Government Contracts Attorney Associate

You went into government contracts because the work is genuinely complicated and the regulatory framework is one of the most intricate bodies of law in the country. You were right about that part.

What you didn't sign up for is being the FAR research associate.

Every time a question comes in — a CO's interpretation of a flow-down clause, an OCI analysis on a follow-on competition, a cost allowability dispute — you're the one digging through Part 31 or 52 to draft the memo. The partner takes the call with the GC. The partner writes the bid protest. The partner sits across from the IG investigators. You build the foundation and someone else delivers it to the client.

Three to five years in, you should be running compliance investigations, drafting protests at the GAO and Court of Federal Claims, and advising contractors directly through DCAA audits and suspension/debarment proceedings — not just researching what the partner is going to say.

A nationally recognized DC firm with one of the deepest government contracts benches in the market is hiring a mid-level associate. This is a dedicated GovCon practice; not a regulatory side desk that picks up FAR questions when corporate needs a hand. The team handles the full lifecycle: formation, negotiation, performance disputes, bid protests, compliance, and investigations across defense, life sciences, construction, and healthcare contractors.

The work includes:

• Bid protests at the GAO and Court of Federal Claims
• Compliance counseling on FAR/DFARS, cost accounting standards, and small business regulations
• Internal investigations and government-facing matters including DOJ, IG, and suspension/debarment
• Contract negotiation and dispute resolution across defense, life sciences, healthcare, and construction
• Cross-practice work touching IP, export controls, and regulatory issues that intersect with GovCon

What you bring:

• 3-5 years of government contracts and regulatory experience at a major firm, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, or as a military attorney
• Working fluency with the FAR and the regulatory architecture around federal contracting
• Strong writing — protests and investigations live and die on the brief
• DC bar admission, active and in good standing

What you get:

• A practice that treats GovCon as the business, not a service line
• Direct contractor relationships at your level — not three years from now
• Exposure beyond pure litigation: IP, contract negotiation, and regulatory counseling
• Cravath scale ($260K-$365K depending on class year)

This seat doesn't open often at this platform. They're making one hire.

Reach out directly or send your resume confidentially to srushing@laterallink.com