the construction industry.

Maryland and Virginia Close “Non-Essential” Business [Alert]

March 30, 2020

Christopher Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, Kelly Trout, and Alex Busch discuss how the Maryland and Virginia executive orders will impact the construction industry.

COVID-19 Construction Update: NJ, NY, DE, and PA Close Businesses

March 27, 2020

Nicholas Berenato, Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, and Alex Busch review the executive orders from the governors of Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and the impact on the construction industry.

West Coast States Close Businesses Due to COVID-19 [Alert]

March 25, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, Jesse Keene, and Alex Busch discuss orders in California, Oregon, and Washington closing businesses due to coronavirus.

COVID-19 Strategies for the Construction Industry

March 20, 2020

Chris Sweeney, Stephen Seeger, and Jesse Keene discuss steps the construction industry can take now to better prepare them for the impact of COVID-19.

Education

  • Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., 2006
  • George Washington University, LL.M., 2008
  • Washington State University, B.A., 2002

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025

Chambers & Partners USA 2021-2024

Super Lawyer in Washington, D.C. for Construction Law, 2021-2024

Super Lawyers Rising Star in Washington, D.C. for Construction Law, 2014-2019

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court -- Maryland

Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America 

Governor, Virginia State Bar Section on Construction & Public Contracts

Member, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry

Society of Construction Law – North America, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director 

Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance 

Washington Building Congress