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GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS: DESCRIPTION

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP is recognized as the first and largest government contracts practice in the United States. Our practice began in the 1930s when Homer Cummings, Attorney General under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, started one of the first administrative law practices in Washington, DC. Twenty years later, Gilbert A. Cuneo recognized the need for a distinct legal practice to support government contractors and shaped government contracts as a separate area of the law. McKenna Long & Aldridge’s practice now numbers more than 60 lawyers and advisors in five offices throughout the United States.

We represent a vast array of public and private entities throughout the world. Our clients range from individuals to Fortune 500 companies, from the most experienced defense contractors to commercial companies attempting to enter the government market for the first time. Our clients provide the government with products and services varying from highly-technical, sophisticated and complex weapon systems to commercial items that are also available for purchase in every neighborhood in the nation.

Counseling

In addition to assisting clients with unique and cutting-edge legal issues, we regularly counsel clients in the major areas of government contracts law, including:

Investigation and Litigation

Our practice group has litigated over 700 reported government contracts cases in the past twenty-five years. We are authorities in all of the highly-specialized litigation that our clients face, including:

The McKenna Long & Aldridge Advantage

Our size, distinguished history and consistent focus assure that our practice group has experience in every area of government contracts law. We have researched, written, counseled on or litigated thousands of legal issues in government contracts law. We regularly speak or instruct at seminars and conferences attended not only by clients but also government officials and other lawyers. We are leaders in government contracts sections and committee of national and local bar associations.

McKenna Long & Aldridge’s expertise extends beyond our lawyers to our entire staff. Our paralegals, librarians and researchers are skilled in their respective fields in supporting our practice. McKenna Long & Aldridge has one of the most comprehensive government contracts libraries in the nation. Our library regularly serves as a resource for government contracts information to other law firms and the government.

Our attorneys and staff know the correct government channels and have access to the appropriate government official for any government contracts issue. We maintain regular contact with government personnel at all levels.

Our clients receive knowledgeable counsel, representation and support with efficiency possible only in a practice group of our size and experience.

Experience

Our work encompasses the full array of issues that arise relating to government contracts:

Contract Formation: We assist clients in developing bids and proposals, forming joint ventures and teaming arrangements and drafting subcontracts.

Protests: We have a major bid protest practice before the General Accounting Office and the Court of Federal Claims. That practice involves some of the most complex and high-profile procurements conducted by the federal government.

Contract Performance: We are experienced with every contract performance issue, including interpreting contract requirements, complying with socio-economic clauses, protecting technical data, pricing equitable adjustments and responding to audits.

Contract Claims and Litigation: We have handled thousands of contract disputes, claims for equitable adjustments and terminations for default and convenience. We are regularly involved in protecting client rights in litigation and claims involving intellectual property, access to technical data, contractor records, the Freedom of Information Act, suspension and debarment and procurement fraud.

Government Investigations and Compliance: We assist clients in responding to government subpoenas, conducting internal investigations, making voluntary disclosures, defending against suspension and debarment actions and establishing effective training and compliance programs.

State and Local Contracts: We have successfully litigated and counseled clients in all aspects of state and local government contract law, and work with clients to maximize the likelihood that state and local agencies will select their proposals for performance.

International Sales and Disputes: We counsel clients on sales to foreign governments, including work on export controls, selecting and paying foreign agents and the appropriate terms and conditions of international contracts and financing arrangements. Our work on international sales provides our practitioners with a base of experience to provide effective representation to our clients in the resolution of disputes through international arbitrations. Our government contracts practitioners gain additional support from our International Department and the resources of our Brussels Office.

Construction: We assist clients on a wide range of public and private construction, from federal public works and military projects, state and local public facilities to commercial projects. Having lawyers with a background of service to the construction industry enables McKenna Long & Aldridge to provide effective solutions to client needs.

Public Health and Pharmaceutical Compliance: McKenna Long & Aldridge has one of the broadest, most experienced practices in the area of public health procurement, federal health care programs, biodefense and the marketing and sales practices of pharmaceuticals, biotechs and medical suppliers. Our practice focuses on laws and regulations affecting the types of relationships with the federal government.