DAY ONE

7:30 - 8:25 a.m.
Registration and continental breakfast

8:30 a.m.
Review and Update: Legislative and Regulatory Highlights of Importance to Government Contracting Professionals in 2024
In this opening session of the 2024 Year In Review, Greenberg Traurig returns to provide insightful analyses on the status of selected new, pending, and proposed  legislative and regulatory initiatives of importance to Government Contracting Professionals  in 2024 and in the immediate future. It is a timely analysis designed as an opportunity to catch up and look ahead for contracting practitioners. Take advantage of this direction-setting program.     

Presenters:
Melissa Prusock, Shareholder, Government Contracts Practice, Greenberg Traurig
Eleanor Ross, Associate, Government Contracts Practice, Greenberg Traurig
Michael Schaengold, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig

9:30 a.m.
Greatest Risks in the Supply Chain in 2024 and Beyond
Dependency of foreign production of electronics, spare parts and raw materials for the defense industrial base is worrying the federal buyers creating unprecedented risks for the government and prime contractors as they work together to secure supply chains. This session will discuss those risks and challenges we face today and in the future including the recently extended Section 301 Tariffs on certain Chinese goods.

Presenters:
Linda Weinberg, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg 
Alex Major, Partner, McCarter & English
Franklin Turner, Partner, McCarter & English

10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Break

10:45 a.m.
Bid Protests: 2024 Developments, Trends, and Lessons for the Legal Department and Management
A staple in the Year in Review program, Bid Protests give insights into what lies ahead for contractors when ambiguous contract language and mis-interpretations can lead to confusion and cost both the buyers and sellers money.

Presenters:
Ryan Bradel, Partner, Ward & Berry
Moshe Broder, Partner, Jenner & Block

12:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.
Luncheon Keynote: Commercial Products and Services
Recent news related to a DoDIG report on certain spare parts on the C-17 have pulled us back into the realm of commerciality of products and services in the DoD. In this session, Mr Seckman will discuss recent changes and updates as well as challenges and interpretations when dealing with Commercial Items and Services.

Presenter:
Phillip Seckman, Dentons

2:00 p.m.
International Procurement: A Worldwide Review of Contracting, Focusing on the Increased Activity on Military Defense Contracting
Global conflicts are always a topic of discussion when talking defense contracting.   In recent years we have seen major increases in spending as the US, China and Russia increased production.  In this session, some of the leading international attorneys help sort out what this means for US based contractors including changes in EU regulations and foreign direct investments (FDI).

Presenters:
Paul Lalonde, Partner, Dentons
Dr. Roland Stein, LL.M.Eur, Partner, Trade & National Security, BLOMSTEIN
Bob Vander Lugt, Partner, Little, Rothwell and Vander Lugt, PLLC

3:00 p.m.
Update: Government Contract Costs, Cost Accounting Standards, TINA, and DCAA Activity
We cannot have discussion  on  federal contracting without talking about cost and pricing issues. This session will focus on the challenges with cost accounting, TINA and DCAA activities from FY24 and what contractors can expect to be the audit focus for FY25.   

Presenters:
Stephen Knight, Senior Counsel, Haynes Boone
Tom Reynolds, Partner, HKA

4:00 p.m.
Break

4:15 p.m.
The Contract Disputes Act: Jurisdictional Issues, Performance Problems, and Termination Developments
In 2024 we saw several cases impacting the industry in the areas of Statute of Limitations, Claims Submission and the Contract Disputes Act.   This session will discuss the cases and impacts to the industry in FY24 and into FY25.
     
Presenters:
Michael R. Rizzo, Partner, Government Contracts & Disputes, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Marques Peterson, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

5:15 p.m.
Networking Reception
sponsored by 
 

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DAY TWO

7:30 - 8:25 a.m.
Continental breakfast

8:30 a.m.
CMMC Update and Cybersecurity 2.0
CMMC, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is an inflection point in Cybersecurity history and practice. CMMC takes us from years of reactive policies, practices, and procedures (with an emphasis on defensive postures, awareness, and vigilance) to a new, proactive approach to  protecting Government information, data, and intellectual property.

CMMC is a Department of Defense (DoD) system and model for Defense Industrial Base Contractors (DIBs) that introduces a new certification system to ensure that DoD contractors protect sensitive information and comply with the system's requirements.

This presentation explains the program, how it works, and why all employees  should be trained in its implementation. CMMC demands your immediate attention if you're a Government Contractor and the plans for its imminent introduction.

