Tuesday, September 10, 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. ET
| MCLE Credit: | 4.0 |
| Live-Interactive Credit: | 4.0 (all formats) |
Live on Site:
Webcast:
Telephone:
Cosponsored with the Construction Law and Public Contracts Section of the Virginia State Bar
The Construction Law and Public Contracts Section of the Virginia State Bar specially designed this annual event in response to requests from practitioners for quality programming in the field of federal government contracting. Expert faculty will cover important topics and present exceptional materials. Now in its eighth year, this four-hour seminar focuses on recent case law and trends, best practices for trials before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), and legal theories and statutes.
Praise from prior Annual Federal Government Contracting seminars:
“Difficult subject matter handled by speakers in stimulating manner.”
“Very valuable.”
“Easy to get to, good parking, nice coffee and treats, qualified speakers.”
“This is my field. This information is critical, and I attend most if not every year.”
COVID-19 POLICY FOR LIVE-ON-SITE ATTENDANCE
By attending a live-on-site Virginia CLE® seminar, you acknowledge the health risks associated with COVID-19 and that you MUST follow all Virginia CLE® COVID-19 policies. You may NOT attend a live-on-site program if you have tested positive for COVID-19, if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or if you are under any self-quarantine orders per CDC guidelines.
Registration Deadlines:
Webcast: | 10 minutes prior to seminar. If you register for a webcast the day of the seminar, your e-mail receipt will include a link to launch the seminar and download the materials. |
Telephone: | Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. the day preceding the seminar |
Live on Site: | Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. the day preceding the seminar |
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $60 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE®.
Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.
Dietary Restrictions: If you have dietary restrictions and are attending the seminar in person, please email tfitzgerald@vacle.org.
Inclement Weather Policy and Updates.
MCLE Credit Caveat: The MCLE Board measures credits by the time you spend in attendance. If you enter a seminar late or leave it early, or both, you must reflect those adjustments accurately in the credits you report on your credit reporting form. A code will be given at the end of the seminar, which must be written on your MCLE form.
Can’t Attend?
E-mail distance_ed@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program is made available as an online or USB seminar.
E-mail publications@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program’s seminar materials are made available for sale.
| 8:15 | Breakfast (for live-on-site attendees) |
| 9:00 | Announcements and Introductions |
| 9:10 | Federal Government Contracts Year in Review: Lessons Learned from 2023-2024 Jonathan R. Wright, Brandon Regan, Brandon M. Wilsey This presentation will summarize recent case law and trends in litigation specific to government contractors. Practitioners will benefit from real-world examples of lessons learned in areas such as bid protests, contract claims, and prime-sub disputes. |
| 10:40 | Break |
| 10:50 | Best Practices for Trials Before the ASBCA Hon. Owen C. Wilson, Scott P. Fitzsimmons, Jonathan R. Wright This presentation will discuss strategies for effective trial practice before the ASBCA through the perspective of Judge Owen C. Wilson, Vice Chairman of the ASBCA, and seasoned trial lawyers serving government contracting clients. |
| 12:05 | Break |
| 12:15 | Government Contracting Concerns from an In-House Counsel’s Perspective Jonathan A. Conte, Scott P. Fitzsimmons, Brandon Regan This presentation will feature a discussion with Jon Conte, in-house counsel with Fluor, and will focus on topics of significance to in-house counsel for government contracting firms. The session is designed to help practitioners understand their clients’ concerns and will focus on issues such as internal investigations, the mandatory disclosure rule, and characteristics that in-house counsel seek when selecting outside counsel. |
| 1:30 | Adjourn |
Hon. Owen C. Wilson, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals / Falls Church
Jonathan A. Conte, Fluor Corporation / Greenville, SC
Scott P. Fitzsimmons, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Brandon Regan, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Brandon M. Wilsey, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Jonathan R. Wright, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Jonathan R. Wright, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Hon. Owen C. Wilson, Vice Chairman, Armed Services Board of Court Appeals (ASBCA) / Falls Church
Judge Owen Wilson was born in Richmond, Virginia. He received a B.S. in Political Science in 1987 from James Madison University and a J.D. from the College of William and Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1991. He served as a Law Clerk at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals from 1991 to 1993. Upon leaving the Board, he joined the Office of the General Counsel for the Navy and reported to the Military Sealift Command as an Assistant Counsel (1993–1998) and later was appointed Associate Counsel (1998–2006) for the Special Missions and Prepositioning programs. He transferred to the Naval Sea Systems Command, where he provided advice on major weapons systems procurements (electronic warfare and naval gun programs) and the Deactivated Ship Donation program. He received the Navy’s Procurement Excellence Award in 2005 and the Navy’s Superior Service Award in 2006. Judge Wilson is admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. On September 17, 2007, he was appointed to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. He was appointed Vice Chairman, effective August 6, 2017.
