We are pleased to announce that a record nine attorneys from Blank Rome’s nationally recognized Government Contracts group have been appointed to leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) Public Contract Law Section for the 2025–2026 term.
Visit our website to learn more about their roles and ABA’s Section of Public Contract Law.
Blank Rome-Hosted Live Webinar
July 29, 2025
12:00–1:00 p.m. EDT | 9:00–10:00 a.m. PDT
Please join Blank Rome Government Contracts attorneys Justin A. Chiarodo, Dominique L. Casimir, Robyn N. Burrows, and Sara N. Gerber for this timely webinar with key updates for government contractors navigating the first 180 days of the Trump Administration, and the days ahead.
Topics include:
This session is part of Blank Rome’s summer live webinar series 180 Days of the Trump Administration—Quick Hits on Executive Orders, Actions, and Policies (ending on Wednesday, August, 13, 2025), where our interdisciplinary Trump Administration Resource Team is unpacking the most pressing legal, regulatory, and policy developments from the Trump administration’s first 180 days.
Click here to register for the July 29 government contractor session and for any future sessions: Summer 2025- Trump 180 Day Webinar Series | RSVP Blank.
You may also view any past sessions on demand here: On-Demand Webinar Series: 180 Days of the Trump Administration.
Blank Rome’s Government Contracts practice was ranked in Band 2 in Government Contracts: The Elite, USA in the Chambers USA 2025 rankings, placing our team among the top 10 law firms in the nationwide rankings.
Chambers quoted a government contracts reference as saying that “The firm has specialized expertise as well as a broader perspective on the issues at play.”
Chambers USA included four of our attorneys in their 2025 Government Contracts rankings: Dominique L. Casimir, Justin A. Chiarodo, Elizabeth N. Jochum, and Luke W. Meier, with Elizabeth receiving an additional ranking for “Government Contracts: Bid Protests.”
To view all of Blank Rome’s Chambers USA 2025 rankings, please visit our website.
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Government Contracts partners Dominique L. Casimir and Justin A. Chiarodo have been named to Law360’s 2025 Editorial Advisory Boards. As board members, the partners will provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and share insights on how to best shape future coverage.
Dominique, who serves as co-chair of Blank Rome’s General Litigation practice group, has been named to Law360’s 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Advisory Board. In 2022, she served on Law360’s Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board.
Justin, who serves as chair of our firm’s Aerospace, Defense & Government Services industry team and co-chair of our firm’s Government Contracts practice group, has been named to Law360’s Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board for the third time.
Learn more about other Blank Rome partners serving on Law360’s 2025 Editorial Advisory Boards on our website.
February 26, 2025
2:00–4:00 p.m.
McLean, Virginia
Blank Rome partner Jennifer Short will serve as a panelist at the American Bar Association (“ABA”) Section of Public Contract Law’s “Roundtable on Impact of New Administration on Government Contracting,” taking place in McLean, Virginia, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with a light reception to follow. A virtual participation option will be available.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The panel will discuss the impact of the new administration on government contracting, including the President’s Executive Orders regarding DEI and how to respond to them; stop works, terminations, and other contract actions and what contractors can be doing in light of them; and the legal issues surrounding a decision by the Executive Office not to spend appropriated funds.
Panelists:
For more information, please visit the registration page.
Blank Rome-Hosted Live Webinar
February 19, 2025
1:00–2:00 p.m. EST | 10:00–11:00 a.m. PST
Within days of the new administration taking office, there have been tectonic shifts in the employment law and government contracts landscape affecting all employers, large and small, across every industry and every sector of the economy.
The Executive Order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” has implications for any company that has adopted a formal diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) policy and puts companies on notice that the new administration considers DEI policies and programs to be “illegal” if they have the effect of reverse discrimination under federal anti-discrimination laws. The Executive Order requires the heads of all federal agencies to submit a plan outlining specific measures to deter illegal discrimination or preferences. Additionally, each agency must identify up to nine major corporations or institutions for compliance investigations on DEI violations and the Attorney General has been tasked with developing strategies to deter “illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI,” in the broader private sector. This plan will be presented in 120 days.
The Executive Order also has drastic implications for federal contractors. It revokes Executive Order 11246, which for 60 years has required federal contractors adopt affirmative action plans. The Executive Order gives federal contractors until April 21, 2025, to end their compliance with Executive Order 11246. All federal contractors will now be expected to certify that they “do not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws” in all contracts with federal agencies.
