Insights

Washington – May 9, 2018: Crowell & Moring is pleased to announce that it has secured 60 rankings for 52 individual lawyers in the Chambers USA 2018 guide. Twenty-four practice areas were also ranked in the guide. The regional and national rankings are driven by independent interviews of clients and members of the legal community.

Washington – May 26, 2017: Crowell & Moring is pleased to announce that it has secured 63 rankings for 53 individual lawyers in the Chambers USA 2017 guide. Twenty-three practice areas were also ranked in the guide. The rankings are driven by independent interviews of clients and members of the legal community.

Washington, D.C. – January 13, 2015: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the publication of its third annual "Litigation Forecast: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know in the Coming Year," and the introduction of its first-ever "Regulatory Forecast 2015: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know in the Coming Year."

On September 26, 2024, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a proposed rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), implementing requirements for contractors to submit cost and pricing data under Section 811(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, Section 814 of the NDAA for FY 2021, and Section 804 of the NDAA for FY 2022, which updated the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data statute (formerly Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA) and still referred to as TINA). 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has confirmed that the Court of Federal Claims (COFC) has jurisdiction to decide whether contractors may offset cost impacts from multiple, simultaneous cost accounting changes when some changes increase costs to the Government, and other changes decrease costs to the Government.

The Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced that it seeks public comments on a proposed change to the contractor business systems regime.  The proposed rule would amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) by replacing the phrase “significant deficiency” with the new defined term “material weakness,” to mean “a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in the internal control over information in contractor business systems, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of such information will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis.”  In addition, the term would provide that a “reasonable possibility exists when the likelihood of an event occurring is— (1) Probable; or (2) More than remote but less than likely.” 

Stephen McBrady, a Washington, D.C.-based partner in the firm's Government Contracts Group talks with Compliance Week about new requirements for government contractors to disclose previous violations of labor and employment laws when submitting a bid. Under the proposed rules, contractors would need to obtain data about their sub-contractors. "That brings up a whole host of other issues," said McBrady. For example, it's not unusual for one company to have a sub-contractor that is its competitor on the next contract up for bid. That raises concerns about confidentiality. Among the other concerns, McBrady notes, "Is it reasonable to expect that a small business prime contractor will be able to analyze and collect the labor law compliance information from its large sub-contractor?"

Los Angeles-based attorneys, Mark R. Troy, Jeffrey H. Rutherford, and Mana Elihu Lombardo were recognized for one of the Daily Journal's top verdicts of 2014 for their representation of Lockheed Martin in the U.S. ex. rel. Hopper v. Lockheed Martin Corp. case. After a six-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, a jury unanimously found in favor of Lockheed Martin Corporation in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the civil False Claims Act.

The firm's Government Contracts Group is featured for earning Law360's "Government Contracts Group of the Year Award," highlighting the Group as a widely heralded industry go-to and noting the firm's recent wins for Lockheed Martin Corp. and BAE Systems. Washington, D.C.-based Government Contract Group co-chairs, Angela B. Styles and Daniel R. Forman, discuss with Law360 the background of the Group and the deep bench of experienced attorneys from associates to partners which sets the Group apart from others. "We have folks on our legal team who are former military personnel, former engineers and software developers, and in addition to being at the top of their game on the legal side, they can speak multiple languages and talk to both general counsel and engineers, and that's an important facet of our practice," Forman states. Styles reiterates, "We're continually able to serve clients with the right lawyer, right experience, [and] right skill set."

Please join Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. ET for a webinar on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. 

As 2023 rolls in, what changes can government contractors expect? What will be the focus of the US Government? How should contractors prepare?

Please click here for a copy of the presentation. Will it be more of the same for government contractors in 2016 -- increased oversight, intense competition, new regulations, and consolidation? Join the Crowell & Moring team on Thursday, January 14 at 1:00 pm Eastern to find out. Our attorneys will discuss likely trends for the coming year on a variety of topics including cost, commercial items, update on Executive Orders, investigations, compliance, suspension/debarment, GSA and VA schedules, mergers & acquisitions, small business, procurement fraud and so much more.

Nicole Owren-Wiest and Erin Rankin continue their discussion of TINA. In this episode, they dive into the definition of cost or pricing data. Spoiler alert: the devil’s in the details. “It All Adds Up” is Crowell & Moring’s podcast covering the latest government contract accounting, cost, and pricing developments.

Nicole Owren-Wiest and Erin Rankin talk TINA. What is the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data Act, formerly known as the Truth in Negotiations Act? When are contractors and subcontractors required to provide certified cost or pricing data? And what does Nicole’s Cookie Monster coffee mug have to do with it? “It All Adds Up” is Crowell & Moring’s podcast covering the latest government contract accounting, cost, and pricing developments.

To set the groundwork for future episodes, Nicole Owren-Wiest and Erin Rankin talk fundamentals: What is the purpose behind the often counter-intuitive and complex government contracts cost and pricing rules? What are the various price analysis techniques available to the world’s largest buyer of goods and services? “It All Adds Up” is Crowell & Moring’s podcast covering the latest government contract accounting, cost, and pricing developments.