Jonathan A. Conte, Senior Counsel, Fluor Corporation / Greenville, SC
Jon Conte is an in-house attorney with Fluor Corporation where he has been Senior Counsel since October 2017. Prior to that, he was the general counsel for the Fluor Paducah Deactivation Project, and between 2005 and 2013 he operated his own law firm. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1992.
Scott P. Fitzsimmons, Partner, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
For 20 years, Scott Fitzsimmons has focused his practice on government contracts and construction. He has represented contractors in numerous trials and hearings before state and federal tribunals, including federal courts and the U.S. Boards of Contract Appeals. His experience includes high-stakes matters with values exceeding $300 million. He also represents contractors in high-value bid protests before the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). Before joining Watt Tieder, he served for two years as a law clerk to a federal judge on the United States Court of Federal Claims, where he focused on federal government contract matters including bid protest and Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims. His experience in federal government contracts offers clients incredible insight into the federal arena and helps shepherd contractors through the administrative and regulatory requirements of public contracting. In addition to being an attorney with Watt Tieder, he serves as an Officer in the United States Navy Reserve, where he holds the rank of Captain (O-6) and has commanded six units. His most recent assignment was with the Office of the Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon. He spends his spare time on his farm in Purcellville, Virginia, where he and his wife own several amazing horses including the 2015 Theodora A. Randolph National Fieldhunter Champion.
Brandon Regan, Associate, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Brandon Regan is an associate in Watt Tieder’s McLean, Virginia, office, concentrating his practice in the areas of construction, government contracts, and commercial litigation. He is an experienced litigator with nearly a decade of courtroom experience. Before joining Watt Tieder, he served as a Judge Advocate for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a line prosecutor, Staff Judge Advocate, and Senior Complex Trial Counsel. In these billets he litigated several high-profile cases as first-chair counsel with sustained success. He now serves as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and holds the rank of Major (O-4). After leaving active-duty, he served for four years as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office. As an AUSA, he successfully prosecuted over 400 cases, including several federal jury trials.
Brandon M. Wilsey, Associate, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Brandon Wilsey is an associate in Watt Tieder’s McLean, Virginia, office. He focuses his practice on government contracts and construction. He brings a wealth of experience related to government matters and litigation to support his clients. Before joining Watt Tieder, Mr. Wilsey served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps for nine years, where he litigated and was lead counsel on multiple jury and bench trials as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and counsel for victims of serious crimes. In his last tour, he served as an administrative law attorney at the Pentagon, where he advised flag officers, senior military, and government officials on high-profile personnel matters. He is the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his legal ability, including an Impact Award from the Commandant of the Marine Corps in 2022 for implementing a global litigation management system, and the 2019 Krulak Award for innovative writing. He continues to serve as a Judge Advocate in the Marine Corps Reserves and holds the rank of Major (O-4).
Jonathan R. Wright, Partner, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald / McLean
Jonathan Wright represents owners, prime contractors, subcontractors, and sureties on construction projects throughout the nation, and particularly in the mid-Atlantic region. His experience includes a wide range of construction projects such as data centers, buildings, wastewater treatment plants, highways, roads, bridges, dredging projects, schools, and municipal water pumping stations. He has successfully guided his clients through challenging legal issues involving default terminations, design defects, payment disputes, indemnification, differing site conditions, delay claims, and inefficiency/lost productivity claims. In addition to his court admissions, he has experience in various types of dispute resolution including arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and claim preparation.
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