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Government Contracts

Arnold & Porter's highly regarded, full-service Government Contracts practice helps clients navigate the unique statutory and regulatory constraints and other challenges confronting firms selling to government customers.

We represent the entire spectrum of domestic and international government contractors, from start-ups to FORTUNE 100 companies, including not-for-profit organizations.

Our clients operate across the vast array of industries supporting the government: aerospace and defense, information technology, professional services, telecommunications, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, insurance, manufacturing, financial services, life sciences, and others.

Strong litigation capabilities. Our respected bid protest practice litigates before all tribunals, and is known for success in many high-profile, high-stakes, and precedent setting cases. We also represent clients disputing substantial claims by and against the government before the Boards of Contract Appeals and US Court of Federal Claims, and prosecute and defend court actions between contractors.

Robust investigation and defense team. Our group includes many former government enforcement lawyers experienced with matters initiated by auditors, inspectors general, the Justice Department, Congress, and whistleblowers, relating to contract performance issues as well as alleged civil and criminal violations of the False Claims Act or other statutes.

Regulatory compliance. Our clients present us with their most complex, arcane and "first impression" issues under the FAR, CAS, and other regulatory regimes. This work includes accounting, cost and pricing requirements, intellectual property/data rights protection, mandatory disclosure, and the wide array of obligations unique to government contractors.

Specialized transactional capabilities. Contractors, investors, and other law firms call on our team to address complications unique to M&A deals and asset purchases/sales involving government contracts. Our work has supported many of the largest transactions in this industry.

Cyber security and privacy. We help clients address not only the increasingly complex cyber issues confronting commercial businesses, but also the additional requirements imposed on government contractors, and the special concerns associated with work for DoD and intelligence agencies.

International procurement. Our clients operate globally and so do we. We assist contractors working with foreign governments in addressing issues arising under US and foreign laws. We also assist foreign contractors in doing business with US agencies.

Unique National Security strength. We advise contractors supporting the defense and intelligence community, and help them address issues arising from overseas operations, specialized technology, foreign ownership, and classified programs.

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"Law360 2022: Seventh recognition as Government Contracts “Practice Group of the Year”

Experience Highlights

  • Department of Defense contractor in a substantial civil False Claims Act and related suspension and debarment proceedings that involved the meeting of significant demands, national press coverage, international contracting, and unique legal issues regarding extra-territoriality. Following extensive litigation, we successfully resolved all aspects of the matter through settlement and agreement.
  • L3 Technologies (now L3Harris Technologies) in (i) a US Court of Federal Claims bid protest appeal defending the US Air Force's award of a contract to modernize avionics for its C-130H aircraft, and (ii) as FCC regulatory counsel, its merger with Harris Corporation.
  • CSRA (now part of General Dynamics Information Technology) in defense of a series of bid protests before the General Accounting Office of an award by the Department of Education for modernization of the department's information technology infrastructure, resulting in the denial of all claims by the protestor and continuance of the award with CSRA.
  • L3Harris Technologies in securing a judgment in its favor before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals for a deficit arising from a pension segment closure under Cost Accounting Standard 413.
  • AstraZeneca in agreements for the funding and global distribution of the University of Oxford's potential COVID-19 vaccine, including an award from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the development, production and delivery of vaccine to the United States.
  • University of Maryland in a successful representation involving claims for recovery of various types of leave expenses and a government counter-claim involving vacation leave expenses under a contract with the Maryland Procurement Office.
  • Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in a $230 million National Reconnaissance Office bid protest award that resulted in implementation of corrective that included new proposals, discussions and evaluations, and ultimately an award to protestor SAIC after the new evaluations occurred.
  • DC Capital Partners in its sale of radio frequency solutions provider QRC Technologies LLC to digital solutions provider Parsons Corporation.
  • Airbus, as lead counsel, in the disclosures and settlement with the US Department of State's investigations into filings pursuant to the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and assistance with the company's implementation of the Consent Agreement with the Department of State.
  • Booz Allen Hamilton in a bid protest defense before the General Administration Office of a task order that the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued to it for emergency preparedness support services; we persuaded the GAO that no unequal discussions with FEMA occurred and the agency properly excluded the protestor from the competition.
Language - English

Focus Areas

Key Contacts

Kara L. Daniels
Kara L. Daniels
Partner
Washington, D.C.
+1 202.942.5768
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Recognition

  • Chambers USA
    Government Contracts: The Elite (Nationwide) (2023)

    "They are creative, easy to partner with and highly collaborative." — Chambers USA 2023

  • The Legal 500 US
    Government Contracts (2023)

    "Arnold & Porter's practice is … engaged in some of the most high-profile government contracts matters in the market." — The Legal 500 US 2023
  • Law360
    Government Contracts Group of the Year (2022)
  • Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association Writing Excellence Award