Presenter:
Jennifer Morris, Partner, Ward & Berry
Amanda Merced, Partner, Ward & Berry
Jon DePerro, Vice President, FEDRAMP & Compliance Solutions Kaseya

9:30 a.m.
Developments in the False Claims Act, Suspension & Debarment, and Compliance
This Presentation focuses on three subjects of critical importance in Government Contract Litigation: The False Claims Act (Settlements and Developments); Suspension and Debarments; and Reports (that are replete with case analyses, case summaries, and statistical data of importance to Government Contract Practitioners). The False Claims Act Charts, for example, show breakout analyses of dollar recoveries by Agencies such as HHS (the Department of Health & Human Services) and DoD (the Department of Defense). Additional Reference materials include case summaries of interest from the Federal Courts-from SCOTUS (the U.S. Supreme Court) through the Federal Circuit Courts to the Federal District Courts throughout the U.S. This module has a treasure trove of information on these subject areas.

Presenters:
Matthew Carter, Government Contracts Litigation Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Aaron S. Dyer, Partner, Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

10:30 a.m.
Break

10:45 a.m.
Developments in Data Rights & Intellectual Property: Getting Ready for What's Coming?
This session starts with a review and update on the FAR and DFARS Data Rights Clauses in Government Contracts. It is a prelude to an introduction to MOSA (a Modular Open Systems Approach) that has been mandated by Congress as a new approach to Weapons Systems Component Contracting. The prelude on FAR and DFARS Clauses makes it easier to understand the new approach. The Congressional mandate to DoD outlined new categories of Data and how  the new systems will work. The module continues with DoD's proposed regulations including an explanation of Interface Implementation Data and Implementation Software. The instructor simplifies the new approach and explains how and when these new strategies may develop.
 
Presenter:
W. Jay DeVecchio, Senior Counsel, Morrison & Foerster

12:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 p.m.
Luncheon Keynote: FAT Leonard - Case Study in Government Contract Fraud and Lessons Learned.
This case study will discuss how one of history's largest defense contractor frauds was carried out and lessons for government contractors in the current enforcement environment. It will also discuss the issues and events that led to misdemeanor charges for certain defendants and the flight and repatriation of Fat Leonard. 

Anthony J. Lewis, Partner & Co-Head National Security Practice, Sullivan & Cromwell

2:00 p.m.
Labor & Employment
New developments and legal decisions under the SCA (Service Contract Act); DBA (Davis-Bacon Act); and the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) of importance to Government and Construction Contracting Professionals, organizations, and employees at all levels of the organization. Subjects include Independent Contractor classifications under the FLSA; Restoring and Extending Overtime  Protections; and other developments to watch such as Artificial Intelligence and Automated Systems in the Workplace. In summary, this module provides comprehensive coverage and an update / briefing on Executive Orders, Effective Dates; and Judicial Interpretations in the Labor Standards area.

Presenters:
Dan Abrahams, Founding Partner of Abrahams Wolf-Rodda, LLC
Shlomo D. Katz, Brown Rudnick LLP

3:00 p.m.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): President Biden's Executive Order and Proposed Regulations; The European Union's New Legislation; and Big Tech's New Interest in Government Contracting
A concentrated and accelerated briefing on AI Guidance for Government Contractors from the U.S. Government. Coverage includes: The President's Executive Order on AI; The Administration's Key AI Actions; The Administration's OMB Policy to advance Governance, Innovation and Risk Management in Federal Agencies' use of of Artificial Intelligence; and subsequent OMB publications and information. Since the EU (European
Union) has taken a Risk Management approach to AI in their AI Act and NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology) has taken a Risk Management approach in the U.S., there will be a comparative discussion of the features of each approach and sources of information that we should review for identifiable best practices in the AI industry.

Presenter:
Fernand (Fern) A. Lavallee, Partner, Jones Day
Mauricio F. Paez, Partner, Jones Day

4:00 p.m.
Break

4:15 p.m.
Lessons Learned from the Solar Winds Malware Attack--Recent SEC Case Update
The Solar Winds story of the vulnerability of a customer's organization to a malware / software attack on their organization's operational ecosystem through a software upgrade or similar harmless service event has created some valuable lessons in the continuing saga of lessons learned. It may be a variation of a "Trojan Horse" story but the lessons continue to flow with therapeutic remedies to protect your systems from hackers and vulnerabilities. This module will try to cover the story and its lessons as factually as possible and will add the recent lessons that IT Professionals must learn about regulatory compliance and responsibilities. There will be hypotheticals discussed but awareness and remedial guidelines will result from these discussions.

Presenter:
Adanna Onyewuchi, Associate Director, Protiviti
Randy Armknecht, Managing Director, Protiviti

5:15 p.m.
Adjournment