Panel: Bid  Protests
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Amy O’Sullivan
Title: Partner
Employer: Crowell & Moring

Amy Laderberg O’Sullivan is a partner in Crowell & Moring, a member of the Steering Committee for the firm’s Government Contracts Group, and former chair of the firm’s Diversity Council. Her practice involves a mix of litigation, transactional work, investigations, and counseling for corporate clients of all sizes and levels of experience as government contractors. On the litigation side, she has represented corporate clients in bid protests (agency level, GAO, ODRA, Court of Federal Claims, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as well as state and local bid protests in numerous jurisdictions), size and status protests before the U.S. Small Business Administration, claims litigation before the various Boards of Contract Appeals, Defense Base Act claims litigation at the Administrative Law Judge and Benefits Review Board levels, civil and criminal investigations, and she has been involved in complex commercial litigation.

Panel: Bid Protests
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Craig Holman
Title: Partner
Employer: Arnold & Porter

Craig A. Holman chairs Arnold & Porter’s Government Contracts and National Security practices. He litigates claims, default terminations, and protests (pre-award, post-award, and size) involving federal, state, and local government contracts. Mr. Holman also defends False Claims Act cases and litigates commercial business disputes, including complex breach of contract and construction cases. Mr. Holman has litigated in various forums including the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the US Court of Federal Claims, numerous federal district and state courts, the US Government Accountability Office, boards of contract appeals, and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Holman has numerous published decisions, some of which appear in the experience section below. Mr. Holman also has successfully resolved substantial matters without litigation.

Panel: Bid Protests
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Dan Forman
Title: Partner
Employer: Crowell & Moring

Daniel R. Forman is a partner in Crowell & Moring and is co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts Group. He is also a member of the firm’s Management Board. Dan’s practice focuses on a wide variety of government procurement law, including bid protests, False Claims Act and qui tam litigation, investigations of potential civil and criminal matters, ethics and compliance, contract claims and disputes, GSA schedule contracting, and small disadvantaged business contracting. Dan is also experienced in negotiating and drafting teaming agreements and subcontracts, as well as providing counseling on the interpretation of FAR clauses and solicitations. Dan’s practice also focuses on state and local procurement matters, including State False Claims Act issues, lobbying and contingency payment compliance.

Dan has been named one of the top lawyers in the government contracts field by Chambers USA and Super Lawyers. He was also honored as a 2015 Law360 MVP and named to BTI Consulting Group’s list of “Client Service All-Stars.” Dan is an Acritas Star, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers (2017, 2019) and in 2017, he was named a “leading lawyer” in government contracts by Legal 500 United States.

Panel: Bid Protests
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Jason A. “Jay” Carey
Title: Partner
Employer: Covington & Burling

Jason Carey is a partner in Covington & Burling’s Government Contracts practice, where he represents government contractors in litigation, counsels them regarding a wide range of formation and compliance matters, and defends them in investigations by federal and state governments. Recognized by Chambers as one of the nation’s top bid protest lawyers, Mr. Carey represents clients before the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, and state tribunals across the country.

He litigates protests involving complex procurements often worth billions of dollars, across a wide range of industries. Mr. Carey also counsels clients on government contracts law and regulation, with an emphasis on matters related to the formation of government contracts. For example, he counsels clients extensively on organizational conflicts of interest, and on strategies for protecting intellectual property rights when entering into procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and “Other Transaction Authority” agreements with the government. Mr. Carey defends government contractors under investigation by the federal and state governments.

Panel: Bid Protests
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Kevin P. Mullen
Title: Partner and Government Contracts Group Co-chair
Employer: Morrison & Foerster

Kevin P. Mullen is Co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Government Contracts & Public Procurement practice. Kevin has broad experience in numerous facets of government contracts matters including agency procurements, subcontracting, teaming and joint venture relationships, contract performance issues, intellectual property, compliance matters, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, and procurement fraud matters. He represents clients in the preparation and litigation of contract adjustment claims and terminations for both government contracts and construction projects. Over the course of his 30-year career, Kevin has handled more than 250 bid protest cases, representing both protesters and contract awardees before the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, federal district courts, and state protest forums.

Panel: Bid Protests
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Richard Rector
Title: Partner
Employer: DLA Piper

Rich Rector chairs DLA Piper’s Government Contracts practice. Rich litigates contract actions and bid protests before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court of Federal Claims, federal district courts, state and federal boards of contract appeals and the US Government Accountability Office. He also represents prime contractors and subcontractors in breach-of-contract and protest actions in state and federal courts, and he advises contractors on the preparation and avoidance of contract claims and disputes.

Rich also counsels clients on a broad range of federal and state procurement matters, including IT contracts and transactions, audits and investigations, False Claims Act issues and potential disclosures, state procurement issues, commercial-item contracting, terminations for convenience, US Postal Service procurement, and compliance with procurement integrity and ethics laws.

Panel: Investigations, Disclosures, S&D
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: David Robbins
Title: Partner
Employer: Jenner & Block

David B. Robbins is a partner and co-chair of Jenner & Block’s Government Contracts Practice. Mr. Robbins is an experienced litigator and investigations lawyer with a broad skillset focused on ethics, compliance, counseling, investigations and enforcement for government contractors, grant recipients and regulated industries. Mr. Robbins advises clients on a range of litigation matters, including civil False Claims Act defense, claims, requests for equitable adjustment, whistleblower reprisal defense and prime/sub disputes.

He also handles matters involving high-stakes, complex internal investigations, strategic transactions, mandatory disclosures, claims, trade secrets litigation, ethics/compliance, conflicts of interest, fraud and public corruption defense, bid protests, General Services Administration Schedule contracting, Procurement Integrity Act, Anti-Kickback Act, and suspension and debarment. Mr. Robbins is a former Air Force General Counsel’s office senior lawyer where he ran the global Air Force’s Procurement Fraud Remedies Office and served as acting Suspending and Debarring Official and Deputy General Counsel (Contractor Responsibility).

Mr. Robbins also co-ran the Department of Defense Procurement Fraud Working Group and was a member of the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee. Mr. Robbins is the primary author and editor of the ABA Publications peer reviewed book, The Procurement Fraud Guidebook: System, Stakeholders, and Response Strategies.

