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Last month, the Small Business Administration released a proposed rule that would require federal agencies to apply the “rule of two” to task and delivery order procurements under multiple-award contracts. This rule change, intended to boost opportunities for small businesses in various sectors that compete in order to grow in federal contracting, requires agencies to…
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In its 2025 edition, Best Law Firms® has recognized Rogers Joseph O’Donnell PC for its legal practice. RJO ranked Tier 1 for Administrative / Regulatory Law in San Francisco, as well as Tier 2 for San Francisco Commercial Litigation. The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell PC is pleased to welcome Tariq I. Boulad and Timothy Wieroniey as associates in the firm’s San Francisco office. Boulad joined on Sept. 4, and Wieroniey on Oct. 1. Boulad is a skilled litigator and a dedicated advocate for his clients. He is a member of the firm’s Environmental Law and Retail…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell P.C. shareholders Mark J. Linderman, Robert S. Metzger and Neil H. O’Donnell have all been included in the 2024 Who’s Who Legal: Government report. Recently acquired by Lexology, Who’s Who Legal recognizes leading lawyers from around the world in a variety of practice areas based on feedback from peers and clients. This…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell PC was well represented at the 60th anniversary of Beaverdilly, the annual must-attend civil heavy construction networking event put on by The Beavers. Shareholders Joseph C. McGowan and Richard M. Harris, of counsel Josh A. Maltzer, and associates Ruby Zapien and Henry D. Stegner all took part at the event on August…
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Best Lawyers has recognized Rogers Joseph O’Donnell shareholders Neil H. O’Donnell and Amy L. Bomse as “Lawyers of the Year” for San Francisco in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, published by Woodward/White, Inc. O’Donnell has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for administrative/regulatory law, and Bomse is recognized for her commercial…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is proud to announce the firm has joined the 2024-25 midsize cohort of Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule Certification process. RJO is one of 19 new law firms across the United States participating in this year’s program, and more than 365 firms nationwide have renewed their commitment for the 2024–25 certification period. The…
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Prestigious global law firm guide Benchmark Litigation has named Rogers Joseph O’Donnell P.C. shareholders Stephen L. Bacon and Emily A. Murphy to its 2024 U.S. 40 & Under List. The ninth edition of the list highlights some of the country’s most accomplished litigators under 40 based on their work over the past year. Widely considered…
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Shareholder Merri A. Baldwin, who co-chairs RJO’s Attorney Liability and Conduct practice group, wrote an article for the first ethics-focused issue of Business Law News, published by the California Lawyers Association. Titled “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is: Ethical Guidelines for Lawyers Investing in Clients,” the piece serves as a helpful roadmap for California…
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) repeal of the Chevron doctrine could result in more clarity and consistent application of the rules. That’s according to Rogers Joseph O’Donnell shareholder Robert S. Metzger, who discussed potential implications for infrastructure and cybersecurity rulemaking in the wake of the SCOTUS decision in a podcast interview with Mission Critical. In…
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Shareholder Merri A. Baldwin, who co-chairs RJO’s Attorney Liability and Conduct practice group, served on a panel at the annual meeting of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL) in Chicago (August 1-3). The session, titled “Calling Perry Mason: Ethical Hurdles During Trial,” provided practical guidance and tips to attendees for representing clients ethically in…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell PC sponsored the United Contractors’ 2024 annual barbecue event on August 1. Shareholder Joseph C. McGowan, Of Counsel Josh A. Maltzer and legal assistant Dawn Lorenzen attended the cookoff at the Alameda County fairgrounds. United Contractors is California’s premier construction trade association representing heavy civil engineering contractors across the state. RJO has…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell P.C. shareholder Robert S. Metzger sat down with Doug Brown, JD, of Answering Legal’s Law Firm Success Strategies podcast to discuss how he has successfully developed and implemented his own marketing strategy. Metzger has developed a broad following, strong client base, and received high marks from international ranking authorities – all without…
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RJO associate Ruby Zapien has been named a Law Firm Diversity Champion and “Rising Star” by Walgreens for her outstanding commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the legal profession. Walgreens presented Zapien with the award on June 20 as part of its 2024 Legal DE&I Recognition Program, which highlights key DEI initiatives…
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The 2024 Legal 500 U.S. Guide has ranked Rogers Joseph O’Donnell P.C. among top law firms in the country as a “Band 2” Government Contracts firm. In addition, Legal 500 named Government Contracts practice group co-chair Lucas Hanback a Next Generation Partner. One testimonial from this year’s Legal 500 guide noted RJO’s “deep expertise in…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell shareholder Robert S. Metzger sat down with Federal News Network’s Tom Temin for an episode of the Federal Drive podcast to discuss the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s extensive new rules for cybersecurity incident reporting. In the episode titled “New comprehensive Homeland Security cyber incident reporting rules,” Metzger explained that the regulations,…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell P.C. has again received prominent rankings from Chambers and Partners in the Chambers USA Guide for 2024. The firm was designated Band 2 nationally in the Government Contacts: The Elite category, as well as Band 3 California Construction. The new edition of Chambers USA also recognizes four RJO shareholders: Joseph C. McGowan …