In addition to this Executive Order, other directives on gender and DEI efforts and civil and criminal enforcement across the private and public sector carry both direct and indirect implications for companies. This landscape is evolving rapidly, influenced by guidance from new agency heads—including the Department of Justice—as well as emerging state-level pressures. Special guest speaker Lisa R. Davis, Senior Managing Director and Co-Lead, DEI Advisory at Teneo, will join Dominique, Anthony, and Brooke to explore the intricate implications of these Executive Orders and offer actionable insights for navigating and communicating changes effectively.
Blank Rome partners Dominique L. Casimir, Anthony B. Haller, and Brooke T. Iley, along with Lisa R. Davis, Senior Managing Director and Co-Lead, DEI Advisory at global CEO consulting and advisory firm Teneo, will serve as speakers for the 60-minute, Blank Rome-hosted live webinar, “Navigating the Impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders on DEI Initiatives,” taking place on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EST / 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PST.
For more information and to register, please visit our website: Navigating the Impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders on DEI Initiatives.
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that eight attorneys from the firm’s nationally recognized Government Contracts group have been appointed to leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section for the 2024–2025 term.
Visit our website to learn more about their roles and the Section of Public Contract Law.
Blank Rome is pleased to host two upcoming American Bar Association (“ABA”) Public Contract Law (“PCL”) Committee meetings in September.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
12:00–1:15 p.m. EDT
Blank Rome’s Washington, DC office will host the annual ABA PCL Bid Protest Committee “Back to School” panel, with a virtual option. This will be followed by a Vice-Chair Planning Session from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m. Committee co-chair and Blank Rome Government Contracts partner Elizabeth N. Jochum will serve as a panelist, along with Samantha Lee (Deputy Assistant General Counsel, Government Accountability Office), Kayleigh Scalzo (Partner, Covington & Burling LLP), Andy Smith (Chief of Bid Protests, U.S. Army), and Evan Williams (Counsel, Mayer Brown LLP). Panelists will discuss important bid protest decisions and developments that you may have missed over the summer. For more information, and to register, please visit: Bid Protest Committee: Annual “Back to School” Panel.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
12:00–1:00 p.m. EDT
Blank Rome’s Washington, DC office will host a meeting of the ABA PCL Intellectual Property Committee, with a virtual option. Committee co-chair and Blank Rome Government Contracts attorney David Bodner will serve as panel moderator, and the panel will include Ted Jung (PEO IWS Chief Architect, Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters), Rizlane Riahi (Deputy Section Head OGC, Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters), and Chinedum Okparaeke (Legal Counsel, Anduril Industries). The panel will discuss the topic, “Consider This When Purchasing or Selling Software,” including pre-award data rights considerations when purchasing software as required by the 2023 changes to DFARS Subpart 227.72. For more information, and to register, please visit: Consider This When Purchasing or Selling Software.
We are thrilled to share Blank Rome’s Government Contracts practice was recently highly ranked by two prestigious annual legal rankings publications:
Blank Rome’s Government Contracts practice was ranked in Band 2 in Government Contracts: The Elite, USA in the Chambers USA 2024 rankings, placing our team among the very top group of fewer than 50 law firms in the nationwide rankings.
Chambers quoted a government contracts reference as saying that “Blank Rome is a sophisticated firm that knows the commercial implications of the activities for which they … provided legal support.”
To view all of Blank Rome’s Chambers USA 2024 rankings, please visit our website.
Blank Rome was again highly ranked among the top nationwide firms as a “Recommended Firm” in the area of “Government Contracts” in The Legal 500 United States 2024. Testimonials about our practice included:
“The Blank Rome Government Contracts practice group is uncommonly business-oriented.”
“Great people, great communication, creative approaches to legal arguments.”
“Excellent communication, always available when you need them.”
To view all of Blank Rome’s Legal 500 United States 2024 rankings, please visit our website.
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Government Contracts partners Justin A. Chiarodo and Elizabeth N. Jochum have been named to Law360’s 2024 Editorial Advisory Boards. As board members, the partners will provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and share insights on how to best shape future coverage.
Justin, who serves as chair of our firm’s Aerospace, Defense & Government Services industry team and Government Contracts practice group, has been named to Law360’s Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board for the second time.
Elizabeth has been named to Law360’s 2024 Government Contracts Editorial Advisory Board.
Learn more about other Blank Rome partners serving on Law360’s 2024 Editorial Advisory Boards on our website.
