Department of Defense

The US government spent over US$470 billion on federal contracts in 2016, more than US$300 billion of which focused on defense. When working with the government, both seasoned and first-time defense contractors must comply with laws and regulations that are very different from those that arise in commercial contracts. Leading companies and global market leaders need to know what to expect, including the requirements and risks, when contracting with US agencies, such as:

• Identifying and understanding government contract opportunities
• Developing strategies for maximizing these opportunities and minimizing the associated risks
• Managing the legal, procurement, and policy issues that routinely arise during the procurement process
• Defending against criminal, civil fraud, and other investigations that are an increasingly common part of the procurement process arising out of government contracts 
• Defending against False Claims Act cases and other legal actions including suspension and debarment 
• Bringing and defending bid protests at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the US Court of Federal Claims 
• Formulating, implementing, and auditing corporate compliance programs to ensure compliance with the complex requirements of government contracts 
• Handling corporate transactions and financings subject to specialized government contract rules and requirements

Latham is well positioned to navigate the complex world of government contracts and lead clients to a successful outcome. The team, which was named a “Government Contracts Group of the Year” by Law360 in 2016, draws on its deep experience to handle virtually every type of government contract litigation or counseling problem. In fact, Latham has succeeded in some of the toughest and highest-stakes government contract matters over the last 30 years.