CHAIR, GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS PRACTICE GROUP
Justin focuses his practice on all aspects of federal, state, and local procurement law. He has spent his entire career helping leading and emerging aerospace, defense, and government services contractors successfully navigate high-stakes litigation, compliance, and regulatory matters. Recent engagements include the successful defense of a $3.1 billion contract award to replace the U.S. Postal Service’s vehicle fleet, managing the government contracts aspects of the $590 million sale of a defense and intelligence solutions provider, and defeating a $10 million False Claims Act suit based on the public disclosure bar.
Justin’s experience extends to the full range of issues contractors encounter in the public sector marketplace, including bid protests, government investigations, contract claims and disputes, cost accounting and audit matters, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, suspension and debarment, and False Claims Act defense. In his role as practice Chair, Justin leads a team of 25 professionals, with a singular focus on client service.
Justin was recently recognized as a client service All-Star by BTI Consulting Group (one of only three Government Contracts lawyers nationally) and selected by Law360 as a Government Contracts MVP for 2020. Chambers USA notes that Justin is “[c]alled ‘an emergent presence in the government procurement law space.’” Chambers also states that sources say he is “really strong lawyer” and “good leader who lets his team shine.”
Bid Protests
Justin has represented contractors in more than 70 bid protests before all major protest forums, including procuring agencies, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Court of Federal Claims, as well as in protests at the state and local level. Besides defending contract awards, he has a proven track record of obtaining injunctive relief, corrective action, favorable merits decisions, and significant settlements on behalf of clients. With more than 20 published decisions, Justin’s major protest wins include: Chronos Solutions, LLC, et al. (2020 CPD ¶ 306) (sustained protest challenging solicitation terms where the agency did not consider significant changes in the law, as well as the agency's policies and market conditions impacted by COVID-19); AllWorld Language Consultants, Inc., (2016 CPD ¶ 12) (sustained protest of GSA Schedule contract award where putative awardee’s FSS contract did not meet solicitation requirements); and Wyle Laboratories, Inc., (2014 CPD ¶ 16) (precedent-setting sustained decision regarding the impact of corporate transactions on proposal evaluations).
False Claims Act Investigations and Defense
Justin maintains a nationwide False Claims Act defense practice focused on counseling, claims avoidance, government investigations, and litigation. Justin has represented clients in False Claims Act investigations and litigation in the Eastern District of Virginia, District for the District of Columbia, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois, Northern District of California, Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of New York, District of Massachusetts, and Western District of Washington. His work extends to the defense of both companies and individuals in qui tam litigation. Justin has successfully resolved False Claims Act matters implicating hundreds of millions of dollars in exposure. Among other issues, Justin has handled False Claims Act matters and investigations involving logistics contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, technology alliances, export control issues, labor mapping, defective pricing, Trade Agreements Act compliance, small business programs, cost allowability, and the General Services Administration Schedule.
Ethics, Compliance, and Contractor Responsibility
Complementing his False Claims Act and investigations work, Justin has helped clients develop and strengthen ethics, compliance, and training programs, and has worked to ensure (or reinstate) contractor eligibility for federal programs. Justin has represented contractors before a wide range of federal agencies in responsibility matters, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior, Department of Energy, Defense Logistics Agency, and Small Business Administration. He has represented contractors in suspension and debarment matters arising from civil and criminal investigations and works closely with members of the firm’s white collar criminal defense and investigations practice in criminal investigations involving government contracts.
In 2018, Justin co-authored the chapter “History and Development of Suspension and Debarment” in The Practitioner’s Guide to Suspension and Debarment, Fourth Edition (ABA Book Publishing, 2018).
Claims and Disputes
Justin has helped contractors recover millions of dollars under equitable adjustments and claims, and successfully defended contractors against government and counterparty claims (including, where necessary, through trial and appeal) in a broad range of contentious civil matters, from termination claims to breaches of contract to federal takings actions. He has served as lead counsel in government contracts disputes in both state and federal courts, and before arbitral forums. Justin has appeared as counsel before the Civilian and Armed Services Boards of Contract Appeals, Court of Federal Claims, and Federal Circuit, and has considerable experience litigating government contracts disputes in the Eastern District of Virginia and Virginia State Courts.
Mergers & Acquisitions and Transactions
Justin assists government contractors and their investors in evaluating and structuring mergers, acquisitions, and investments involving government contractors and government contracts. His experience extends to the fully panoply of issues arising in connection with investments and transactions involving government contracts, including small business program eligibility, due diligence, facility and personnel security issues, the mitigation of foreign ownership, control, and influence, and Anti-Assignment Act and novation matters.
Counseling and Regulatory Matters
Justin counsels clients on a wide range of government contract and regulatory issues, including disclosure obligations under the Mandatory Disclosure Rule, unsolicited proposals, cybersecurity, mergers and acquisitions, domestic preference provisions under the Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts, export control issues, conflict of interest issues and “revolving door” restrictions, small business and socio-economic programs, cost accounting, government audits, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, procurement integrity issues, and the GSA Schedule.
Outside the Firm
Justin is the proud father of three and among other things is a huge fan of Britpop, Madchester, and the new wave, and frequenting (when able) Washington, D.C.’s outstanding live music venues.
Related Services
- Litigation
- International Trade
- Government Contracts
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act & Anti-Corruption
- Internal Investigations
- False Claims Act Investigations & Defense
- Economic Sanctions, Export Controls, CFIUS & Geopolitical Risk
- Bid Protests
- Claims
- Data Rights, Licensing & IP Issues in Government Contracting
- Suspension & Debarment
- Accounting, Cost & Pricing Issues in Government Contracting
- Department of Energy (“DOE”) Contracting