Government Contracts Associate

Direct Counsel is seeking a Government Contracts Associate to join a nationally recognized Government Contracts practice in Washington, D.C. This is an exceptional opportunity for an attorney looking to advise leading government contractors on sophisticated regulatory, compliance, litigation, and transactional matters involving federal procurement laws and regulations.

The ideal candidate will have broad government contracts experience and a strong interest in working on complex issues affecting companies that do business with federal agencies.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on a broad range of government contracts matters
• Counsel contractors on:
  • Federal procurement regulations
  • Contract compliance
  • Government investigations
  • Regulatory requirements
  • Risk management strategies
• Support litigation and dispute resolution involving government contracts matters
• Assist with government contracts aspects of corporate transactions, mergers, and acquisitions
• Advise clients on suspension and debarment issues
• Support False Claims Act matters and internal investigations
• Conduct legal research and prepare:
  • Memoranda
  • Briefs
  • Regulatory analyses
  • Compliance guidance
• Work directly with clients on strategic and business-critical issues
• Collaborate with attorneys across litigation, investigations, corporate, and regulatory practices

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Law school class years 2018–2020
• Broad government contracts experience
• Strong understanding of federal procurement laws and regulations
• Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills
• Outstanding communication and client counseling abilities
• Ability to manage sophisticated matters independently and assume significant responsibility
• Outstanding academic credentials

Preferred Experience

• Government contracts litigation
• Corporate transactions involving government contractors
• Suspension and debarment matters
• False Claims Act investigations and litigation
• Internal investigations
• Regulatory compliance counseling

Bid protest experience is not required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $365,000 – $420,000
• Compensation based on experience, qualifications, and other operational considerations
• Discretionary performance-based bonus opportunities
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Retirement benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Parental leave
• Basic life insurance

Why This Opportunity

• Join a nationally recognized Government Contracts practice
• Advise leading government contractors on high-profile matters
• Work on sophisticated litigation, investigations, compliance, and transactional issues
• Significant client exposure and hands-on responsibility
• Collaborative environment with strong mentorship and professional development
• Excellent platform for long-term career growth in a highly specialized practice area

Direct Counsel is committed to connecting exceptional legal talent with premier law firms and fostering inclusive hiring practices.