Panel: Investigations, Disclosures, S&D
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Fred Levy
Title: Partner
Employer: Covington & Burling

Frederic Levy is the co-chair of Covington & Burling’s Government Contracts Practice Group, and a leading suspension and debarment lawyer, focusing his practice on the resolution of complex compliance and ethics issues. He has successfully represented numerous high-profile corporations and individuals under investigation by the government in civil and criminal matters, including False Claims Act cases, and in suspension and debarment proceedings to ensure their continued eligibility to participate in federal programs.

He has also conducted numerous internal investigations on behalf of corporate clients and advises corporations on voluntary or mandatory disclosures to federal agencies. Mr. Levy regularly counsels clients on government contract performance issues, claims and terminations, and litigates matters before the boards of contract appeals and in the Federal Circuit. Mr. Levy is a principal editor of Guide to the Mandatory Disclosure Rule, and of The Practitioner’s Guide to Suspension and Debarment, 4th Edition. He is a vice-chair of the Debarment and Suspension Committee of the ABA Public Contract Law Section, and a former co-chair of that committee and of the Procurement Fraud Committee.

Panel: Investigations, Disclosures, S&D
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Rose Stern
Title: Counsel
Employer: McGuire Woods

Rose Stern is a senior member of the McGuireWoods LLP Government Contracts group as well as the Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation department, which was recognized by Law360 as a Practice Group of the Year. With over 20 years of government contracting experience, she provides legal counsel to government contractors on matters arising throughout the capture, bid and proposal, and contract execution phases. Matters include compliance, cybersecurity, internal investigations, teaming and JV, claims and disputes, bid protests, M&A and intellectual property rights.

Panel: Investigations, Disclosures, S&D
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Todd Canni
Title: Partner
Employer: Pillsbury

Todd Canni is a partner with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where he has successfully resolved scores of debarment matters for his clients, including small to large businesses, publicly-traded companies, and individuals. Todd has successfully represented scores of government contractors through suspension and debarment proceedings, including individuals (owners, officers, executives, engineers and other employees) and companies of all sizes, including large publicly-traded companies, mid-sized companies, and small businesses.

Todd has appeared before nearly every active civilian and DoD Suspension Debarment office, including the Air Force, Army, DLA, Navy, EPA, GSA, DHS, Interior, NASA, NSF, SBA, OPM, HUD, DOT, and Veterans Affairs. Todd has extensive experience successfully resolving “parallel proceedings” in which the government pursues government contractors from all angles, including seeking criminal and/or civil enforcement under the FCA as well as suspension and debarment. Todd has significant experience in counseling clients through FCA investigations and qui tam litigation brought by “whistleblowers.”

Todd previously served as the Air Force’s Director, Suspension & Debarment Operations, leading the daily operations of the department’s suspension and debarment program, and authored the chapter on Administrative Agreements set forth in the Practitioner’s Guide to Suspension & Debarment.

Panel: Labor and Employment
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Laura Mitchell
Title: Partner
Employer: Jackson Lewis

Laura A. Mitchell partners with her clients to build pay equity programs that benefit employees and create a stable, high-functioning workplace. A member of Jackson Lewis’ Pay Equity group, Laura enjoys counseling companies on the development of proactive and equitable pay practices. Laura helps clients understand all issues across the spectrum of their pay equity journey, helping to establish regular annual pay equity analyses as well as counseling organizations on implementation and compliance with government contractor obligations.

Laura also represents companies in OFCCP matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations. She personally oversees the development of hundreds of Affirmative Action Plans for clients each year and is intimately involved in the defense of OFCCP audits. Her approach to compliance is one of facilitation and conciliation while simultaneously advocating in the best interests of her clients. Laura is the editor and a principal contributor of The Affirmative Action Law Advisor blog and presents on pay equity, affirmative action compliance, OFCCP enforcement trends, and government contractor obligations.

Panel: Labor and Employment
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Nichole Atallah
Title: Partner
Employer: PilieroMazza

Nichole Atallah is a partner with PilieroMazza, where she counsels employers and their compliance professionals in a broad range of labor and employment matters, including employment discrimination, wage and hour, family and medical leave, labor union negotiations and grievances, executive compensation, and reductions in force. Nichole’s primary goal in representing employers is to help guide them through difficult situations, proactively address compliance, and avoid costly disputes. She serves as the Practice Group Chair for PilieroMazza’s Labor & Employment Group and Team Leader for the Firm’s Construction Industry Team.

Panel: Labor and Employment
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Susan Salen
Title: Shareholder
Employer: Rees Broome

Susan Richards Salen is a Shareholder with Rees Broome, where she has practiced since 1987. Ms. Salen has extensive experience in employment law, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial litigation in the state and federal courts of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. She advises clients in connection with drafting and enforcement of employment policies and routinely works with her clients in navigating difficult employees and decisions.

Throughout her career, Ms. Salen has represented her corporate clients before enforcement agencies and courts in matters involving discrimination laws, wage and hour laws and compliance with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Recently, she has focused on compliance with Virginia’s COVID-19 regulations. Susan is a frequent lecturer with National Business Institute on employment law compliance presenting to attorneys and human resource professionals, trial advocacy, and ethics.

Ms. Salen also was a member of the faculty of Virginia State Bar Professionalism Course. She has also been a lecturer on employment law for the Virginia Bar Continuing Legal Education program, and for the Community Associations Institute.

Panel: Labor and Employment
Date: Monday, Jan 25, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Teresa Burke Wright
Title: Principal
Employer: Jackson Lewis

Teresa Wright is a Principal in the Washington, D.C. Region office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She is a seasoned litigator, having represented employers in litigation, government investigations and administrative proceedings. She helps clients comply with state and federal employment laws and navigate challenging workplace law issues, conducts workplace investigations, represents employers in severance negotiations, and drafts employment agreements.

Ms. Wright also is active in the firm’s Disability, Leave and Health Management Practice Group. In that capacity, she acts as a regional and national expert on employee health and leave issues facing employers, including issues arising under the FMLA, ADA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and similar state and local laws. Ms. Wright has handled jury trials and other litigation involving discrimination, harassment, the ADA, FLSA, FMLA, and wrongful termination.