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell P.C. shareholder Stephen L. Bacon was quoted in a recent Law360 analysis article on the impact of new federal strategies to help boost access to government contracts for small businesses. The article, “Staff Squeeze May Be Limiting Small Biz Roles in Procurement,” compares a new White House report on the use of…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is pleased to announce that Cybersecurity and Privacy practice group chair Robert Metzger has been named to the inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers guide. Lawdragon highlighted Metzger’s work in government contracts, cybersecurity, supply chain and national security matters. The guide celebrates the legal industry’s leading authorities on privacy, technology transactions,…
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RJO shareholder Dennis Callahan was quoted in Law360 (subscription required) on how a recent federal bid protest handled by the firm changed a federal agency’s procurement process. Callahan’s client challenged an $8.6 million Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) contract award, claiming the winning contractor’s proposal did not meet Trade Agreements Act (TAA) materials sourcing requirements. In response to the protest, the…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is pleased to welcome construction litigator Josh A. Maltzer to the firm’s Construction practice group as of counsel. Based in the San Francisco office, Maltzer was previously a partner with Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP. Maltzer has more than a decade of experience litigating high-stakes construction, insurance coverage, commercial business disputes and…
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RJO shareholder Stephen Bacon has been appointed to the Howard County Chamber of Commerce’s GovConnects Advisory Council. The 13-member advisory council helps the Maryland-based group and its board of directors vet, structure and administer the chamber’s GovConnects program for local federal government contractors. GovConnects helps county-area contractors grow their businesses and develop key government contacts…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Richard Harris, Jon-Erik Magnus and Emily Murphy have been elected shareholders of the firm, effective January 1, 2024. Mr. Harris focuses his practice on construction, government contracts and white-collar criminal defense. He has extensive experience in public and private construction matters, including bid protests, contract negotiation and claims, including…
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Shareholder Merri A. Baldwin, who co-chairs RJO’s Attorney Liability and Conduct practice group, recently published an article in the Daily Journal breaking down the California Bar’s new guidelines for integrating AI into legal work. The article, “AI in legal practice: New California Bar guidelines” discusses how the use of AI in legal practice is expected…
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Shareholder Robert Metzger, who chairs the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy practice group, has joined the infrastructure security research group Mission Critical as a Fellow and member of the Advisory Board. Metzger’s legal practice includes cyber and related national security matters, including foreign ownership, control or influence, along with a wide range of public procurement and…
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RJO shareholder Robert Metzger, who has been widely credited as instrumental in the Pentagon’s CMMC initiative, recently joined Core4ce CEO Jack Wilmer for “The New Rule: What We Know and What’s Next” at Washington Technology’s Second Annual CMMC Ecosystem Summit on November 8. Their panel covered the ins, outs and implementation timelines of the Title…
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Shareholder Robert Metzger, who heads RJO’s D.C. office, has been featured in a recent video from Washington Technology exploring what defense contractors can expect from the soon-to-be-released Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) regulations, which has now been approved for publication by the OMB OIRA unit and should be made public very soon. It is expected…
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Shareholder Robert Metzger, who chairs the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy practice group, presented to state attorneys and procurement officials on artificial intelligence (AI) issues at the 2023 NASPO State Procurement Law Institute on November 10 in New Orleans. Bob’s presentation, “The Legal Implications of Artificial Intelligence,” explored how state procurement officials can leverage AI in…
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RJO shareholder Aaron Silberman has received the Justice and Diversity Center (JDC)’s 2023 Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award. He was honored alongside other recipients at the JDC’s Outstanding Volunteers in Public Service Celebration on October 19 at UC Law San Francisco. Recipients of the JDC’s Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award have demonstrated an…
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We are proud to announce that the 2023 editions of Chambers USA and The Legal 500 US recognize Rogers Joseph O’Donnell for its expertise in government contracts, construction, and cybersecurity law. Chambers and The Legal 500 each interview thousands of attorneys and clients across the country to compile independent commentary and rankings for the leading…
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The Engage FedGov Honorees for 2023 have been announced, recognizing exceptional leaders from the government contract sector who are dedicated to promoting a culture of collaboration, transparency, and partnership between the federal government and its industry partners. Among the honorees is Stephen Bacon, recognized for his work as a Government Contracts Attorney at Rogers Joseph…
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The California Court of Appeals for the First District recently rendered a unanimous decision in favor of RJO’s client in the Rodriguez v. Parivar, Inc. In this case, the plaintiff, a restaurant manager in a franchised restaurant, accused her employer of misclassifying her as an exempt employee. The jury rendered a mixed verdict, finding in favor…
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Lisa N. Himes was quoted in an article in Bloomberg Law commenting on 3M’s combat earplug appeals and the likelihood of 3M prevailing on its government contractor defense. Read the full article here.
