Government Contracts

Related Professionals

Overview

Our Government Contracts Practice Group applies extensive substantive experience in litigation and counseling to assist clients in all phases of the federal procurement process. We have represented national defense, manufacturing, health care and professional services companies in counseling on proposal preparation, challenges to contract awards, contract performance issues and negotiation and litigation of contract disputes. Our lawyers provide seasoned representation and have handled complex issues in procurement fraud, suspension and debarment, claims and disputes, “defective pricing,” cost accounting and audits, bid protests, product quality, technical data and patent rights, terminations, Buy American Act, subcontractor disputes and other contract-related matters arising under federal and state law, as well as international matters.

Each of our government contracts partners has substantial experience in litigation, regulatory and legislative matters. The Government Contracts Practice Group draws upon Kirkland's well-known strengths in litigation and corporate transactions, and other specialty practices including antitrust, environmental and intellectual property. Our lawyers are known for working efficiently with legal and technical experts and using skillful negotiation and counseling to anticipate and resolve issues that arise during procurements, in claims or protests, and in the course of government investigations. In staffing client matters, our goal is to work in a partnership with our clients, teaming with in-house counsel and staff to provide effective legal services of the best value.

Experience

We advise clients on a variety of contract and subcontract issues during procurements, including the interpretation of solicitation requirements and the negotiation of teaming agreements and subcontracts. During procurements and following contract awards, Kirkland prepares and defends bid protests before the Comptroller General and in the federal courts. On extremely short notice, Kirkland can provide the focused litigation support that is essential for any significant bid protest, as evidenced by our recent successes in both obtaining and opposing TROs/preliminary injunctions.
Our lawyers have litigated before the boards of contract appeals and federal courts on claims by and against the government, and have extensive experience in preparing and negotiating contract claims arising from government actions during performance for a variety of contracts, including major system development and production contracts. This experience includes claims and disputes relating to breach, changes, constructive changes, impossibility or impracticability of performance, defective specifications, product conformity to contract specifications, latent defects and warranty, defective pricing, Cost Accounting Standards, cost disallowances and default terminations, as well as contract terminations. Amounts in dispute have ranged to hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, Kirkland has represented numerous contractors in disputes involving prime/subcontractor relationships, joint ventures and teaming agreements.
We have represented a wide range of contractors and associations in shaping federal procurement legislation, regulations and policies. This representation has included substantive work on legislation requiring presentations to and negotiations with members of Congress and their staffs. Kirkland lawyers have also represented clients regarding numerous aspects of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and supplemental agency regulations, and proposed changes dealing with the Cost Accounting Standards, the cost principles, profit policy, “best value” procurements, rights in technical data, recoupment of nonrecurring costs, small business set-asides and subcontracting, among other issues. Kirkland has played an instrumental role in representing client interests during the implementation of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act and subsequent reform legislation. Kirkland tracks legislative, regulatory and policy developments in order to apprise clients of likely changes in government contracts requirements, and the Firm offers client seminars that provide an opportunity to update client personnel on recent developments and focus on issues of particular interest.
Kirkland lawyers have substantial experience in defending major contractors in Inspector General investigations, Grand Jury proceedings, and qui tam actions filed under the Civil False Claims Act. This experience includes defending against government allegations of cost mischarging, “defective pricing,” manipulation of material systems, defective quality and product substitution. A number of these investigations and fraud actions have involved allegations of damages of hundreds of millions of dollars. We have resolved such cases and the related suspension and debarment proceedings, and are experienced in handling complex issues of multiple representation of company employees.
Kirkland has prepared codes of conduct and has designed and conducted compliance reviews and internal investigations for contractors who are concerned about possible allegations concerning adherence to procurement laws and contract requirements. Our lawyers have reviewed and investigated alleged labor mischarging, material management accounting systems (MMAS), cost accounting and estimating systems and practices, inspection and testing requirements, gratuities and kickbacks, cost transfers, access to classified or procurement-sensitive information, expense report irregularities, cost or pricing data submissions, inaccurate certifications, and other contractor practices and compliance system issues. We provide advice on appropriate methods of addressing potentially inappropriate conduct while maintaining normal business relations with government and commercial customers.
We have successfully represented many contractors in suspension and debarment proceedings in avoiding the potential government-wide exclusion from contracting with defense and civilian agencies. The government will assess each case on the basis of the particular allegations of misconduct, and contractors need experienced counsel with substantial knowledge of the particular debarment procedures of the government agencies involved. Kirkland has unequaled experience in handling this type of agency proceeding and in developing appropriate ethics and compliance programs that may be required to address agency concerns.
The Government Contracts Practice Group is extremely experienced in matters involving cost allowability, cost allocability and the Cost Accounting Standards. We have counseled on and litigated cases involving alleged labor charging, MMAS, estimating techniques and systems and issues relating to indirect costs. Kirkland lawyers excel in handling government audits, providing counseling on limits to the scope and conduct of government audits, and responding to and challenging audit reports.
We have special depth of experience in counseling and litigation relating to allegations of “defective pricing” under the Truth In Negotiations Act (TINA). The Firm has extensive experience in litigating against government allegations of defective pricing claims in both civil and criminal proceedings, and in avoiding such allegations through counseling on the requirements applicable to the disclosure of “cost or pricing data” to the government and the corresponding certifications. Because contractors must be especially careful in making these data submissions, the Firm provides counseling during proposal preparation, pre-award audits, post-award audits and contract negotiations. After issuance of an audit report, the Firm provides assistance in preparing an appropriate response, including factual and legal rebuttal to any allegations of impropriety. Kirkland lawyers have also been closely involved in the implementation of recent Congressional reforms to, and exemptions from, TINA.
Our government contract lawyers provide support for corporate transactions on a variety of issues, including pre-closing due diligence and contract compliance reviews, advice on corporate restructuring, impacts on cost allowability and accounting practices, and agency contract novation procedures. In transactions involving foreign investment, Kirkland has substantial experience in assisting buyers and sellers in obtaining government approvals, including security arrangements and Exon-Florio clearance.

Practices