Ms. Wright is a popular lecturer on a wide variety of employment-related topics, and a frequent speaker for such groups as the Society for Human Resource Management, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and the District of Columbia and Virginia Bar continuing legal education programs.

Panel: Costs, Pricing, and Audits
Date: Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Brent Calhoon
Title: Partner
Employer: Baker Tilly

Brent Calhoon has 25 years of government contract industry experience. He works with a broad array of public and private contractors and not-for-profit organizations providing consulting, accounting, auditing, and investigative services in a wide variety of industries including aerospace and defense, transportation/logistics, energy, healthcare and life sciences, international development, professional services, A&E, construction, and manufacturing.

Brent specializes in the complexities and nuances of the Cost Accounting Standards, FAR Part 31 and 2 CFR 200 Cost Principles, the Truth in Negotiations Act, contract terminations, Requests for Equitable Adjustments, Claims, and contractor business systems. Brent works with his clients to avoid or address DCAA audit findings and negotiate reasonable resolutions or settlements. He also works with outside counsel to investigate and resolve allegations of wrongdoing arising under the False Claims Act.

Panel: Costs, Pricing, and Audits
Date: Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: David Bodenheimer
Title: Partner
Employer: Nichols Liu

David Z. Bodenheimer is a Government Contracts partner and litigator in Nichols Liu LLP’s Washington, DC office where he brings over 35 years of hands-on experience in doing business with the federal government. Nationally ranked by Chambers USA in Government Contracts and described as “an impressive government contracts practitioner” with a “stunning command of government contract law and federal regulations,” he brings over 100 days in the courtroom litigating contract disputes and False Claims Act (FCA) suits. Since his first protest in 1982, Mr. Bodenheimer has litigated and defended more than 70 protests in every forum (GAO, COFC, ODRA, GSBCA, and federal district courts), many of which involve complex cost and price analysis issues. In the cost arena, he has been recognized in Chambers USA as “an exceptional cost and pricing attorney who is terrific with clients” and as the “premier expert in the field of defective pricing.” His published defective pricing and FCA decisions include:

Alloy Surfaces Co., Inc., 20-1 BCA ¶ 37,574 (denying $15 million defective pricing claim);

Symetrics Industries, LLC, 15-1 BCA ¶ 36,070 (denying overhead rate claim);

Wynne v. United Technologies Corp., 463 F.3d 1261 (Fed. Cir. 2006), affirming 05-1 BCA ¶ 32,860 (denying $299 million defective pricing claim after 33-day trial, reconsideration, and appeal);

United States v. United Technologies Corp., 782 F.3d 718 (6th Cir. 2015) (rejecting trial court’s $657 million FCA damages award after 2-month trial and two appeals).

He is also the author of the Defective Pricing Handbook (Thomson Reuters) that the Nash & Cibinic Report called “the definitive text on TINA.”

Panel: Costs, Pricing, and Audits
Date: Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Greg Bingham
Title: Partner
Employer: The Kenrich Group

Greg Bingham is a forensic accounting and quantum expert with over 33 years of experience in the field of business consulting, primarily for Government and Construction Contractors. Greg is a highly experienced expert with over 100 commissions. He has testified in litigations over 40 times, twice in arbitrations, delivered 25 depositions, and has given concurrent evidence (hot-tubbing). Greg has testified on numerous types of dispute issues, including damages, penalties and industry practices relating to disputes arising from government contracts and subcontracts, such as contract breaches, lost profits, termination cost recovery and recovery of the costs of delay and disruption.

Greg is an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University where he teaches Pricing and Cost Issues in Government Contracts (GCON 6506), a graduate level course in the Masters of Science in Government Contracts program. He is also a member of the Government Contracts Advisory Board at George Washington University. He is also an associate member of the ABA Public Contract Section, a member of the National Contract Management Association and the Vice-Chair for the Accounting, Cost & Pricing Committee of the Public Contract Section. Greg is a regular contributor to academic books and journals in relation to contracts.

Panel: Costs, Pricing, and Audits
Date: Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Mary Karen Wills
Title: Managing Director
Employer: Berkeley Research Group

Mary Karen Wills is an expert in the field of government contract accounting, administration, and compliance. She has over 30 years of experience providing consulting and financial advisory services to companies and organizations that range from middle market to the Fortune 100 to international NGOs. Ms. Wills has in-depth experience with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Cost Accounting Standards, 2 CFR 200, and other federal government procurement regulations.

Ms. Wills leads the Government Contracting practice area for BRG, where she is responsible for overseeing the practice area’s business development activities, maintaining client relationships, serving as an expert on client matters, executing projects successfully, attracting and retaining employees, and achieving targeted goals. Ms. Wills has experience with all forms of government contract acquisition matters, from competitive procurements to commercial item exemptions, suspensions and debarments, and General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule and other government-wide acquisition vehicles.

Ms. Wills has directed special investigations, fraud investigations, qui tam/whistleblower allegation investigations, and other litigation consulting assignments. She has assisted companies as they prepare and present voluntary disclosures,

Panel: Costs, Pricing, and Audits
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Paul Pompeo
Title: Partner
Employer: Arnold & Porter

Paul Pompeo counsels a wide range of companies in contract formation, performance, and compliance. Much of his practice focuses on accounting, cost and pricing: Cost Accounting Standards, the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data Act (formerly TINA), Federal Acquisition Regulation cost principles, and Defense Contract Audit Agency audits. He also represents clients in dispute resolution: claims, appeals (before the ASBCA, CBCA, and Court of Federal Claims), and alternative dispute resolution, as well as bid protests and Competition in Contracting Act overrides.

He has successfully represented contractors in precedent-setting CAS cases, many involving benefits issues, litigated a seminal Limitation of Cost clause case, and litigated a series of cases establishing law fundamental to the statute of limitations. He also has experience with Foreign Military Sales, counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, financing, appropriations, and contract negotiations, and advises research universities, educational institutions and FFRDCs on compliance with issues stemming from grants and agreements. In addition, Paul handles various fraud matters and internal investigations.