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RJO is pleased to announce that Alexa L. Turner has joined our firm as an associate, in our D.C. office, specializing in government contracts and employment. Ms. Turner has broad experience representing government entities and Fortune 500 companies, before state and federal courts and agencies. Before joining Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, Ms. Turner was a litigation…
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Mark Linderman, Neil O’Donnell, and Robert Metzger have been selected for Who’s Who Legal Government Contracts Report 2022. They are recognized for being one of the world’s leading practitioners in their field. Who’s Who Legal has a reputation as one of the most trusted resources for identifying high-quality legal practitioners across multiple areas of law….
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Stephen Bacon authored an article for the September issue of Contract Management Magazine. He discusses one of the hottest bid protest issues over the last several years. The availability of key personnel to perform has the potential to change award outcomes. Read the full article here. “This article appeared in the September 2022 issue of…
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Robert Metzger was interviewed by Thomas Temin for his Federal Drive show (and podcast) on Federal News Network. They discussed the Cybersecurity Assessment Process (CAP); CMMC. 2.0 Regulations; achievable strategies for small and medium-sized businesses, and the Comments of the The Coalition for Government Procurement on the CAP, which Robert helped to author. Listen to the full interview.
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RJO is a proud sponsor of the 18th Annual Justice and Diversity Center Gala, hosted by the Bar Association of San Francisco. Learn about the tremendous impact the JDC programs are making in the SF community and honor our fabulous volunteers. Click here to learn more.
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RJO is pleased to announce that Cindy Lopez has joined our firm in our D.C. office as an associate, specializing in complex commercial litigation, government contracts, and cybersecurity & privacy. Ms. Lopez has experience in federal court litigation, including the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the U.S….
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RJO is pleased to announce that Henry D. Stegner has joined our firm as an associate specializing in attorney liability and conduct, construction, government contracts, and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Stegner has a wide range of federal and state court experience that allows him to tackle complex litigation issues and courtroom procedures of all kinds….
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RJO is pleased to announce that Ruby Zapien has joined our firm as an associate, specializing in complex commercial litigation, construction and labor and employment. Ms. Zapien has extensive experience representing individual and corporate clients from varied industries in both litigation and transactional matters. Before joining Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, Ms. Zapien served as an associate…
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Robert Metzger is quoted in Industrial Cyber, discussing the CMMC 2.0 model, an upgrade from the earlier 1.0 framework. Read the full article here.
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RJO is pleased to announce that Julia A. Caruso has joined our firm as an associate, specializing in government contracts. Ms. Caruso has extensive experience representing individual and corporate clients from varied industries in both litigation and transactional matters. Before joining Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, Ms. Caruso served as corporate counsel and business development manager at…
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Robert Metzger is quoted in SC Magazine, discussing the CMMC overhaul changes to cybersecurity requirements for defense contractors. Read the full article here.
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RJO attorneys John Heller and Emily Wieser were successful in their appeal on behalf of Red Bluff resident Michael Murchison. The California Court of Appeals ruled that a civil rights excessive force action brought against sheriff’s deputies by Murchison was improperly dismissed by the Tehama County Superior Court. The Court published an opinion that a…
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Robert S. Metzger was part of a video program hosted by Exostar, in which he and Scott Armstrong look at what changes are expected, where we are and how we got there and what lies ahead. Watch part 1 here.
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Robert S. Metzger interviewed with Roger Waldron, President of The Coalition for Government Procurement, on his WFED radio show, “Off The Shelf,” for a wide-range discussion of several topics: “Nature of the Threat,” “Biden Administration Priorities,” “DoD Initiatives & Status of #CMMC,” the role of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in “Rationalizing Requirements…
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We are pleased to announce that Lisa Norrett Himes has been selected as a member of Law360’s 2021 Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board as well as its 2021 Government Contracts Editorial Advisory Board. The Boards work to provide “feedback on Law360’s coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage.” Lisa has represented aerospace and defense companies and government contractors for over…
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Published in the Daily Journal, RJO Shareholder, Amy L. Bomse, expands on the ethical rules and best practices of attorney-client confidentiality in a piece titled, “You had me at hello. The duty of confidentiality to prospective clients.” Click here to read the full article.
