Stephen J. Henning

Stephen J. Henning is the co-founder of Wood, Smith, Henning, and Berman, LLP, a prestigious Am Law 125 law firm with an international presence spanning 42 offices. Renowned for his expertise as a litigator, Steve has garnered national recognition for his exceptional results in complex construction, real estate, business, and employment litigation. He also enjoys experience handling all facets of professional liability, and toxic tort litigation.

Steve regularly represents Fortune 500 companies and prominent figures in the business community, represents some of the largest residential and commercial public and private owners, homebuilders, developers, investors, contractors, and lenders in the nation. His track record of success has solidified his reputation as a trusted legal resource for high-profile clients.

As a sought-after thought leader in the legal field, Steve is a frequent speaker and prolific author on emerging issues. In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Steve was honored with the 2019 CLM's Professional of the Year for Outside Legal Counsel award. He also is the first defense lawyer to receive the prestigious Jerrold S. Oliver Award for his significant contributions to the construction community. In 2022, Steve was named the RISE Mentor of the Year, further solidifying his status as a respected leader in the industry. His exceptional legal writing skills were recognized with the prestigious 2023 Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award, highlighting his ability to articulate complex legal concepts with clarity and precision. In both 2024 and 2025, the Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Steve as one of the Top 100 lawyers in Los Angeles, underscoring his exceptional legal acumen, leadership, and dedication to excellence in his practice. Additionally, in 2025, he was selected as the Community Impact Award Honoree by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Steve's academic background includes both an undergraduate and law degree from the University of Nebraska, where he excelled as a member of the National Trial team. He currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Board for the Law College and holds a trustee position for the University Foundation. In addition to his thriving legal practice, Steve is deeply committed to giving back to the community. He has assumed leadership roles in several national and local non-profits, including serving as the Board Chair for the March of Dimes and as a founding Board member and past President of the Construction Defect Community Charitable Foundation. Steve's dedication to public service is further exemplified by his service on the Board of Directors for Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles and LevittQuinn, a public aid law firm. His outstanding corporate citizenship was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Consistently regarded as one of the industry's top attorneys, Steve has been featured as a 'Top Attorney' in numerous publications. His two-decade plus AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, an esteemed recognition of professional excellence, underscores his standing in the legal community. Additionally, Steve has been consistently selected as a 'Rising Star' or 'Super Lawyer' since he started the firm, a testament to his unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional legal representation. He is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society. Best Lawyers in America has honored Steve for his litigation success in both construction and real estate litigation.

Newsroom

News

•Stephen Henning Receives “Legend of an Era” Award
5.15.25
•Stephen Henning Awarded Prestigious Burton Award for Excellence in Legal Writing
Firm News, 4.5.23
•Speculative Claims Insufficient for Recovery Under SB 800; Potential for Roof To Leak In Future Not Enough
Case Updates, 9.8.22
•Stephen Henning Named 2022 RISE Mentor of the Year
Newsroom, 6.14.22
•Stephen Henning Named a Finalist for RISE 2022 Mentor of the Year Award
Newsroom, 5.9.22
•California Leads Nation in Preserving Remote Appearances; Proposed Legislation Allows Virtual Appearances, Testimony and Trials
Article, 11.5.21
•A Pandemic Within the Pandemic: Accessibility Claims Soar to New Heights
Newsroom, 8.2.21
•Covid-19 Liability Risk: Can It Be Waived?
Newsroom, 7.24.20
•Litigation Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic: Emerging Trends in Virus Related Claims
Newsroom, 5.20.20
•WSHB’s Stephen Henning Honored As Finalist for Outside Counsel of the Year
Newsroom, 3.6.18

Events, Seminars & Speaking Engagements

•Co-Chair, 2025 CLM National Construction Conference (September 2025)
•Co-Chair, 2024 CLM National Construction Conference (September 2024)
•Co-Chair, 2023 CLM National Construction Conference (September 2023)
•Co-Chair, 2022 CLM National Construction Conference (September 2022)
•Co-Chair, 2021 CLM National Construction Conference (September 2021)
•Co-Chair, 2020 CLM National Construction Conference (October 2020)
•Co-Chair, 2019 CLM National Construction Conference, San Diego (October 2019)
•Disasters in the Making - Litigation Impacts from Fire, Flood and Hurricanes, West Coast Casualty Conference, Anaheim (May 2019)
•Game Changing Trends Impacting Construction Litigation: Strategies and Practice Pointers for 2019 and Beyond, DRI Construction Conference (2019)
•Changing Face of Construction Litigation: Emerging Trends Which Are Disrupting the Industry, CLM Annual Conference (2019)
•Emerging Issues in Habitability Litigation, Indianapolis (November 2019)
•Co-Chair, 2018 CLM National Construction Conference, Chicago (October 2018)
•Strategies and Practice Pointers for Emerging Issues in Habitability and Hospitality Claims (Denver, October 2018)
•Building Collapse Issues: Intersection of Construction Defect and Catastrophic Injury, CLM National Construction Conference (2018)
•Co-Chair, 2017 CLM National Construction Conference, San Diego (October 2017)
•Co-Chair, 2016 CLM National Construction Conference, San Diego (September 2016)
•Emerging Trends in Construction and Litigation: National Overview, Premier Panel, CLM National Construction Conference (September 2016)
•Legalized Marijuana: Will the Insurance Industry Inhale, CLM Southern California Conference (July 2015)
•Utilizing Technology in Litigation: Cutting Edge Strategies for Handling and Disposition of Litigated Matters, West Coast Casualty Seminar, Anaheim, California (May 2015)
•Social Media and Litigation: Ethical Landmines, Admissibility at Trial and Emerging Issues in Litigation, CLM Annual Conference, 2015
•Legalized Marijuana - Will the Insurance Industry Inhale, Southern California Conference, CLM (Irvine, 2015)
•Cannabis: Legal Issues Emanating from the Legalization of Marijuana: Impacts on Employment, Insurance, Products Liability and Litigation, CLM (Los Angeles, 2015)
•Use of Technology at Trial, West Coast Casualty Seminar, Anaheim, California (May 2014)
•Stephen Henning to Speak at 32nd Annual West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar
Speaking Engagement, Anaheim, CA, 5.15.26