Panel: Grants
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Dismas Locaria
Title: Partner
Employer: Venable

Diz Locaria assists government contractors and grant recipients in all aspects of doing business with the federal government. Diz has extensive knowledge of government contract and grant regulations, enabling him to assist organizations qualify to become federal contractors or grantees. He represents clients in compliance with various federal procurement and grant requirements, including ethics and integrity; mandatory disclosures; False Claims Act; responsibility matters, such as suspension, debarment; small business matters; and General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule contracting.

Diz also represents and counsels clients regarding the Homeland Security Act, including obtaining and maintaining SAFETY Act protections.

Panel: Grants
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Jeremiah Centrella
Title: Partner
Employer: Nichols Liu

Jeremiah Centrella helps international businesses, non-profit organizations, and government contractors solve complex challenges. His experience spans all legal aspects of international aid and development organizations, from global organizational structuring and international non-profit mergers to complex host country registrations and international crisis management. Jeremiah is a trusted sector-wide leader and adviser on many of the key legal issues facing international non-governmental organizations, particularly issues related to operating in high-risk environments.

He is a global expert on issues related to operating in areas with close proximity to designated terrorist organizations and sanctioned entities. He is also an expert on issues related to use of distributed ledger technology (blockchain and cryptocurrency) in aid and development operations. Prior to joining Nichols Liu, Jeremiah was General Counsel for Mercy Corps, one of the world’s leading, global humanitarian aid organizations and one of the largest recipients of USAID assistance. Before Mercy Corps he was In-House Counsel at Columbia Helicopters Inc., where he advised on government contract compliance, international transaction, and export control issues.

Panel: Grants
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Lorraine M. Campos
Title: Partner
Employer: Crowell & Moring

Lorraine M. Campos is a partner and member of the Steering Committee of Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group and focuses her practice on assisting clients with a variety of issues related to government contracts, government ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws. Lorraine regularly counsels clients on all aspects of the General Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Supply Schedule programs.

She also routinely advises clients on the terms and conditions of these agreements, including the Price Reduction Clause, small business subcontracting requirements, and country of origin restrictions mandated under U.S. trade agreements, such as the Trade Agreements Act and the Buy American Act. Additionally, Lorraine advises life sciences companies, in particular, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, on federal procurement and federal pricing statutes, including the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992.

Additionally, Lorraine is active in the American Bar Association’s Section of Public Contract Law and serves as co-chair of the Health Care Contracting Committee. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Lorraine chaired Reed Smith’s Government Contracts & Grants Team and worked as a consultant for Grant Thornton.

Panel: Grants
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Tom Mason
Title: Partner
Employer: Thompson Hine LLP

Tom Mason is the leader of Thompson Hine’s Government Contracts practice group. He focuses his practice on all aspects of government contracts law and litigation, including dealing with grants and co-operative agreements, the management of major government systems and programs, and the resolution of related claims and disputes. Tom has extensive trial and appellate litigation experience with a broad background in commercial and government contracts litigation, including civil false claims, accounting and intellectual property issues, and bid protests.

Tom also represents domestic and foreign companies that conduct business with the federal and state governments and advises on issues related to GSA Schedule Contracts, teaming and subcontract agreements, mergers and acquisitions, government contract financing, contract interpretation, procurement integrity, regulatory compliance and training, protection of intellectual property, organizational conflicts of interest, contract performance, security clearances, dispute avoidance and resolution, FOIA and FAPIS issues. He has led many internal investigations teams focusing on government contract compliance issues and represented clients before agency suspension and debarment officials. As a licensed mediator, Tom has been engaged to help litigating parties resolve their dispute.

Panel: Cybersecurity and Information Technology
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Kate Growley
Title: Partner
Employer: Crowell & Moring

Kate M. Growley (CIPP/US, CIPP/G) is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Crowell & Moring. She is a member of the Steering Committee for the firm’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Group, while working closely with the firm’s Government Contracts and Litigation Groups. Her practice covers a wide range of information security counseling and litigation engagements, with a particular emphasis on the government contracting community. Kate’s work regularly includes cybersecurity and supply chain compliance, digital transformation, incident response, regulatory assessments and investigations, and disputes surrounding data breaches and trade secrets.

Kate is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) for both the U.S. private and government sectors by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). She has been nationally recognized by Chambers USA (2020) and named a “Rising Star” by both Law360 (2018) and the American Bar Association’s Science & Technology Section (2016). Kate serves as co-chair for both the ABA Public Contract Law Section’s Cybersecurity, Privacy, & Data Protection Committee; and the Science & Technology Section’s Homeland Security Committee. Kate is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and former co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Women’s Leadership Initiative.

Panel: Cybersecurity and Information Technology
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Robert Metzger
Title: Shareholder
Employer: Rogers Joseph O’Donnell

Robert Metzger heads the Washington, D.C. office of Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, PC. Bob is a co-author of the 2018 MITRE “Deliver Uncompromised” Report and served on the Defense Science Board task force that produced the 2017 Cyber Supply Chain Report. Chambers USA 2020 ranked Bob in Band 2 for Government Contracts – Nationwide and said that he is “routinely called upon by clients in cybersecurity matters, assisting clients with high-stakes contract procurements, qui tam litigation and compliance issues.”

He is described by The Legal 500 (2020) as having “developed an ‘exceptional’ reputation for litigation and bid protests, as well as cybersecurity-related issues.” Who’s Who Legal (2018) described Bob as “shown by our research to be one of the leading [government contracts] practitioners worldwide” and has identified Bob as a “Global Elite Thought Leader” in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Named a 2016 “Federal 100” awardee, Federal Computer Week cited Bob for his “ability to integrate policy,regulation and technology.” Bob is a graduate of Georgetown Law, where he was an Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. Subsequently, he was a Research Fellow at the Center for Science & International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Panel: Cybersecurity and Information Technology
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Townsend Bourne
Title: Partner
Employer: Sheppard Mullin

Townsend Bourne is a partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Government Contracts, Investigations and International Trade Practice Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. She also is Leader of the firm’s Aerospace, Defense & Government Services Team. Townsend represents companies that do business with the Federal Government, either directly or through a prime contractor or reseller. She represents multiple clients in the aerospace and defense industry as well as commercial companies and cloud service providers.