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Led by Renée D. Wasserman, Alecia E. Cotton, and Emily A. Weiser, the firm’s Retail Trade Group celebrates a win on behalf of client, Walgreens, which was later published in Law360. A California federal judge tossed a proposed class action Friday (February 26, 2021) alleging the label on Walgreens’ Infants’ Pain & Fever Acetaminophen is…
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Tyson Foods has appealed a district court ruling remanding a pair of wrongful death actions to state court. The suits allege that Tyson failed to implement proper COVID-19 safety measures at its facility, which resulted in four employee deaths. In its Eighth Circuit brief, Tyson argues that it was acting under the direction of a…
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RJO is pleased to announce its newest shareholder, Alecia E. Cotton. Ms. Cotton is a member of RJO’s Retail Industry Trade Regulation, Environmental Law, Complex Commercial Litigation and Cybersecurity and Privacy practice groups in our San Francisco office. She will continue to focus her practice on the retail industry, representing national retailers, manufacturers and suppliers…
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RJO is delighted to announce Aaron P. Silberman has been recognized by the Justice & Diversity Center, the pro bono arm of the Bar Association of San Francisco, as one of its outstanding volunteers for 2020. Mr. Silberman has continued to do significant pro bono work through the JDC’s Federal Pro Bono Project (fka the…
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Merri Baldwin has been appointed Co-Vice-Chair of the California State Bar’s Closing the Justice Gap Working Group. The State Bar Board of Trustees established the Working Group to consider possible regulatory changes suggested by the Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS) to enhance the delivery of—and access to—legal services through the…
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Today, Law360 published remarks by Lucas Hanback on President Trump’s new Executive Order 13950 on diversity training. In particular, Lucas’ comments focus on the effect of recent guidance which indicates that the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is already fielding complaints that the training targeted by the order may be a violation of preexisting…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Alexandria Tindall Webb has joined our DC Office as Of Counsel in our Government Contracts and Cybersecurity & Privacy Practice Groups. Ms. Tindall Webb has counseled clients regarding disputes with government entities before the United States Court of Federal Claims and the United States Government Accountability Office. She conducts…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is proud to announce that eleven of its attorneys have been selected by Super Lawyers as top attorneys for 2020 in Northern California and Washington, D.C. Each year, no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected to by the research team at Super Lawyers for inclusion on…
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For five years, RJO attorneys Lucas Hanback and Neil O’Donnell, all former Marine and Naval officers, have represented former Navy Petty Officer Walter Strand fight the denial of his military retirement. This is an important case seeking to enforce guarantees Congress made to veterans in the wake of WWII. This case should matter to every veteran. …
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RJO is honored to have been ranked once again by Chambers & Partners as a 2020 Leading Law Firm for Nationwide Government Contracts and California Construction. We are ranked in Band 2, among the top eight firms for the Nationwide Government Contracts section and in Band 3 among the top twelve for Construction in the…
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For over two years RJO has represented two Molina Healthcare affiliates, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. and Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, in protests concerning the re-procurement of two major Medicaid Managed Care awards by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), STAR+PLUS and STAR-CHIP. On March 25, 2020, HHSC canceled all noticed…
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Drawing on their significant experience in both Government Contracts and Construction, RJO Shareholders Dennis Callahan and Mark Linderman successfully represented the Obayashi Corporation in a bid protest filed against the noticed award of one of the largest contracts ever solicited by the City of Santa Cruz, California. The $70 million award is to replace the…
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In November 2019, accompanied by attorneys from Arnold & Porter, RJO shareholder Amy Bomse secured a $2.3 million jury verdict on behalf of client Planned Parenthood. The action, Planned Parenthood v. Center for Medical Progress, was tried in federal district court on claims that included fraud and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations…
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The Pentagon recently released its new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification in what many are touting as record time. So, what now? RJO Shareholder, Robert S. Metzger has been closely following along and shares his opinions on the matter on the podcast Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
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The attorneys of Rogers Joseph O’Donnell are pleased to announce that Lucas T. Hanback and Aaron M. Scolari are our newest shareholders. “Both Lucas and Aaron are outstanding attorneys who embody the core tenets of Rogers Joseph O’Donnell,” said Founding Partner, Neil O’Donnell. “This firm was founded upon the belief that it was possible to…
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RJO is honored to have been selected by Molina Healthcare to represent two affiliates, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. and Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, in protesting a series of Medicaid Managed Care awards by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Made under the STAR+PLUS program, the awards are to integrate the…
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After over three years of litigation and nearly six years of claims prosecution, with the dismissal of all claims on December 10, 2019, RJO resolved a sprawling series of disputes between its client, CB&I AREVA MOX Services LLC, and the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The parties were over $1 billion apart in…
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A federal jury awarded over $2.2 million to RJO-client Planned Parenthood in a high-profile case against anti-abortion activists. The defendants infiltrated Planned Parenthood health centers and conferences and secretly recorded conversations with physicians and others. Immediately following the release of the videos, Planned Parenthood clinics and staff experienced a spike in protests, harassment, and violence. Planned Parenthood…
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RJO is delighted to announce that Robert Metzger has been recognized by “Who’s Who Legal” as a Global Elite Thought Leader this year thanks to his “superb advisory and contentious government contracts practice, which features an international client base and wide-ranging expertise in technology-related sectors.” Clients value his “excellent legal analysis and real-world business analysis.”…
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RJO Shareholder Merri A. Baldwin has been appointed to the newly-formed California Lawyers Association Ethics Committee. The twelve-member committee will provide guidance to California lawyers on ethics issues, and plans to issue advisory opinions, provide public comment on legal ethics issues and offer educational programming. Ms. Baldwin is a former chair of the State Bar…
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We are proud to announce that Gayle Athanacio has been selected as a member of the faculty for an in-depth CLE course focusing on Independent Contractor, Joint Employment & Misclassification Litigation 2019. About the program California Employers and Litigators have wrestled for years over how to classify independent contractors and employees and which employees are…
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Tune into the Federal Drive podcast as our very own Robert Metzger joins host, Tom Temin, to discuss how using a contractor with suboptimal cybersecurity protocols affects your business as it relates to government contracts. If you’re a defense contractor, you don’t want to miss it! Listen here.
