Joseph G. Billings is a government contracts lawyer with over 30 years of experience assisting government contractors with litigation, alternative dispute resolution and transactional issues. Joe represents clients in a variety of litigation forums including state courts and federal district courts; the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, federal boards of contract appeals and the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and District of Columbia Circuit. The litigation involves contract claims, disputes between subcontractors and prime contracts, claims of tortious interference, qui tam suits under the Civil False Claims Act; and defense against white collar criminal allegations of false claims, including defective pricing, product substitution, and false certification of business size. Joe also represents clients in debarment and suspension proceedings and arbitration.
Joe assists clients in bid protests before federal and state agencies, the Government Accountability Office and the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims; size protests before the SBA's Area Offices and Office of Hearings and Appeals; and NAICS appeals before the SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals.
In addition to litigation, Joe assists clients with transactional issues such as drafting and negotiating proposals, subcontracts, vertical and horizontal teaming agreements, financing agreements, licenses, leases, ECPs, VECPs, requests for equitable adjustment, termination proposals, and Contract Disputes Act claims. He also provides compliance advice on export controls, federal labor laws, certifications, cost principles, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and other government contract subjects. Joe has substantial experience in advising clients on how to preserve intellectual property rights at both the pre-award and post-award stages.
Joe represents a diverse range of clients including professional services contractors, construction contractors, cabling companies, software developers, storage companies, hardware manufacturers, munitions manufacturers, systems integrators, and environmental remediation companies.
Joe served in the U.S. Army in Germany as a platoon leader, battery executive officer and battalion operations officer with a HAWK air defense unit. After graduating from law school, he served as a reservist in the Navy's JAG Corps, retiring as a Captain.
Credentials
American Bar Association: Government Contracts Section
Bel Air Greens HOA: Board of Directors and Vice President (March 2006-present)
Boy Scouts of America: Unit Commissioner (September 2005-present)
District of Columbia Bar Association: Public Contracts Section
Neurofibromatosis, Inc.: Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Board of Directors (2005-present)
Prince George's County Bar Association
Publications
"Off with Her Head: Suspensions and Debarments as Punishment," Service Contractor (Co-Author) (February 2011).
"Taking One For The Teaming Arrangement," Law360 (Co-Author) (November 15, 2010).
"Rock, Paper, Hubzone: GAO Confirms Top Priority For Hubzone Program," Miles & Stockbridge News Brief (Co-Author) (June 2009).
Speaking Engagements
"Lending To and Collecting From Government Contractors, What the Special Assets Group Should Know," Bank of America Webinar (Panelists) (January 24, 2012).