Townsend specializes in matters relating to cybersecurity and data protection for government contractors, including counseling clients with regard to Department of Defense and civilian agency security requirements, implementation of System Security Plans, negotiation of subcontractor agreements and incident response. She chairs the Coalition for Government Procurement’s Cyber and Supply Chain Security Committee, and writes and speaks frequently on cybersecurity developments affecting the Government Contracts industry.

Panel: U.S. Contracting Overseas
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Chris Yukins
Title:
Employer: GW Law

Professor Christopher Yukins serves as co-director of the government procurement law program at George Washington University Law School, and has taught there on contract formation and performance issues in public procurement, bid protests and claims litigation, state and local procurement, anti-corruption issues, foreign contracting, procurement reform, and comparative and international law. He is a visiting professor at the Université Paris Nanterre, where he lectures annually, and has taught a week-long course on procurement issues and corruption at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (Austria).

He is an active member of the Public Contract Law Section of the American Bar Association, and is a member of the Procurement Roundtable, an organization of senior members of the U.S. procurement community. He is a faculty advisor to the Public Contract Law Journal, is a member of the editorial board of the European Procurement & Public-Private Partnership Law Review, and is on the advisory board of The Government Contractor. In private practice, Professor Yukins has been an associate, partner and counsel at leading law firms; he is currently counsel to the firm of Arnold & Porter.

Panel: U.S. Contracting Overseas
Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Peter Eyre
Title: Partner
Employer: Crowell & Moring

Peter Eyre is a partner and co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group. He is also a member of the firm’s Management Board. Peter has been recognized by BTI Consulting Group’s list of “Client Service All-Stars” numerous times, and has been nationally ranked by Chambers USA in Government Contracts since 2014. Peter’s practice includes a wide range of litigation, counseling, crisis management, and transactional capabilities, with particular focus on M&A involving contractors, complex investigations, and suspension and debarment matters.

Panel: U.S. Contracting Overseas
Date: Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Robert Nichols
Title: Partner
Employer: Nichols Liu

Robert Nichols helps government contractors solve complex legal problems and achieve their desired business solutions. Robert has led several of the highest-profile matters in the industry, from a $10.5 billion bid protest at the Court of Federal Claims, to lawsuits arising from the Cuban government’s imprisonment of a contractor for espionage, to managing parallel investigations by two Agency Offices of Inspector General, two Suspension and Debarment Officials, the Department of Justice, and a Congressional oversight committee.

Prior to founding Nichols Liu, Robert was a partner and co-chair of the Government Contracts group at Covington & Burling, where he helped lead and grow the practice to over fifty attorneys. He also has been a partner at Crowell & Moring and served both at the White House and as a Judge Advocate General at the Army Corps of Engineers.

Panel: U.S. Contracting Overseas
Date: Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Adelicia Cliffe
Title: Partner
Employer: Crowell & Moring

Adelicia Cliffe is a partner at Crowell & Moring, a member of the Steering Committee for the firm’s Government Contracts Group, and also a member of the International Trade Group. Addie has been named as a nationally recognized practitioner in the government contracts field by Chambers USA. Addie’s practice includes a broad range of counseling, transactional, and litigation capabilities with respect to government contracts, international trade, and national security issues, including: development, review, and enhancement of compliance programs; due diligence and integration issues in the transactional context; contract negotiation and administration; voluntary and mandatory disclosures; GSA Schedule contracting; U.S. export controls; the Buy American Act, Trade Agreements Act and other domestic preference programs; the Foreign Military Sales and Foreign Military Financing programs; U.S. laws and regulations application to foreign investment and ownership in the United States such as reviews conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and measures to mitigate Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI).

Panel: Claims, Disputes, and Terminations
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Daniel Graham
Title: Partner
Employer: Vinson & Elkins

Daniel Graham is the Vice-Chair of V&E’s Government Contracts practice group and serves as the hiring partner for V&E’s Washington, D.C. office. Highly regarded in government contracts litigation, Dan has nearly two decades of experience assisting clients on bid protests, Contract Dispute Act appeals, prime and subcontractor disputes and commercial litigation for clients across industry sectors. Dan has litigated cases before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, GAO, and the Boards of Contract Appeals, as well as before Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeals across the country.

In addition, Dan advises clients on government cost accounting matters, identifying and resolving organizational and personal conflicts of interest, suspension and debarment proceedings, mergers and acquisitions, business restructurings and reorganizations, and internal investigations. Dan also counsels clients on complying with ethics laws and regulations, including post-employment restrictions applicable to government employees.

Panel: Claims, Disputes, and Terminations
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Judge Jeri Somers
Title: Chair
Employer: U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals

Judge Jeri K. Somers is the Chief Judge (Chair) of the United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. In addition to managing the CBCA, Judge Somers carries a full docket, and presides over trials involving multi-million dollar contract disputes arising from all civilian Federal agencies, including the United States Department of Transportation, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and the United States Department of Justice.

Judge Somers also served in the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate, retiring in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves. In her last assignment, she served as a Military Trial Judge, where she heard felony and misdemeanor cases involving military defendants. Judge Somers is currently a Professorial Lecturer in Law with George Washington University School of Law and the American University Washington College of Law. Judge Somers earned her J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law and her B.A. in Biology from George Mason University. She holds bar memberships in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Panel: Claims, Disputes, and Terminations
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Paul Khoury
Title: Partner
Employer: Wiley Rein

Paul Khoury counsels and represents government contractors in solicitation review, multiple award schedule contracting, state and local procurements, subcontracting, teaming agreements, corporate transactions, bid protests, terminations, contract disputes litigation, compliance reviews, mandatory disclosures, inspector general investigations, suspension and debarment proceedings, and False Claims Act actions. Paul is regularly rated as one of the country’s “Leading Lawyers” in his field by Chambers USA, which commends him as “a fantastic bid protest attorney.” Paul was also chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee from 1998 to 2014.

Panel: Claims, Disputes, and Terminations
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Robert Nichols
Title: Partner
Employer: Nichols Liu

Robert Nichols helps government contractors solve complex legal problems and achieve their desired business solutions. Robert has led several of the highest-profile matters in the industry, from a $10.5 billion bid protest at the Court of Federal Claims, to lawsuits arising from the Cuban government’s imprisonment of a contractor for espionage, to managing parallel investigations by two Agency Offices of Inspector General, two Suspension and Debarment Officials, the Department of Justice, and a Congressional oversight committee.

