Category: Meet Blank Rome

A Conversation with Our Newest Partner, Stephanie Harden


Justin A. Chiarodo, Dominique L. Casimir, and Stephanie M. Harden

Stephanie Harden's Headshot Photo





We are thrilled to share that Stephanie Harden—a long-time and integral member of our practice group—has been elected to the partnership. For those who haven’t had the chance to connect or work with Stephanie—which we highly recommend!—we wanted to share the highlights of our virtual chat with Stephanie (edited for the blog) to help everyone get to know her better.

First of all, congratulations on your promotion! This is obviously the culmination of many years practicing in the field—but how did you first get interested in government contracts law?

Thank you! I’m very excited about this milestone and helping our clients succeed in my new role.

I spent one of my law school summers at GAO’s Office of General Counsel, where I was first exposed to bid protest litigation. I loved the fast-paced nature of bid protests and was interested in learning more about the field. After law school, I clerked for Judge Victor Wolski on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, where I learned about a host of government contracts issues and really solidified my interest in government contracts law. Being able to observe and learn from the Judge and the advocates practicing before the Court (both from the Justice Department and private bar) gave me a strong foundation for success.

What do you enjoy most about your practice area?

I love that every day brings new challenges and the opportunity to learn about something new. Whether it’s learning about a new technology or researching a novel legal question or a FAR clause you’ve never examined before, there is rarely a dull moment in this field. Continue reading “A Conversation with Our Newest Partner, Stephanie Harden”

Blank Rome’s Justin Chiarodo Named 2020 Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting Group

Blank Rome Partner Justin A. Chiarodo has been named to the BTI Client Service All-Stars 2020, which recognizes leaders in superior client service identified exclusively by corporate counsel. The 2020 All-Stars were selected for their keen understanding of business impacts and unwavering commitment to client objectives, which BTI Consulting Group praises as “an astounding feat when also assessing a global pandemic alongside growing client expectations of law firms.” Justin notably joins the ranks of only three Government Contracts attorneys nationwide recognized in this year’s report.

Now in its 19th year of publication, BTI Client Service All-Stars 2020 features 475 individual attorneys from 181 law firms across the United States. The All-Stars designation, which is used by corporate counsel and law firms alike to identify the attorneys delivering the best client service, is a data-driven ranking based solely on in-depth telephone interviews with leading legal decision makers. To see the full list of 2020 All-Stars, please click here. 

At Blank Rome, Justin serves as co-chair of the Firm’s nationally recognized Government Contracts practice group. He focuses his practice on all aspects of federal, state, and local procurement law, and has spent his entire career helping leading and emerging government contractors successfully navigate high-stakes litigation, compliance, and regulatory matters. Earlier this year, Justin was named a Government Contracts MVP by Law360, and he is annually ranked for Government Contracts Law in Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Super Lawyers.