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RJO is thrilled to once again be recognized by Chambers & Partners as a Leading Nationwide Law Firm for our Government Contracts practice in 2019. RJO has again been ranked in Band 2, placing it among only eight firms in the top two bands. In addition to firmwide recognition, several of our attorneys were also…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Whitney R. Miner has joined our firm as an associate in our Complex Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law and Retail Industry Trade Regulation Practice Groups. Ms. Miner has represented clients in a wide range of litigation matters, including contractual disputes, business torts, and intellectual property infringement. She has litigated cases…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Amy L. Bomse has joined our firm as a Shareholder in our Attorney Liability and Conduct and Complex Commercial Litigation Practice Groups. Ms. Bomse represents clients in business disputes and has substantial trial experience. A primary focus of her practice is representing law firms in defending against claims of…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Cassidy Kim has joined our Construction and Government Contracts Groups. Ms. Kim has litigated class action lawsuits focusing on California consumer protection laws and federal securities laws. She has researched and developed substantive law, policy, and technology insights on emerging consumer privacy issues. Ms. Kim received her B.A. degree…
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RJO Attorneys Lucas Hanback, Deborah Rodin, and Neil O’Donnell successfully defended FEDITC LLC’s award, against multiple protests of a $17.5 billion ENCORE III information technology services multi-award contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency. This outstanding result was confirmed in three decisions handed down by Senior Judge Loren A. Smith of the U.S. Court of…
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RJO Shareholder Robert Metzger agrees that the new Warner-Rubio Senate bill is on the right track to controlling the flow of emerging technologies to China. Mr. Metzger made his remarks in an article published in Inside Cybersecurity, January 8. “This is an issue of immense importance, . . . I think the Warner-Rubio bill is…
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6th Circuit Limits CWA Reach In Potential Circuit Splitting Decision: SCOTUS Requests Administration to Weigh In on Groundwater CWA Issue By E. Jacob Lubarsky Associate Attorney, Rogers Joseph O’Donnell In two recent cases involving the regulation of pollutants flowing through groundwater to navigable waters, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled on September 24, 2018,…
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The Christian doctrine is an important rule in government contract law but it is not often the subject of a Federal Circuit opinion. In K-Con, Inc. v. Secretary of the Army (Fed. Cir. November 5, 2018), the Federal Circuit applied the Christian doctrine to read in to an Army design and construction contract missing FAR…
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After a two-week jury trial in California state court, RJO Shareholders Lauren B. Kramer and Aaron P. Silberman were successful in winning a breach of contract case representing a services contractor against a California state agency. At the heart of the case was a question of contract interpretation: Was the Agency required to pay the…
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Robert Metzger was interviewed for an article published in Inside Cybersecurity, October 29. The article discusses the efforts of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Department of Defense (DOD) rules to address cybersecurity threats. Metzger expressed doubts that NIST guidelines were strong enough to fend off “the exfiltration of protected information.” He…
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The Complexity of Bid Protests & Monetary Awards By Richard M. Harris The California Court of Appeal released a decision about appropriate damages in a state court bid protest case. However, the case, West Coast Air Conditioning Co. Inc. v. Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (2018), is far more helpful in opening the black box…
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RJO Attorneys Neil H. O’Donnell and Robert S. Metzger were recognized in the 2018 Government Contracts edition of Who’s Who Legal, (WWL) a UK-based publication that compiles independently verifiable research on the world’s leading lawyers in their respective practice areas. WWL is one of the world’s leading directories of legal practitioners. Each year, WWL seeks…
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On behalf of CB&I AREVA MOX Services, LLC (MOX Services), the RJO Government Contracts Group obtained a $21.6 million summary judgment award in a U.S. Court of Federal Claims case against the United States, acting through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Determining that the controlling contract entitled MOX Services to retain previously paid fee…
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Shareholder Aaron Silberman was quoted in a recent Federal Contracting News article about a Ninth Circuit ruling in a False Claims Act (FCA) whistleblower case. While allowing the whistleblowers to proceed with their fraud case against the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, the court confirmed its adoption of U.S. Supreme Court’s two-part test…
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Recommends Comprehensive Coordination At Enterprise Level A new report published by a prominent non-profit organization, the MITRE Corporation, recommends a significantly increased effort by the Department of Defense, and its industrial partners, to defend DoD’s capabilities and operations. The objective of the report is to enable the defense industrial base to deliver systems and services…
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RJO is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Retail Law Conference, retail’s premier gathering of in-house counsel, from October 10-12 in Austin, Texas. RJO attorney, Alecia Cotton, a member of RJO’s Retail Trade Practice, will be attending the event. On Thursday, October 11, RJO is sponsoring the retailer breakfast…
