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Details
December 4-5, 2024
2 courses

Welcome back to the Federal Publications Seminars' Government Contracts Year in Review, returning to Washington, DC!

This year’s conference will include a 2024 review and a 2025 outlook on key compliance topics impacting the government contracting industry. Expect comprehensive discussions on a variety of pivotal topics, including:

  • Review and Update: Legislative and Regulatory Highlights of Importance to Government Contracting Professionals in 2024
  • Greatest Risks in the Supply Chain in 2024 and Beyond
  • Bid Protests: 2024 Developments, Trends, and Lessons for the Legal Department and Management
  • International Procurement: A Worldwide Review of Contracting, Focusing on the Increased Activity on Military Defense Contracting
  • Update: Government Contract Costs, Cost Accounting Standards, TINA, and DCAA Activity
  • The Contract Disputes Act: Jurisdictional Issues, Performance Problems, and Termination Developments
  • CMMC Update and Cybersecurity 2.0
  • 2024 Developments in the False Claims Act, Suspension & Debarment, and Compliance
  • New Developments in Intellectual Property: Is Everything "Fair Use" for Training Chatbots?
  • Fat Leonard, an ongoing investigation and prosecution of corruption within the United States Navy
  • Labor and Employment
  • Artificial Intelligence: President Biden’s Executive Order; The European Union’s New Legislation; Section 230; and Big Tech’s New Interest in Government Contracting

Returning participants will recall our traditional "blue book" of resources. This year, we’re excited to introduce the "virtual blue book," which will provide attendees with digital access to discussion papers, presentation copies, and key case law references, enabling you to engage with the material long after the event concludes.

Join us for an invaluable experience in staying ahead in the ever-evolving field of government contracting. Register now and be part of the conversation shaping the future of this critical industry!
 

2024 Co-Chair and Platinum Sponsor

     

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Course Schedule
Agenda
DAY ONE

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

8:30 a.m.
Review and Update: Insights and Analysis on Selected New, Pending and Proposed Legislative Initiatives and Regulations of Importance to Government Contracting Professionals in 2024 and the Immediate Future
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 ReynoldsPartner, 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 
 
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
Experts
  • Melissa Prusock
    Shareholder, GreenburgTraurig
    Melissa Paige Prusock focuses her practice on investigations, litigation, and counseling related to federal government contracts and grants. Melissa’s substantial civil and criminal government investigations experience includes representing federal contractors and award recipients in False Cla...
  • Eleanor Ross
    Associate, GreenburgTraurig
    Eleanor (Elle) Ross advises government contractors from diverse industries on regulatory matters, including compliance with government regulations, contract disputes, defense of claims, and government investigations. She litigates bid protests before the Court of Federal Claims and the Government Ac...
  • Michael Schaengold
    Shareholder, GreenbergTraurig
    Michael J. Schaengold focuses his practice on government contracts litigation, investigations and counseling, and on litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. From 2014 to 2024, he was Chair or Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Gove...
  • Linda Weinberg
    Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
    Linda Weinberg provides practical advice to business and institutional clients on international trade law, including export controls, foreign assets control and customs. She works regularly with the U.S. and foreign government agencies that regulate international trade to help clients realize their...
  • Alexander Major
    Partner, McCarter & English, LLP
    Mr. Major is a partner and co-leader of the firm’s Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group. Mr. Major focuses his practice on federal procurement, cybersecurity liability and risk management, and litigation. A prolific author and thought leader in the area of cybersecurity, h...
  • Franklin Turner
    Partner, McCarter & English
    Mr. Turner is a Partner and Co-Leader of the Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group. He is an innovative business lawyer with significant experience resolving complex government contracts issues for a broad array of companies – ranging from multinational Fortune 100 corporat...
  • Ryan Bradel
    Partner, Ward & Berry
    Ryan C. Bradel represents government contractors in all aspects of federal, state, and local procurement matters including bid protests, contract disputes, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) counseling, Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, and all other interfaces between the contractor a...
  • Moshe Broder
    Partner, Jenner & Block
    Moshe Broder assists government contractors in navigating diverse issues across the government contracts and grants landscape. Moshe prosecutes and defends complex and high-stakes bid protests before the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the US Court of Federal Claims (COFC). He has liti...
  • Phillip Seckman
    Partner, Dentons
    Phillip Seckman represents clients concerning government and commercial contract matters. His practice spans a broad range of subjects related to federal procurement law, state and local procurement law, and complex federal regulatory issues. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial i...
  • Paul Lalonde
    Partner, Dentons
    Paul Lalonde is a partner and lead of the Regulatory practice group. He focuses on government contracting law, international trade, anti-corruption and international arbitration. Mr. Lalonde is a recognized expert on government procurement and international trade law, with deep experience in anti-du...
  • Dr. Roland M. Stein, LL.M. Eur
    Partner, Trade & National Security, BLOMSTEIN
    Roland M. Stein is an international trade law and national security expert and one of the founding partners of the leading law boutique BLOMSTEIN in Berlin, Germany. He is regularly listed as one of the leading lawyers for “Trade and Customs”, “International Sanctions”...
  • Bob Vander Lugt
    Partner, Little, Rothwell and Vander Lugt, PLLC
    Bob’s law practice focuses on the application of international trade, government procurement and national security law and regulations. He regularly advises both U.S. and foreign clients on international trade matters including: the application of export controls such as the International Traf...
  • Stephen Knight
    Senior Counsel, Haynes Boone
    Stephen Knight has practiced government contract law for more than 40 years, counseling and litigating on behalf of clients in all aspects of that practice. He has significant experience in claims and disputes, with special emphasis on costing and pricing issues involving cost allocability and allow...
  • Tom Reynolds
    Partner, HKA
    Tom Reynolds is a Partner in HKA’s Government Contracts Practice in Washington, D.C. Tom is a forensic accountant and CPA with 20 years of experience helping government contractors navigate the complex government contracting compliance rules and regulations. Tom has provided government contrac...
  • Michael Rizzo
    Partner, Pillsbury Law
    Michael Rizzo, Pillsbury’s Government Contracts & Disputes practice co-leader, has represented defense contractors, design/build firms, transportation and technology companies in multimillion-dollar, precedent-setting cases.

