John O'Connor

Partner

• joconnor@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

John O’Connor is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson, where he is a part of the Litigation Department.  Mr. O’Connor focuses principally on civil litigation matters, in which he has represented clients in cases involving allegations of fraud, civil conspiracy, legal malpractice, unfair lending practices, and unfair competition, as well as in cases involving application of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Alien Tort Claims Act. Mr. O’Connor also regularly represents insurance company clients in court cases and arbitrations concerning property and liability insurance disputes arising out of claims associated with asbestos-related bodily injuries, asbestos in buildings, environmental contamination, and toxic torts.

Mr. O’Connor has written numerous articles for legal publications on various areas of legal interest, including the proper construction of state open meeting statutes, military law, and insurance coverage law.  Mr. O’Connor also has been a featured speaker on such subjects as military law, insurance coverage law, and civil procedure. Prior to joining Steptoe, Mr. O’Connor served three years as a judge advocate in the United States Marine Corps.  In that capacity, he prosecuted more than 200 courts-martial on behalf of the United States.

Noteworthy

• Steptoe Team Handles Motorola Case Against Uzan Family Worldwide

Select News & Events

• Court Upholds $1 Billion Award to Steptoe Client Motorola
• Steptoe Team Pursues Telsim Claim
• Open Meeting, Open Email?

Publications

• Loose Canons: The CAAF's Flawed Approach to Construing Convening Authority Actions
  2007, 1 Journal of Military & Veteran Law 9
• Statistics and the Military Deference Doctrine: A Response to Professor Lichtman
  2007, 66 Maryland Law Review 668
• International Law Advisory - Contractors “In the Field” Now Subject to Military Justice
  March 12, 2007
• Some Assembly Required: The Application of State Open Meeting Laws to Email Correspondence
  2004, 12 George Mason Law Review 719
• Insurance Coverage Settlements and the Rights of Excess Insurers
  2003, 62 Maryland Law Review 30
• The Origins and Application of the Military Deference Doctrine
  2000, 35 Georgia Law Review 161
• Don't Know Much About History: The Constitution, Historical Practice, and the Death Penalty Jurisdiction of Courts-Martial
  1997, 52 University of Miami Law Review 177
• The Emoluments Clause: An Anti-Federalist Intruder in a Federalist Constitution
  1995, 24 Hofstra Law Review 89