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Current measures do not address contemporary threats to the supply chain A “Whole-of-Government” initiative is now needed Bob Metzger has just completed a 5-part article series on threats to the supply chain that expose government operations as well as the commercial economy and public safety. Mr. Metzger warns that adversaries have attacked and will…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is proud to announce that eleven of its attorneys have been selected by Super Lawyers as top attorneys for 2018 in Northern California and Washington, D.C. Each year, no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected to by the research team at Super Lawyers for inclusion on…
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After multiple briefings and three hearings, RJO attorneys Dennis Huie and Sharon Rossi successfully defeated a motion for class certification in a putative wage and hour class action brought by a former restaurant manager working for a franchisee of a national fast-food restaurant chain alleging that she was misclassified as exempt and entitled to unpaid…
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Three days into a multi-week trial, RJO attorneys Dennis Huie, Sharon Rossi and Katherine Svinarich, representing a franchisee of a national fast food restaurant chain and its management company, secured favorable trial court rulings in a Private Attorney Generals Act case where the Court ruled that PAGA penalties were capped at less than .03% of…
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RJO practice areas and several of its attorneys were recognized in the recently published Legal 500 2018 guide. In the Government Contracts rankings, RJO remains in Band 2, and it’s the only boutique among the nine firms in the first two bands. Shareholder Neil O’Donnell was recognized again among the “Leading Lawyers” rankings. The Legal…
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RJO practice areas and several of its attorneys were recognized in the recently published Chambers USA 2018 guide. The firm was ranked in Band 2 in the USA Nationwide Government Contracts, the only boutique in the top 8. The firm was also ranked in the California Construction category and received a special spotlight in Government…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Emily A. Wieser has joined our Employment and Government Contracts Groups. Ms. Wieser has extensive experience representing clients from varied industries in civil litigation matters. She has participated in all phases of litigation from inception to trial. In addition to her trial preparation experience, she is well-versed in alternative…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Richard Harris has joined the Construction Law Practice Group. Mr. Harris served as General Counsel for a public works construction firm for over six years. He has extensive legal experience in public and private construction matters, starting with bid protests, through contract interpretation, unforeseen conditions and delay claims, stop…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Jon-Erik W. Magnus has joined the Environmental Law and Retail Trade Industry Regulation Practice Groups. Jon-Erik has extensive experience in environmental matters, defending a broad range of clients against claims brought under CERCLA, RCRA and state environmental laws. Jon-Erik has also represented clients in matters involving California’s environmental regulatory…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Deborah Norris Rodin has joined the Government Contracts practice group at RJO’s Washington D.C. office. Deborah has extensive experience with government contracts, counseling, regulatory matters and dispute resolution. She is experienced in litigating bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and has…
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Bid protests have been a key element in the U.S. defense industry procurement process for nearly a century. Defense contractors, and other companies can file a protest if they think that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has made an error in soliciting or awarding contracts. Companies are able to file protests with the U.S….
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Brian Miller, of Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, spoke at a Washington DC Bar Association government contracts and litigation community event entitled “What to Do When the Inspector General Knocks. The event was held on March 20, 2018. Brian has worked as a senate-confirmed, federal inspector general for nearly a decade.
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In a unanimous precedential opinion filed on December 19, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas’ grant of summary judgment for Northrop Grumman Corp. in the False Claims Act case U.S. ex rel. Paul J. Solomon v. Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop…
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All DoD contractors, of every size, and at all levels in the defense industrial base, are subject to new cyber DFARS regulation and are required to comply with 110 separate security requirements in NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-171 by no later than Dec. 31, 2017. The DFARS also requires reporting of cyber incidents to DoD…
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On November 21, 2017, the Professional Services Council (PSC) and the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) filed an amicus curiae brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the In re KBR Burn Pit battlefield contractor litigation. The amicus brief supports affirmance of the federal trial court’s dismissal and addresses the important national defense interests…
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RJO is very pleased to announce that Lisa Norrett Himes has joined our Washington office. Lisa is an accomplished litigator who has practiced in federal trial and appellate courts for nearly twenty years. She brings particular emphasis and experience in government contracts, complex tort, and Freedom of Information Act litigation, and is familiar with contingency…
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RJO government contracts attorney Aaron Silberman was quoted in the Federal Contracts Report (FCR) for October 10, 2017, in an article titled “False Claims Act: $663M Reversal Has Silver Lining For Whistle-Blowers, Attorneys Say” (108 FCR, 10/10/17). The article reports on the decision of the Federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in U.S. ex rel….