    A government contracts lawyer in Los Angeles, Michael pr...
  • Marques Peterson
    Managing Partner, Pillsbury Firm Washington, DC Office
    Marques Peterson is the managing partner of the firm’s Washington, DC office. His practice focuses on counseling and representing aerospace/defense and civil contractors in both federal procurement and international defense sales.

    Marques has significant experience in bid protests and...
  • Jennifer Morris
    Partner, Ward & Berry
    Jennifer Morris focuses her practice on national security law, cybersecurity law and government contracts. She assists clients with government contracts & related regulatory compliance, technology transactions, MSP risk mitigation, cyber-security risk mitigation & investigations, managing cy...
  • Amanda Merced
    Partner, Ward & Berry
    Amanda is an experienced technology transactions attorney who has negotiated all manner of complex technology transactions on both the buy and sell side, including software licensing, artificial intelligence solutions, robotic process automation (RPA), cloud computing arrangements (IaaS, SaaS and Pa...
  • Jon DePerro
    Vice President, FEDRAMP & Compliance Solutions Kaseya
    CMMC Pro

    An experienced leader and workforce developer, specializing in risk assessments, mitigation development, compliance, and security. I build bridges between information technology and business functions to identify and address risk while enabling critical business functions . With ov...
  • Matt Carter
    Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
    Matt Carter is the co-leader of Pillsbury’ s Government Contracts & Disputes practice. His practice includes litigating bid protests, conducting internal investigations, representing companies and individuals in suspension and debarment proceedings, and providing regulatory and compliance...
  • Aaron Dyer
    Partner, Pillsbury Los Angeles
    Aaron Dyer, Pillsbury’s Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice Group Co-Leader, is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial attorney focusing on complex criminal and civil litigation and regulatory enforcement actions. In addition, Aaron represents individuals an...
  • W. Jay DeVecchio
    Senior of Counsel, Washington D.C.
    Jay is a litigator and former Co-Chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Government Contracts and Public Procurement practice, with 46 years’ experience in the field. Clients from the aerospace, technology, and healthcare sectors seek his representation in all facets of government procurement...
  • Anthony Lewis
    Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell
    Anthony Lewis is co-head of S&C’s National Security practice, a member of the Firm’s Criminal Defense and Investigations Group, and co-head of the Firm’s Cybersecurity practice. His practice focuses on international and government investigations and on cybersecurity incident re...
  • Daniel B. Abrahams
    Founding Partner of Abrahams Wolf-Rodda, LLC
    Mr. Abrahams is a founding partner of Abrahams Wolf-Rodda, LLC, a boutique government contracts and wage & hour law firm in the Washington DC metropolitan area. See www.awrcounsel.com. The practice includes traditional government contracts work (bid protests, claims, compliance advice, pr...
  • Shlomo Katz
    Counsel, Brown Rudnick
    Mr. Katz is a Counsel in Brown Rudnick’s Washington, DC office where he is a member of the Wage and Hour Group, a practice spanning the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, and state wage laws. He represents mostly employers in class and collective actions,...
  • Fernand Lavallee
    Partner, Jones Day
    Fernand Lavallee's practice focuses on litigation of, and counseling on, public procurements, and he is a recognized leader in intellectual property rights in government contracts. Fern is a trusted advisor on the public procurement of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI enhanced or augmented pr...
  • Mauricio Paez
    Partner, Jones Day
    Mauricio Paez advises Fortune 100 companies on legal issues related to digital transformations, virtual data services, global e-commerce, digital marketing, data protection, cybersecurity, technology sourcing and outsourcing, and emerging technology matters, such as IoT (Internet of Things), AI, blo...
  • Adanna Onyewuchi
    Associate Director, Protiviti
    Adanna is an Associate Director in Protiviti’s IT Security & Data Privacy practice, with over 20 years of doing business and serving the government and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Adanna brings extensive experience in helping both commercial and government clients realize sustained...
  • Randy Armknecht
    CMMC-RP, Managing Director, Protiviti
    Randy Armknecht is a Managing Director at Protiviti leading the cloud engineering practice, which provides innovative services that enable clients to move to and operate in the cloud with confidence. He has 20 years of experience in a variety of roles from developer to global director of technical a...
Virtual / Travel
  • General Information
    This is a Live Virtual Course Event. You'll receive links to join each session. Attend online from your computer or mobile device.