Our people

Steve’s expertise is in the field of government contracts law, particularly with respect to guiding companies regarding litigation, compliance, and business organization strategies they can pursue to enhance and protect their government contracts business. Steve has a great deal of experience representing clients in government procurement-related matters before courts and state and federal agencies. In particular, he has contributed to excellent results for clients in litigation before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and bid protest actions before the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

In addition to formal advocacy work, Steve has a depth of experience and knowledge in advising clients regarding compliance with, among others, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”), the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, and numerous other general and agency-specific procurement statutes and regulations. In particular, Steve has drafted full sets compliance policies and procedures and compliance training materials for a major defense contractor, and has advised countless clients regarding details of, and strategies for implementing, compliance with requirements such as the FAR “mandatory disclosure” rule and the requirements of the Buy American Act. Steve has also advised numerous companies regarding strategies for obtaining federal funding, and using legal tools to exploit the federal marketplace and protect investments in their federal businesses from legal pitfalls.

Complementing his government contracts expertise, Steve has experience advising clients regarding compliance with export control and customs regulations, as well as federal grant requirements and the unique rules companies face under recent economic stimulus laws.

Publications

• "Protectionism and the U.S. Stimulus Package," Sustainable Energy Partnership for the Americas Blog (August 5, 2009)
• "Stimulus Act, Cleantech, and IP: Reaping benefits without giving away the farm," Cleantech Group News (July 31, 2009)
• "Avoiding the Pitfalls of Stimulus Funding," Reed Smith Client Alert (July 13, 2009)
• "Timing Isn’t Everything: Ninth Circuit Holding May Affect Customs Seizures of Trademark-Infringing Goods," Exports, Customs & Trade Sentinel Vol. VI No. 2 (Spring 2009)
• "The ‘Buy American’ Provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," Export, Customs & Trade Sentinel Vol. VI No. 2 (Spring 2009)
• "White House Orders Major Revision of Federal Procurement Policy," Reed Smith Client Alert (March 5, 2009)
• "Mandatory Disclosure Rule Compliance Checklist," Reed Smith Client Alert (February 11, 2009)
• "Hot Issues in Government Contracts: 2009 and Beyond," Reed Smith Client Alert (January 22, 2009)
• "Scared Straight: An Argument for a Novel Cause of Action to Enforce Mutual Fund Director Independence," 5 Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law 377 (2004)

Speeches / Presentations

• Co-presenter, "Mission Impossible? Follow the FAR Mandatory Disclosure Rule Without Harming Your Government Contracts Business," Reed Smith Client Teleseminar (February 10, 2009)
• Co-presenter, “Stimulating Conversation: How the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery Plan is Creating Opportunities for Business,” Reed Smith Client Teleseminar (May 19, 2009)
• Presenter, “Newsreel: Recent Events in Federal Contracting,” D.C. Chapter of the National Contract Management Association (June 2009)

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• District of Columbia
• Texas

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals - District of Columbia Circuit
• U.S. District Court - District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association - International and Public Contracts Sections
  2009-2010 Co-Vice Chair of the Aerospace and Defense Committee of the International Section
• Federal Bar Association, Member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Chapter (2007 - present)