Prior to founding Nichols Liu, Robert was a partner and co-chair of the Government Contracts group at Covington & Burling, where he helped lead and grow the practice to over fifty attorneys. He also has been a partner at Crowell & Moring and served both at the White House and as a Judge Advocate General at the Army Corps of Engineers.

Panel: Claims, Disputes, and Terminations
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Seth Locke
Title:
Employer: Perkins Coie LLP

Seth Locke protects clients’ rights and interests in a range of matters, including bid protests, contract performance issues, cost accounting claims, and other disputes. He advocates before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and GAO. Seth served on the team that successfully defended, on behalf of KBR, several bid protests filed at the GAO and the Court of Federal Claims on the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program V procurement. Seth also recently secured a substantial win for a major aerospace defense contractor in an arbitration proceeding with its subcontractor under a large government contract.

Seth teaches at The George Washington University Law School as a guest seminar lecturer on Board of Contract Appeals litigation, and he has also taught courses for Federal Publications Seminars and provides a range of continuing legal education presentations for clients.

Panel: Intellectual Property
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Fern Lavallee
Title: Partner
Employer: Jones Day

Fernand A. Lavallee is a Partner at Jones Day. Mr. Lavallee’s practice focuses on government contracts law and litigation, with a special emphasis on high technology issues and intellectual property in government contracts. He regularly counsels on all aspects of federal, state and local procurement matters, and litigates cases before various federal and state courts, as well as the Boards of Contract Appeals and the Government Accountability Office.

He serves as a Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Public Contracts Law Section, Intellectual Property Committee, and is active in the community, serving on the Boards of charitable organizations committed to excellence in education and special education. Mr. Lavallee is a graduate of Georgetown University and the College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, where he was on the Law Review.

Panel: Intellectual Property
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Jay Devecchio
Title: Partner
Employer: Morrison Foerster

Jay DeVecchio is a litigator and former Co-Chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Government Contracts & Public Procurement practice. Clients from the aerospace, technology, and health care sectors seek his representation in all facets of government procurement law, from bid protests to complex claims and disputes through suspension and debarment. He also represents clients in related issues such as criminal and civil fraud, qui tam actions, and internal investigations.

Jay’s litigation successes include defeating a major qui tam action in a jury trial, prevailing in one of the largest defective pricing appeals tried to date, enjoining the Department of Defense for an improper debarment, winning the leading case on latent defects in government contracts, and achieving victory in the Eleventh Circuit’s decision on false claims immunity for Medicare contractors.

He has been a guest instructor at the University of Virginia and the George Washington University Law School Government Contracts Program, and the American University Washington College of Law. Jay also conducts seminars on diverse subjects including claims, disputes, terminations, and data rights.

Panel: Intellectual Property
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 2:50 PM
Name: Suzanne Sumner
Title: Partner
Employer: Taft Law

Suzanne Sumner is a government contracts attorney with the law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLC. Suzanne has significant experience advising prime contractors and subcontractors from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, including not-for-profit organizations, with issues related to their government contracts, from the pre-solicitation phase to contract close out. She advises clients on a wide variety of issues related to federal solicitations, contracts, and subcontracts, including interpretation of FAR and DFARS clause requirements;the Buy American/America Act, Berry Amendment, and Trade Agreements Act; technical data rights; joint ventures and mentor-protégé agreements; GSA Schedules; and issues impacting small businesses.

She also assists clients with preparing and submitting requests for equitable adjustment and claims, and conducting federal government contract compliance reviews and internal investigations.In addition, she represents clients in bid protests, arbitrations, contract and subcontract disputes, and in litigation of claims before federal courts and boards of contract appeals.

Suzanne serves on the Board of the Ohio Valley Chapter of Women in Defense, and has been consistently recognized in the Dayton community as a “Who’s Who in Aerospace & Defense” honoree, and a BizWomen Power 50 honoree.

Panel: Small Business Contracting
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Holly Roth
Title: Partner
Employer: Reed Smith

Reed Smith Partner Holly Roth has more than 30 years of government contracts experience, including 10 years with a Fortune 50 systems integrator as subcontracts manager, where her experience included bid and proposal efforts as well as drafting, negotiating, and administering a broad range of federal government subcontracts. Holly focuses her practice on a wide range of counseling and litigation relating to federal, state, and local government procurement matters as well as federal assistance agreements and grants.

Holly advises clients on compliance programs, protests, claims, disputes, Office of Inspector General audit and investigation responses, and proposed suspensions and debarments. She also advises clients on regulations that govern civilian and DoD agencies’ acquisition of technology, both commercial and developmental, and the application of the Bayh-Dole Act.

Holly has successfully represented clients in claims and disputes before state and federal Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims and in suspension and debarment proceedings. Holly has successfully brought, and defended against, bid protests at GAO, COFC, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Holly’s practice includes investigations and litigation brought under the False Claims Act.

She also represents clients before the Small Business Administration Office of Hearing Appeals and counsels clients on compliance with SBA’s Government Contracting Programs.

Panel: Small Business Contracting
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Lori Lange
Title: Partner
Employer: Peckar & Abramson

Lori Ann Lange is a partner and co-chair of Peckar & Abramson’s Government Contracting & Infrastructure Practice, leading the firm’s federal government contracting efforts. She specializes in government contract law, bid protests, and corporate compliance counseling. She represents a range of government contractors, including construction contractors, major defense contractors, informational technology contractors, and service contractors.

Lori has written and lectured on significant issues facing the government contracts and construction industries, including small business subcontracting, the Buy American Act, the False Claims Act, and corporate compliance. Lori counsels government contractors in all aspects of contracting with the federal government.

She has extensive experience with the review and interpretation of solicitations, bid and proposal preparation, and the drafting and negotiation of prime contracts, subcontracts, joint venture agreements and teaming agreements.

She routinely counsels large and small businesses on the federal government’s small business and mentor-protégé programs. She also provides advice on government contract compliance requirements, assists in constructing and implementing mandatory compliance programs, provides ethics training, and performs compliance audits.

