Biography
Michael J. Montalbano represents government contractors in a variety of litigation and counseling matters, including:
- Bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”), U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Industrial security audits and compliance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (“NISPOM”)
- Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program
- Litigation under the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute
- Contract disputes
- Freedom of Information Act requests
- Compliance issues and internal investigations involving various federal regulatory requirements, such as the mandatory disclosure rule, the NISPOM, small business regulations, the Procurement Integrity Act, the Services Contract Act, the False Claims Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and gift and gratuity regulations
Michael has extensive bid protest litigation experience before the GAO and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. His bid protest experience includes both successfully protesting and defending the award of major contracts, as well as securing favorable corrective action for contractors challenging agency award decisions. Michael also has experience before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where, in 2018, he helped obtain the complete reversal of a lower court decision. As a result of the reversal, his client was allowed to re-compete in a five-billion-dollar procurement.
Michael also assists government contractors and their investors in evaluating and structuring mergers, acquisitions, and investments involving government contractors and government contracts. His experience includes small business program eligibility; due diligence; facility and personnel security matters; the mitigation of foreign ownership, control, and influence; and Anti-Assignment Act and novation matters.
News & Views
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Blog Post
This Is Not a Drill: Department of Defense Issues Long-Awaited Final CMMC DFARS Rule
Government Contracts Navigator -
Blog Post
Federal Circuit Clarifies “Interested Party” Status in Percipient.ai v. United States
Government Contracts Navigator -
Ranking
Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Best Lawyers in America®
Barry Abrams, John A. Adkins, Michael S. Andreasen, Ory Apelboim, Roy W. Arnold, Scott Arnold
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Honor
Michael J. Montalbano Recognized in Bloomberg Law's 40 Under 40
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Blog Post
Beyond the Balance Sheet: The Continued Importance of Cybersecurity in M&A
Government Contracts Navigator -
Honor
Michael Joseph Montalbano Named 2025 Rising Star by Law360
Law360 -
Blog Post
Department of Defense to Increase Scrutiny Over IT Consulting and Advisory Contracts
Government Contracts Navigator -
Ranking
Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices Highly Ranked in The Legal 500 United States 2025
Scott Arnold, Kevin J. Baum, Thomas H. Belknap Jr., Michael K. Bell, William R. Bennett III, Jerry D. Bernstein
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Blog Post
What CMMC Level Do I Need? The Department of Defense Issues New Guidance for Determining Appropriate CMMC Compliance Level
Government Contracts Navigator -
Blog Post
The FAR Council Publishes Long-Awaited CUI Rule
Government Contracts Navigator
Recognitions
- 2026, Ones to Watch, Government Relations Practice, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
- 2024–2025, listed in The Legal 500 United States
- 2025, “Rising Star” in Government Contracts, listed in Law360
Credentials
Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
Education
- Temple University, BS, summa cum laude
- Villanova University School of Law, JD, magna cum laude
- Villanova University, MBA, with distinction