Practice Areas & Industries: Winston & Strawn LLP

Practice/Industry Group Overview

The myriad rules that apply to companies that contract with the federal government can make it difficult to achieve business objectives.  Winston & Strawn uses its deep knowledge of this specialized area to help clients overcome potential obstacles.  Our attorneys are skilled in the intricacies of contracting with government agencies and with contracts funded, in whole or in part, with public funds. Our government contracts practice extends to all phases of the procurement process, including pre- and post-award counseling; bid protests; dispute resolution, including claims preparation and litigation; defense against charges brought by the government; legislative matters; and representation on issues related to international transactions and contracts.

We also assist clients involved in overseas markets in such contract issues as direct and foreign military sales, export restrictions, allowability of foreign sales costs, security restrictions, and a host of other matters.

Our government contracts attorneys have successfully represented both large and small corporations in the aerospace, construction, consulting, health care, pharmaceutical, information technology, insurance, manufacturing, maritime, munitions, research and development, service, shipbuilding, telecommunications, transportation, and utility industries.

Representative Matters

Construction Litigation
Our attorneys have litigated complex construction cases in every conceivable forum, including state and federal courts, industry arbitration panels, international arbitrations, federal and state boards of contract appeals, as well as numerous ADR procedures and mediations.      
 
Maritime Government Contracts Matters
Winston & Strawn has extensive experience in dealing with the U.S. Navy, the Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Maritime Administration, and has provided advice to a number of clients with respect to the formation of government contracts, the resolution of disputes, and the prosecution of claims.      
 
Cubic Transportation v. Scheidt & Bachmann
Scheidt & Bachmann USA, Inc.
In late December 2004, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted our motion to dismiss a cause of action filed by Cubic Transportation Systems challenging a $100 million contract award for automated fare collection equipment made by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to client Scheidt and Bachmann (S&B). Winston was retained by S&B after Cubic's first challenge of the award, brought before the FTA, resulted in a ruling against S&B.      
 
Matter of Spherix, Inc.; B-294572
Spherix Inc. f/k/a Biospherics
Winston & Strawn represented Spherix, Inc. in a case that presented a serious threat to our client's business when the federal government announced it planned to cancel a major reservation services contract renewal with Spherix and award it to a another company on a noncompetitive basis. Our attorneys filed suit in the Court of Federal Claims challenging the decision and coordinated legislative opposition to the plan. The government ultimately abandoned its plans, extended Spherix’s contract, and promised to award any future contracts only after conducting a full and open competition.