Panel: Small Business Contracting
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Matthew Schoonover
Title: Partner
Employer: Schoonover & Moriarty

Matthew Schoonover is the founder and managing member of Schoonover & Moriarty LLC, a law firm dedicated to serving federal government contractors. Together with his colleagues, Matt counsels clients on all aspects of their work with the federal government—from understanding acquisition regulations and contract provisions; to ensuring compliance with regulations relating to small business and socioeconomic program eligibility; and to developing mentor/protégé agreements, joint venture agreements, and subcontracts.

Schoonover & Moriarty also represents contractors in bid protests, size and socioeconomic eligibility protests, and performance disputes. Above all, Matt enjoys helping small businesses achieve success in the federal marketplace. Matt is an experienced speaker, having traveled the country (and, more recently, cyberspace) to present on topics critical to small businesses.

He has been interviewed for a variety of publications and podcasts relating to small businesses. He’s also an experienced writer on small business federal contracting issues; you can follow Matt’s posts on small business federal contracting issues on GovConBrief.com.

Panel: Small Business Contracting
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 3:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Shane McCall
Title: Partner
Employer: Koprince

Shane McCall is Managing Partner at Koprince Law, editor of the firm’s SmallGovCon blog, and author of the Koprince Law LLC GovCon Handbook Volume 5: Procedures and Pitfalls of Size Protests and Appeals. Shane helps businesses navigate the thicket of federal government contracting, with a focus on those issues affecting small businesses. Shane excels in drafting both transactional and litigation documents and advising clients on FAR and SBA contracting rules.

Shane has achieved positive results for clients in numerous litigation matters including bid protests before GAO; size and status protests (including SDVOSB status) before the SBA area office; size and status appeals before SBA OHA; contract administration issues with contracting officers; and claims appeals. In the transactional world associated with federal government contracts, he has worked on mentor-protégé agreements, joint venture agreements, operating agreements, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and other documents.

Shane also provides insights to contractors into important compliance matters in areas such as affiliation and size standard compliance, limitations on subcontracting, and joint venture principles.

Panel: Mergers and Acquisitions
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Damien Specht
Title: Partner
Employer: Morrison Foerster

Damien Specht is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Government Contracts & Public Procurement practice. He represents clients in all facets of government contracts transactions, as well as regulatory counseling, subcontract and teaming agreement negotiations, contract disputes, size protests, and bid protests.

He has played a significant role in dozens of government contracts transactions, representing industry leaders, private equity firms, and entrepreneurs. Damien also regularly serves as lead counsel in high-stakes litigation, including pre- and post-award protests at the GAO, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and state tribunals, as well as in size protests and appeals.

Panel: Mergers and Acquisitions
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Kathryn Hickey
Title: Partner
Employer: PilieroMazza

PilieroMazza partner Kathryn Hickey advises companies of all sizes on general business concerns, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital investments, and commercial contracting matters. She regularly counsels companies on a wide range of legal issues, including entity formation and structure, corporate governance, executive compensation issues, commercial leasing, licensing agreements, and regulatory compliance. Kathryn also represents companies in the negotiation and implementation of institutional financing and commercial loan transactions with large institutional lenders.

She serves as the Practice Group Chair for PilieroMazza’s Business & Corporate Group and is a member of the firm’s Healthcare and Cybersecurity & Data Privacy teams.

Panel: Mergers and Acquisitions
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Susan Gabay
Title: Managing Director
Employer: Houlihan Lokey

Susan Gabay is a member of Houlihan Lokey’s Aerospace, Defense & Government practice, overseeing the firm’s government services and defense technology clients. She has 20 years of Wall Street and investment banking experience focused primarily on advising middle-market companies in the aerospace, defense, and government services markets. Over the course of her career, she has completed more than 50 M&A transactions.

Ms. Gabay was a Co-Founder and Managing Director with Bluestone Capital Partners prior to its merger with Houlihan Lokey in 2017. Before co-founding Bluestone, she was a Senior Vice President with BB&T Capital Markets | Windsor Group for nearly 10 years and previously worked with Goldman Sachs Group in New York. Ms. Gabay has advised middle-market businesses in their sales to industry leaders and private equity groups, has extensive divestiture experience, and has advised Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders in middle-market divestiture assignments.

In 2015, Ms. Gabay received The M&A Advisor’s 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders Award in the “Dealmaker” category. She was also recognized as the Investment Banking Dealmaker of the Year at the Association for Corporate Growth’s annual Corporate Growth Awards in 2012.

Panel: Mergers and Acquisitions
Date: Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021
Time: 4:00 – 4:50 PM
Name: Whit Cobb
Title: General Counsel
Employer: PAE

Whit Cobb was appointed to the role of general counsel of PAE in February 2012. In this position, Cobb provides legal advice to the company’s leadership and oversees the company’s legal staff, including PAE’s International Trade Compliance Office. Cobb is also responsible for maintaining the proper compliance environment for the organization, including through PAE’s Office of Ethics and Business Conduct.

Prior to joining PAE, Cobb served as the deputy general counsel of BAE Systems, Inc. for eight years and as deputy general counsel (legal counsel) of the Department of Defense for three years. Prior to his service with the Department of Defense, Cobb was a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Jenner & Block, where he focused on government contracts and telecommunications issues. Before this role, Cobb was the judicial fellow at the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

From 1991 to 1995, he served on active duty in the U.S. Army as an attorney in the Army General Counsel’s Office, where he worked on intelligence and classified program issues.

Panel: FCA/FCPA: Fraud and Enforcement
Date: Thursday, Jan 28, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Andy Liu
Title: Partner
Employer: Nichols Liu

Andy Liu’s practice focuses on the representation of government contractors in all phases of administrative, civil, and criminal disputes, including claims, FCA litigation (including retaliation claims), internal and government investigations, prime-sub disputes, suspension and debarment, and Administrative Procedures Act litigation. He has handled matters, written, and taught in the areas of government procurement fraud, health care fraud, price fixing, kickbacks, bribery, public corruption, and conflict of interest laws.