•Stephen Henning to Address Jurisdictional Trends at Perrin National Construction Defect Conference
Speaking Engagement, New Orleans, LA, 11.14.24

Publications

•The Rising Tide of Plaintiff Lawyer Advertising: How Saturation Ads are Shaping Jury Perceptions, Litigation Culture, and the Cost of Business
Article, Construction Claims Magazine, Winter 2025
•Emerging Trend: Buying Burned Down Homes and Insurance Assignments
Article, 6.24.25
•California Supreme Court Eliminates Prejudice Requirement for Waiver in Arbitration Agreements
Case Updates, 9.26.24
•Don’t Miss Your Shot: Preserving the Power of Arbitration
Article, 10.23.23
•Two By Fours, Rivets and Artificial Intelligence. CLM’s Construction Claims Take
Media Mention, Risk & Insurance, 8.31.23
•Pay Arbitration Fees On Time or Prepare to Face a Jury
Case Updates, 12.14.22
•Court Reporter Shortage Sparks Creative Measures and Widens Door For Blunders
Article, 10.21.22
•The Construction Industry: Easy Target for Cyber Criminals?
Article, 8.4.22
•The Return of Mold
Article, CLM Magazine, 12.13.21
•Mold Litigation Update: Current Trends in this Once-Emerging Tort
Publications, 10.8.11
•The Rising Tide of Plaintiff Lawyer Advertising: How Saturation Ads are Shaping Jury Perceptions, Litigation Culture, and the Cost of Business, Construction Claims Magazine (Winter 2025)
•Reshaping the Landscape , CLM Magazine (February 2024)
•The Construction Industry: Easy Target for Cyber Criminals , National Association of Home Builders (August 2022)
•One Drink Too Many: A Recent Decision Highlights Expanding Scope of Dram Shop Liability, CLM Magazine (December 2021)
•After the Collapse, CLM Magazine (September 2021)
•The Return of Mold: Early Signs Point to a Potential New Wave of Lawsuits, Construction Claims Magazine (Winter 2021)
•A Roundup of Covid-19 Litigation , CLM Magazine (December 2020)
•Can Covid-19 Liability Be Waived?, Risk Management Magazine (September 2020)
•Covid-19 Hits the Construction Industry, Construction Claims Magazine (Summer 2020)
•Virtually Accessible: A Recent Supreme Court Action Opens the Door to ADA Lawsuits Over Website Accessibility , CLM Magazine (November 2019)
•The Natural Progression of Natural Disasters, CLM Construction Claims Magazine (June 2019)
•Handling Mold Litigation in California, CEB Action Guide, Continuing Education of the Bar, 3rd, 4th & 5th Editions (2005, 2007 and 2015)

Community Activities

•University of Nebraska Foundation, Trustee
•March of Dimes, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors
•Alzheimer’s Association, Past Board of Directors Member
•Levitt & Quinn (public aid law firm), Past President, Board of Governors
•Construction Defect Community Charitable Foundation, Past Board Member and Past President
•March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction 2011 and 2012, Event Chair
•University of Nebraska College of Law Entrepreneurship Clinic, Board of Advisors

In the News

•The Rising Tide of Plaintiff Lawyer Advertising: How Saturation Ads are Shaping Jury Perceptions, Litigation Culture, and the Cost of Business
•Emerging Trend: Buying Burned Down Homes and Insurance Assignments
•Stephen Henning Receives “Legend of an Era” Award
•California Supreme Court Eliminates Prejudice Requirement for Waiver in Arbitration Agreements

Honors & Recognitions

•Legend of an Era Award (bestowed in recognition of the achievement of legendary status through remarkable contributions, leadership, and advocacy within the construction defect community) (2025)
•Named to Los Angeles Business Journal's 'Top 100 Lawyers' List (2025)
•Selected as the 2025 Community Impact Honoree by the Los Angeles Business Journal (2025)
•Selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Real Estate (2024 - 2026) and Construction Law (2026) in Los Angeles, CA
•Named a Southern California Super Lawyer (2006 - 2020, 2022 - 2026)
•Named to Los Angeles Business Journal's LA500 Most Influential People List (2025)
•Named to Los Angeles Business Journal's 'Top 100 Lawyers' List (2024)
•2023 Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award Winner
•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

•RISE Mentor of the Year Award (2022)

•Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Outside Counsel Professional of the Year Award (2019)
•Named a Top Attorney by Pasadena Magazine (2013 - 2020)
•Named a Top Attorney in Southern California by Los Angeles Magazine (2007 - 2020)
•Jerrold S. Oliver Award of Excellence (first defense attorney recognized for contributing to the improvement of the construction-defect community) (2002)