FCPS Names New Chief Legal Counsel

Steven Blivess

Steven Blivess, Esq. has been named the new Chief Legal Counsel for Frederick County Public Schools effective April 11, 2023.

Blivess has spent the past 20 years as an attorney and labor relations professional with experience in litigation, as counsel to government executives, Fortune 500 corporations, family-owned businesses and individuals.

FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson announced his appointment to the Board of Education of Frederick County. Blivess will serve on the superintendent’s cabinet.

Before focusing his efforts on labor relations, Blivess worked as an attorney in multiple capacities. While with the D.C. Office of Risk Management, he served as acting general counsel and provided guidance to the chief risk officer for the District of Columbia. He was an assistant attorney general with the D.C. Office of the Attorney General where he represented the District in contract cases before the D.C. Contract Appeals Board and the D.C. Superior Court. He also spent nine years in private practice and as an assistant corporation counsel in New York City. For five years, Blivess worked as an adjunct professor at The George Washington School of Law where he taught legal research and writing.

For the last seven years, Blivess has worked in legal and labor relations, including four years as the senior labor relations specialist for the District of Columbia and assistant attorney general for D.C. Fire and Emergency Services.  He then worked for the Montgomery County Government as a labor relations manager and acting chief labor relations officer prior to spending the last year and half as the director of labor relations and lead negotiator for Montgomery County Public Schools.  

Blivess obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Speech Communication from Penn State University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

When not practicing law and labor relations work, he enjoys watching baseball and spending time with his son and family. We look forward to welcoming Blivess to FCPS where he will provide legal services oversight and guidance.