Andy is also a Principal with Contractor Integrity Solutions, where he performs ethics and compliance monitoring and risk assessments for government contractors. Prior to co-founding Nichols Liu, Andy was General Counsel of the Social Security Administration, a Partner at Crowell & Moring LLP, and a Trial Attorney with the United States Department of Justice. He was twice awarded the Department of Justice’s Special Achievement Award.

Andy currently serves as Vice-Chair of the ABA Health Section’s Payment & Reimbursement Interest Group, on the Board of Trustees of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and on the Board of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. He previously served on the Board of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, D.C. Area, as Vice-Chair of the Committee for Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity for the ABA’s Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, and as Chair of the Board of the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center.

Panel: FCA/FCPA: Fraud and Enforcement
Date: Thursday, Jan 28, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Jen Short
Title: Partner
Employer: Kaiser Dillon

Jennifer A. Short is a partner at KaiserDillon PLLC, in Washington, DC, where she focuses on internal and government investigations, compliance matters, and civil litigation. A former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ms. Short has particular expertise in False Claims Act matters, including multiple-week jury trials of FCA claims involving government contractors and healthcare providers.

Panel: FCA/FCPA: Fraud and Enforcement
Date: Thursday, Jan 28, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Justin Chiarodo
Title: Partner
Employer: Blank Rome

Justin Chiarodo is a partner and Chair of the Government Contracts Practice at Blank Rome LLP. Justin focuses his practice on the full range of issues contractors encounter in the public sector marketplace, and maintains a nationwide government enforcement and False Claims Act defense practice.

Justin represents contractors in government investigations, False Claims Act/qui tam litigation, mandatory disclosures, and parallel proceedings including suspension and debarment matters. Justin writes and comments frequently on government enforcement trends and issues, and recently served as a contributing author for the 4th Edition of the Practitioner’s Guide to Suspension and Debarment.

In 2020, Justin was named a Law360 MVP for Government Contracts, and a Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting Group.

Panel: FCA/FCPA: Fraud and Enforcement
Date: Thursday, Jan 28, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:50 PM
Name: Robert Rhoad
Title: Partner
Employer: Nichols Liu

Robert “Bob” Rhoad is a partner with Nichols Liu LLP in Washington, D.C. A trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience, his primary area of focus is complex litigation involving the federal False Claims Act, state false claims laws, fraud and abuse matters, and criminal and civil government enforcement actions. He has been named a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers® in the Civil Litigation category and as a “Top Lawyer” by Washingtonian magazine in the Whistleblower (Defense) category.

Prior to joining Nichols Liu in 2018, Mr. Rhoad had been a partner at Sheppard Mullin LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP, and Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP. Before entering private practice in 1998, Mr. Rhoad served for nearly six years as a government attorney with the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Mr. Rhoad has presented at scores of conferences, has authored numerous articles on the FCA and other areas related to fraud enforcement, and is a past recipient of the prestigious Burton Award for Legal Writing.

Mr. Rhoad is member of the American Bar Association, and currently serves as chair of the ABA Health Law Section’s e-Source Editorial Board. Since 2002, he has taught litigation and trial courses as an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University Law School.

Panel: Statutes, Regulations, EOs, and Policies
Date: Thursday, Jan 28, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: David Black
Title: Partner
Employer: Holland & Knight

David S. Black is a government contracts attorney and co-chair of Holland & Knight’s national Government Contracts Group, and is based in the firm’s Tysons office. Mr. Black serves contractors and awardees in a broad array of industries, with an emphasis on innovative technology, cutting-edge products, professional services, healthcare, and research and development (including sponsored research at colleges and universities).

Mr. Black’s practice involves strategic and tactical advice, dispute resolution, counseling and risk management, and transactional work. His advisory practice involves creative approaches to challenges in relationships with government customers, enforcement authorities and subcontractors. Mr. Black is a seasoned protest litigator for both protesters and intervenors.

He is experienced in contract claims, responding to investigations and audits, False Claims Act (FCA) matters and prime-subcontractor disputes. He counsels on a broad range of contract administration and procurement issues, such as data rights, small business programs, domestic preferences and federal grants. Mr. Black helps implement and maintain effective compliance and internal control systems. He also supports the firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice as it relates to government contractors.

Panel: Statutes, Regulations, EOs, and Policies
Date: Thursday, Jan 28, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Kara Sacilotto
Title: Partner
Employer: Wiley Rein

Kara M. Sacilotto is a partner in the Government Contracts Practice at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington, D.C.. She counsels and represents government contractors of all sizes on all aspects of government contracting. Kara’s practice focuses on representing government contractors in connection with suspension and debarment matters, both before and after exclusion from contracting, ethics and compliance matters,

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) mandatory disclosure issues, and internal investigations. She also actively litigates a variety of cases from bid protests and claims to disputes between contractors. This year she was named one of DC’s “Super Lawyers” for Government Contracts by Super Lawyers magazine.

Panel: Statutes, Regulations, EOs, and Policies
Date: Thursday, Jan 28, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 3:50 PM
Name: Michael Schaengold
Title: Shareholder
Employer: Greenberg Traurig

Mike Schaengold is Chair of the Government Contracts and Projects Practice of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, where he is resident in GT’s Washington, D.C. office. Mike’s government contracts dispute and bid protest experience includes the successful litigation of major cases before the Government Accountability Office, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the boards of contract appeals. He also has substantial experience in due diligence reviews and other issues related to the acquisition, merger or sale of government contractors.

Mike serves on the Advisory Boards to The Government Contractor and PubKLaw, and on the Advisory Councils to the Court of Federal Claims and the Federal Circuit. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 articles on government contracts, GAO, Court of Federal Claims and Federal Circuit topics. He is a regular speaker on government contracts topics at multiple industry and judicial conferences, the George Washington University Law School’s Government Procurement Law Program, the University of Virginia School of Law, University of Maryland School of Law, and George Mason University School of Law programs.

He has been selected as a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer; listed in Who’s Who Legal, Government Contracts; and listed in Washingtonian Magazine as a Washington, D.C. Best Lawyer. From 1986 to 1988, Mike served as a law clerk on the Court of Federal Claims and, subsequently, on the Federal Circuit to Judge H. Robert Mayer.