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On August 18, 2017, Who’s Who Legal released their 2017 rankings of Government Contracts practitioners. RJO was one of 26 firms recognized. Neil O’Donnell and Bob Metzger were identified among the 49 U.S. “Experts”. This year, WWL chose Bob Metzger as one of two leading international practitioners for the “Government Contracts 2017: Discussion.” His observations on several important issues…
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At the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in New York City, on August 12, 2017, Aaron Silberman was elevated to Chair of the ABA’s Public Contract Law Section. He has served as an Officer since 2014, having completed his terms as Secretary (2014-15), Vice Chair (2015-16) and Chair Elect (2016-17). Patricia Meagher, a former Chair of the Section,…
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For the thirteenth year in a row, Chambers and Partners USA has identified Rogers Joseph O’Donnell to be among the top government contracts law firms in the United States. RJO is honored to once again be the only boutique-sized firm recognized as ranking in the country’s eight best government contracts firms. Chambers’ ratings, released on…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is proud to announce that ten of its attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers as top attorneys for 2017 in Northern California and Washington, D.C. Merri Baldwin, Robert Goodman, John Heller, Roland Nikles, Neil O’Donnell and Aaron Silberman were named to the “Super Lawyers” list for the Northern California Region for 2017. Lucas Hanback of our Washington, D.C. office and Lauren…
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For defense contractors, especially small businesses, protecting covered defense information (CDI) can be a complicated and costly undertaking. It’s the law now, and contractors have until the end of the year to comply. Shareholder Robert Metzger offers his take on Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Audio
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is pleased to announce that E. Jacob Lubarsky has joined the firm as an associate in our Environmental Law and Retail Industry Trade Regulation Practice Groups. Mr. Lubarsky has extensive experience in all facets of environmental and complex civil litigation matters. He possesses deep knowledge of California and United States environmental legal issues…
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On March 27, 2017, the IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS) released a white paper authored by RJO shareholder Bob Metzger, on pending federal initiatives to use regulations and contract requirements to improve contractor protection of federal information and data against cyber threats. The paper, titled Federal Actions to Enable Contractors to Protect “Covered Defense…
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Who’sWhoLegal, published by Law Business Research Ltd in the UK, has just named three Rogers Joseph O’Donnell attorneys in its published ratings of construction law practitioners in 2017. RJO founder Neil O’Donnell, Aaron Silberman, and Roland Nikles were among the 1,177 “leaders in the field” worldwide and 49 leaders in California (tied for the most…
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The Defense Science Board (DSB) has released a Report on Cyber Supply Chain that examines malicious supply chain risk and latent vulnerabilities in key national defense systems. For 60 years, the DSB has served the nation by providing innovative solutions to myriad technological, operational, and managerial problems. The Board is comprised of nearly 50 retired…
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RJO government contracts attorney Aaron Silberman, was quoted in the Federal Contracts Report (FCR) for February 21, 2017, in an article titled “’Shock Is the Word’ for Lawsuit Sale Bust, Attorneys Say” (107 FCR, 2/21/17). The article reports on federal agents’ arrest of a law firm attorney accused of trying to sell access to a…
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Aaron Silberman, a shareholder in RJO’s Government Contracts Group, was quoted in a Los Angeles Daily Journal article, dated Tuesday, January 10, 2017, “State Bar housed employee in lobbyist’s office for years.” The article discusses procurement and government ethics issues arising from the State Bar’s housing one of its employees in its outside lobbyist’s Sacramento office…
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RJO is pleased to announce that Lauren Kramer has been elected a shareholder of the firm. Ms. Kramer’s practice emphasizes government contracts, complex commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense. She represents government contractors in the full spectrum of litigation matters, from bid protests to internal investigations to contract disputes. Her commercial litigation practice focuses on…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is pleased to announce that Stephen L. Bacon has joined our D.C. office as an associate in Government Contracts, Construction and Complex Commercial Litigation Practice Groups. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a Trial Attorney for the Department of the Navy where he litigated claims involving government contracts for construction,…
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Merri A. Baldwin has been elected President of the Bar Association of San Francisco for 2017. In that role, she will head both the Bar Association and the Justice and Diversity Center, which provides pro bono legal services to low income clients in San Francisco in the areas of housing, family law, homeless services and other…
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In a False Claims Act case that sought several hundred million dollars in recovery from contractors Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp., the Northern District of Texas granted summary judgment to the contractors on all counts. A retired compliance monitor at RJO client Northrop Grumman alleged that the contractors improperly used funds from other…
