How To Navigate Government Contracts: Essential Insights For Attorneys

In this article, you can discover…

• How to understand and navigate challenges with government contracts.
• Strategies an attorney can use to help your business adhere to the law.
• How to find the right firm to assist you when handling a government contract.

What Are The Most Common Challenges Associated With Government Contracts?

The legal and regulatory landscape can be incredibly complex, often opaque, and challenging to navigate. It requires a deep and comprehensive understanding to address these issues effectively—something that not all attorneys possess. The stakes for clients are exceptionally high, with substantial risks of both civil and criminal enforcement liability.

Adding to the challenge, compliance and performance costs can be significant, and the burden of risk often falls squarely on contractors. Interlocking regulations further complicate matters, creating a web of potential liabilities. Without a clear grasp of how these regulations interact and affect one another, it’s nearly impossible to provide effective legal representation. At Williamson Law Group, we pride ourselves on our ability to connect these intricate pieces, ensuring our clients are equipped to successfully navigate these challenges.

We develop tailored strategies for each client, ensuring full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements while aligning with both short- and long-term business objectives. Our goal is to provide solutions that address immediate challenges and support sustainable growth, helping each enterprise navigate this complex legal landscape with clarity and confidence.

What Strategies Can You Employ To Ensure Adherence To Government Regulations?

When faced with a potential regulatory violation or non-compliance issue, particularly one carrying significant liability, our firm applies a systematic and cooperative approach to resolve the matter effectively:

1. Internal Investigation: We proactively communicate with the relevant government agency—such as the DOJ, FBI, or Office of Inspector General—informing them that we will take the lead in investigating the matter.
2. Attorney-Client Privileged Analysis: An attorney-client privileged relationship ensures confidentiality during internal investigations, protecting sensitive information and minimizing risk by shielding legal advice and investigative findings.
3. Root Cause Analysis: A critical step is performing a root cause analysis to determine how and why the violation occurred. This helps identify underlying issues and ensures that our response addresses the source of the problem.
4. Corrective Action Plan: Based on our findings, we work with our client to develop a comprehensive corrective action plan designed to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence.
5. Collaboration And Transparency: We present the results of our investigation and the corrective action plan to the government, maintaining full transparency and cooperation throughout the process.

This approach aligns with government expectations and consistently delivers strong results for each of our clients. By taking ownership of the resolution process and fostering a collaborative relationship with regulatory bodies, we help mitigate risks and proactively establish a foundation for long-term compliance.

Scott Williamson & Dan Williamson are seasoned, respected government contract attorneys serving the government contracting community. For over 20 years, they have helped clients secure and navigate government contracts and successfully address issues with federal agencies.

Have questions, or need superior representation? Reach out to Williamson Law Group at (301) 788-8198 or info@williamsonlawgroup.com for an initial consultation today.

A Memorable Case: Helping A Joint Venture Overcome Regulatory Barriers

At Williamson Law Group, we pride ourselves on crafting solutions that address immediate challenges while fostering broader, long-lasting impact. One standout example is our work with a newly formed small business joint venture facing a major regulatory barrier.

The issue arose from a government solicitation requirement mandating that not only must each individual member company of the joint venture to hold a facility security clearance, but the joint venture itself must also possess one. This effectively barred the entity from bidding on a significant government contract, despite full compliance by its member companies.

We filed a targeted protest against the solicitation, arguing that its requirements violated the Small Business Act and the SBA regulation at 13 CFR § 121.103. Specifically, we argued that joint ventures should be eligible for contract awards requiring facility clearances if either the joint venture itself or its individual partners possess the necessary clearance. Our advocacy prompted the government to reevaluate and ultimately revise the rule, eliminating the separate security clearance requirement for small business joint ventures.

This breakthrough not only enabled our client to bid on—and win—the contract but also set a precedent that benefits the entire government contracting community, removing a substantial obstacle for other joint ventures pursuing classified contracts.

This case, widely recognized under the name InfoPoint, highlights the power of proactive legal advocacy. It’s a prime example of how a well-considered, strategic approach can resolve immediate client issues, while also contributing to a more equitable regulatory landscape for others.

Williamson Law Group: A Unique Approach Tailored Distinctly to Every Client

Williamson Law Group is a boutique firm exclusively dedicated to government contract law. With a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities and nuances, we are uniquely equipped to identify and address challenges across all sectors. Our ability to craft tailored strategies ensures that every client’s specific goals and concerns are met with precision and care.

Our firm also possesses the necessary security clearances to handle classified matters, allowing us to seamlessly assist clients with sensitive contracts. Leveraging our extensive connections within the federal government, we understand its culture and processes, enabling us to navigate negotiations effectively and foster productive relationships.

At Williamson Law Group, we provide exceptional value by combining focused insights with a results-driven approach. Unlike larger firms that may lack the same specialized knowledge, we deliver innovative, creative solutions tailored to your needs—benefiting both you and the government agencies you engage with.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on Navigating Government Contracts, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (301) 788-8198 today.