Government Claims and Default Terminations: The Other Side of the Coin

Barron Avery leads the firm's Government Contracts team, which consists of a group of core attorneys dedicated to counseling and representing clients in the government contracting sector. In his practice, Barron counsels and represents government contractors and subcontractors in a wide range of matters involving all aspects of federal government contracting. With substantial knowledge of the rules and regulations that drive the government contracts industry, Barron provides knowledgeable day-to-day advice and counseling to government contractors.

In addition to his counseling practice, Barron has extensive experience litigating matters on behalf of government contractors and subcontractors. Barron regularly brings and defends bid protests at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Court of Federal Claims (COFC), representing clients in a wide range of industries. He also has particular experience litigating contract disputes before the COFC and boards of contract appeals, particularly the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) and the Government Accountability Office Contract Appeals Board (GAOCAB).

Katherine John represents government contractors and subcontractors in all aspects of public contract law. Her experience includes litigating bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Court of Federal Claims (CoFC), resolving contract disputes, conducting internal investigations, and counseling large and small businesses on contract formation, performance, and ethics and compliance issues that arise under public contracts. Katherine’s government contracts experience spans a range of industries, including information technology, battlefield services, defense, healthcare, and construction. She is also a frequent author in the government contracts field and an active alumna of the George Washington University Law School's procurement law program.

Experience

Protests and Contract Disputes

• Secured permanent injunction enjoining government from including unduly restrictive data rights clauses in solicitation despite receipt of proposals in pre-award bid protest in CoFC.
• Defended intervenor in protest of $57 million award before CoFC, resulting in complete denial of all protest grounds.

Compliance, Counseling and Investigations

• Counsels clients regarding hiring former government employees and obtain ethics opinions from Designated Agency Ethics Officials (DAEO).
• Counsels clients regarding performance issues arising under federal government contracts, including differing site conditions, stop work orders, delay claims, acceleration claims, constructive changes, and terminations.
• Represents contractors in internal and government investigations concerning cost accounting, domestic preference requirements, and contract representations and certifications.
• Counsels clients regarding disclosure obligations.