Jessica R. Chao

Associate | She/Her/Hers

Associate | She/Her/Hers

Denver
- D
  +1.303.524.8637

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VCardLinkedIn

Overview
Insights

Overview

Jessica focuses on government investigations, mergers and acquisitions, ethics, and compliance supporting clients in government contracts transactions. In her practice, Jessica counsels and trains clients on Federal Acquisition Regulation issues, contracting fundamentals, and the False Claims Act.

Prior to joining the firm, Jessica clerked for the Honorable Lino S. Lipinsky de Orlov at the Colorado Court of Appeals. During law school, she was a legal extern at one of the world’s largest government contractors, specializing in procurement contract review and diligence.

In addition to a robust government contracts practice, Jessica serves as a board member, and Community Outreach Committee co-chair, for the Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Career & Education

University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., Corporate and Commercial Law Certificate and Workplace Law Certificate
Pepperdine University, B.A., cum laude
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., Corporate and Commercial Law Certificate and Workplace Law Certificate
- Pepperdine University, B.A., cum laude
Colorado
- Colorado
Appellate Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Lino S. Lipinsky de Orlov, Colorado Court of Appeals
- Appellate Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Lino S. Lipinsky de Orlov, Colorado Court of Appeals
Colorado Bar Association

American Bar Association

Young Lawyers Division

Public Contract Law

Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Board of Directors

Co-chair, Community Outreach Committee

Member, Mentorship Committee
- Colorado Bar Association
- American Bar Association
  - Young Lawyers Division
    
    Public Contract Law
- Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  - Board of Directors
    
    Co-chair, Community Outreach Committee
    
    Member, Mentorship Committee
Korean
- Korean

Jessica's Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 06.26.24

Another One: It Pays to Consult the DOJ under the Civil Cyber Fraud Initiative

On June 17, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $11.3 million False Claims Act (FCA) settlement that touches on two key enforcement priorities: the DOJ’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative and pandemic-related fraud. This settlement, the largest under the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative to date, resolved allegations that Guidehouse Inc. (Guidehouse) and its subcontractor, Nan McKay and Associates (Nan McKay), violated the FCA because they failed to conduct pre‑production cybersecurity testing on New York State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) technology product before public launch, and that Guidehouse used an unapproved third-party data cloud software program to store personally identifiable information (PII)....