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RJO government contracts attorney Aaron Silberman, was quoted in the Federal Contracts Report (FCR) for December 13, 2016, in an article titled “State Farm Can’t Dodge Katrina Lawsuit Based on Seal Violation” (106 FCR, 12/13/16). The article reports on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in State Farm Fire & Casualty v. U.S., ex rel. Rigsby, which affirmed the Fifth…
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Attorneys from RJO’s employment group successfully obtain an attorney’s fee award against a class member who attempted to get around a wage and hour class settlement by bringing an independent wage claim with the labor commissioner. The labor commissioner originally dismissed the wage claim as it was barred by the class settlement. The class member…
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Robert Metzger, head of RJO’s Washington, D.C. office, has released a new “White Paper” on Security as a Service. Sponsored by Exostar, a cloud-based solution provider that assists companies in aerospace and defense, life sciences, and healthcare, the paper advocates new initiatives to enable defense contractors and other federal suppliers to utilize commercial cloud services…
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Who’sWhoLegal, published by Law Business Research Ltd, in the UK, has just named two Rogers Joseph O’Donnell attorneys in its published ratings of government contracts practitioners in 2016. RJO founder Neil O’Donnell is listed for California and Robert Metzger is listed for the District of Columbia. Neil and Bob were among the 398 “leaders in…
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A lawsuit brought by RJO on behalf of helicopter company AgustaWestland North America, a subsidiary of Italian defense company Leonardo-Finmeccanica, has at least slowed, and perhaps halted, Army plans to undertake further sole source purchases of light utility helicopters from Airbus Helicopter, Inc. In a ruling on August 15, 2016, the Court of Federal Claims issued…
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Aaron Silberman has been elevated to Chair Elect of the Public Contract Law Section of the American Bar Association. He completed his terms as Secretary (2014-15) and Vice Chair (2015-16) and will serve as Chair in 2017-18. Mr. Silberman also was appointed as Chair of the Section’s Publications Board. Patricia Meagher, former Chair of the Section,…
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Rogers Joseph O’Donnell is proud to announce that seven of its attorneys have been included among Super Lawyers magazine’s top attorneys for 2016 in Northern California. Merri Baldwin, Robert Goodman, John Heller, Roland Nikles, Neil O’Donnell and Aaron Silberman were named to the “Super Lawyers” list and Lauren Kramer to the “Rising Stars” list for…
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The Legal 500 for 2016 has ranked RJO among the top six law firms and Neil O’Donnell among the top ten lawyers in the U.S. in Government Contracts. It also noted RJO’s Bob Metzger, Jeff Chiow and Brian D. Miller in our D.C. office, and Patricia Meagher and Mark Linderman in San Francisco. The Legal…
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RJO attorneys Neil O’Donnell, Jeff Chiow and Lucas Hanback secured a significant contract for their client after the Department of Veterans Affairs took corrective action in response to a bid protest at GAO. The protest involved contracts issued for Information Technology service solutions under the VA’s Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation (T4NG) multiple-award contract….
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RJO won a significant pro bono victory for a former Navy Chief Petty Officer, who was discharged from the service involuntarily after 19 ½ years. Well over 11 years of his service time had been spent deployed overseas in combat tours away from his wife and children. His involuntary separation was based upon convictions in civilian court…
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For the twelfth consecutive year, Chambers and Partners USA has recognized Rogers Joseph O’Donnell as one of the premier government contracts law firms in the United States. RJO is proud once again to be the only boutique-sized firm to be ranked among the country’s eight best government contracts firms. Chambers’ ratings, released in May 2016, rate…
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RJO attorney Joseph McGowan succeeded in persuading the Los Angeles Metro to state, in advance of receiving proposals, that RJO’s client, B&C Transit, Inc., had no organizational conflict of interest (“OCI”). B&C Transit had prepared design drawings for a prior LA Metro project, which had been cancelled. B&C’s drawings were subsequently repackaged by LA Metro…
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RJO recently scored back-to-back wins for client Primescape Solutions, Inc. RJO first got involved a year ago, when Jeff Chiow and Lucas Hanback successfully protested a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) award of a 3-year contract to manage the military’s STORES system that controls ordering and receipt of food and other subsistence items. Following that victory,…
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Jeff Chiow and Lucas Hanback were both selected for the third straight year as Rising Stars among DC Government Contracts attorneys by Super Lawyers. The selection process involves peer nominations, followed by a research-based winnowing of candidates. Up to 5% of lawyers can be named Super Lawyers with another 2.5% eligible to be named Rising…
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RJO attorneys Aaron Silberman and Lauren Kramer helped client MERMEC Inc. defend its contract award by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to provide a track geometry car, a custom rail car outfitted with sophisticated diagnostic and measurement systems to monitor the BART commuter rail system. RJO successfully defended MERMEC in an administrative bid…
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