Venable has one of the largest government contract teams in the country. Led by some of the leading practitioners in this area, most have served in the government and know the issues, as well as the challenges, faced during contract award and administration from the inside.

Our clients range from the largest defense contractors in the world to small, entrepreneurial companies. We represent clients whose primary customer is the government, as well as those companies that are looking to find new markets within the government space.  We are committed to developing relationships with our clients on a proactive basis, creating strategic plans and managing legal solutions that identify and cure potential problems before they occur. This approach is not only smart, but is efficient and cost effective and significantly enhances opportunities for success.

FROM CORE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS SERVICES TO RELATED ISSUES, WE HAVE WHAT GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS NEED

Washington know-how: inside and out.

More than 90 Venable attorneys have had distinguished careers in the government. They include former members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, federal prosecutors, agency counsel and former judge advocates with experience, knowledge and contacts that are extremely helpful in dealing with the complexities of competing for and winning contract awards. This government experience is also essential to resolving conflicts and disputes efficiently and amicably.

Venable’s government contracts team includes many attorneys with extensive government experience and impeccable reputations in government circles. These include:

• a former deputy administrator for federal procurement policy, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President;
• a former chief counsel, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ);
• a former chief counsel, Marshall Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Atmospheric Administration;
• a former chief, Commercial Law Branch, U.S. Army Litigation Division; and 
• several former trial attorneys and bid protest attorneys with the Air Force, Army and Navy.

When contracting issues involve intellectual property, labor, maritime, suspension and debarment, legislative and government affairs, corporate defense and mergers and acquisitions, we have deep resources and broad experience that can prove invaluable in securing and successfully executing a contract.

Counseling: help with the details.

We help clients with contract interpretation, solicitation risk assessment, questions regarding the proposal and evaluation process, cost accounting, change orders, protecting intellectual property and the myriad of other issues unique to government contracting. Venable clients have immediate access to our wealth of experience in dealing with the challenges that arise from contracts with both the Department of Defense (DOD) as well as the civilian agencies.

Claims litigation: prevent problems, win disputes.

We teach and advocate risk identification, mitigation and dispute-avoidance techniques.  We employ alternative dispute resolution whenever that option makes sense. When necessary, we’ll argue your case before the various administrative panels and in court. We represent clients in every major government contract forum, including the Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims. Although we will zealously pursue any claims that you may have, our lawyers know that, at the end of the day, they must preserve your relationships with your government customers. With other firms, clients frequently have to go back to the agency and repair their relationship with the customer after every meeting the agency has with outside counsel.

Avoiding litigation and bringing litigation to a successful early conclusion is a special strength. Our reputation and ability to quickly marshal the facts and advocate a client’s best position permit us to quickly resolve many matters without the expense and opportunity cost of protracted litigation.

Investigations: resolve as quickly as possible.

Our goal is to resolve enforcement matters—before they become public. We represent contractors in criminal and civil investigations involving claims, export regulations, the Civil False Claims Act (CFCA), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other issues. We defend clients in whistleblower actions and inspector general and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigations.  Our successful experience covers the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and nearly every major civilian agency, and involves contracts performed both in the United States and abroad.

In a recent example, we successfully resolved several inspector general and Department of Justice fraud investigations for a large government services contractor. In the end, no complaints or indictments were filed by the government and we reached all contractual resolutions.

Suspension and debarment: preserving a company’s future.

Venable attorneys have represented and counseled clients facing debarment by every major Department of Defense and civilian agency. Our experience and reputation enable us to negotiate resolutions with the government in nearly every case. This permits the company to continue to perform and compete for government work while satisfying the government that the company is a “responsible” contractor.

Bid protests: ensure that the process works fairly.

We often protect clients in bid protests at the Government Accountability Office and the Court of Federal Claims, as well as at the agency level. In these proceedings, we defend our clients against a disappointed offeror’s challenge to a properly awarded contract and seek the overturning of an award where the government’s contract award decision is flawed and not in accordance with the solicitation’s selection criteria or other applicable rules and regulations.

Current and relevant experience: finding the best solutions.

Venable offers technical contracting experience and political know-how, because both are often needed in finding the most efficient solution to issues contractors face. Our technical experience also includes extensive work with the technological and intellectual property aspects of our clients’ businesses. This experience makes us especially well-equipped to help our clients protect their intellectual property and maintain their competitive advantage.

Venable attorneys also bring a unique business perspective to government contracting due to our vast experience in mergers and acquisitions, as well as other corporate transactions. Through this experience, we help numerous owners maintain or realize the true value of their businesses. We also help clients obtain skill, resources or contracts through acquisitions of other businesses that serve to increase their competitive position as well as overall market share.

Homeland security: supporting the global war on terrorism (GWOT).

Venable attorneys literally “wrote the book” on DHS contracting, having authored the premier treatise on this subject. Several Venable attorneys have extensive experience with DOD contingency contracting, Iran/Afghanistan infrastructure and services, contracting and professional services contracting in support of the GWOT. We help clients successfully avoid or resolve disputes with Joint Contracting Command Iraq/Afghanistan and the other contracting agencies.

Classified and international markets: helping government contractors thrive.

Foreign investment is increasingly important for U.S. companies, and government contractors are no different. Venable attorneys help government contractors successfully navigate the pitfalls and issues associated with acquisition by or investment from foreign interests. We have extensive experience with the Defense Security Service and other security services to ensure that these contractors are able to maintain the clearances necessary to perform classified work. We also advise clients in filing notices with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Intellectual property: preserving a company’s assets.

Venable’s government contracts attorneys have long been recognized as leaders in dealing with issues arising at the intersection of government contracts and intellectual property law. We are able to ensure that clients identify and avoid the traps inherent to government contracting, which can often result in the government acquiring extensive rights in inventions, software and technical data, even when developed entirely, or in part, at company expense.

Preference status: assisting small, disadvantaged, woman- and veteran-owned and HUB zone companies.

Venable attorneys represent a number of small, disadvantaged, woman- and veteran-owned and HUB Zone companies. We assist them in qualifying for such preference status and ensuring that government agencies provide these companies with the contracting opportunities mandated by statute or executive order. We also help protect clients from unfair competition from companies that do not legitimately qualify for preference status.

Government contractors are unique. Due to the extraordinary number of professionals in our firm that have worked with or for government contractors over the years, we are extremely well-situated to provide advice in the highly regulated environment in which government contractors operate. Too many times, attorneys without this experience fail to factor the peculiarities of the government contracting arena into their legal advice.