Crowell & Moring LLP > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile

Crowell & Moring LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Government > Government contracts Tier 1

Crowell & Moring LLP utilizes its exceptionally deep bench in servicing the gamut of government contract matters, including claims, bid protests, costs and accounting disputes, FCA investigations, and M&A transactions. The team boasts long-standing relationships in the defense and aerospace sectors, and with household names in IT, telecoms, healthcare, and cybersecurity. Leadership of the Washington DC-based practice is shared between Peter Eyre, who specializes in suspension and debarment proceedings, as well as transactions, compliance, and investigations; Daniel Forman, a giant in the bid protests space who led the notable challenge by Northrop Grumman where DISA subsequently defended its own corrective action against Booz Allen Hamilton; and Adelicia Cliffe, who also co-chairs the National Security team, and focuses on regulatory counseling and strategic advice. Stephen McBrady is best known for large, complex disputes involving the government, while Amy O’Sullivan leverages small business expertise in leading large bid protests. Nicole Owren-Wiest is a top choice for costs and accounting disputes and is also well-versed in IP and data rights. Anuj Vohra has tapped into the developing trend of state and local bid protests, and Erin Rankin, promoted to partner in January 2023, is an emerging name in costs and accounting. Michelle Coleman, promoted to partner in January 2024, blends together significant expertise in AI and disputes. New additions include Jason Crawford from the DOJ in January 2023, Eric Ransom from in-house in October 2023, and senior counsel Lou Chiarella from the GAO in February 2023. Cherie Owen was also promoted to partner in January 2023.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) Tier 3

International trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 3

Applying ‘excellent business judgment to its sound legal advice’, Crowell & Moring LLP’s international trade group combines a prominent customs offering with solid—and growing—expertise in export controls and economic sanctions. In terms of the former, trade co-head John Brew is recommended for his comprehensive practice that spans customs administration, enforcement, regulatory compliance and contentious matters, among others. David Stepp, who splits his time between Los Angeles and Shanghai, is also noted for customs work. On the export controls and economic sanctions front, the sizeable team draws on the experience of trade vice chair David (Dj) Wolff; high-profile trade veteran and practice founder, Jeffrey Snyder; Carlton Greene, who co-chairs the export controls and economic sanctions subgroup together with Wolff; former OFAC Chief Counsel Jason Prince, who joined the firm in 2023; and international trade co-chair Nicole Janigian Simonian, who divides her practice between Los Angeles and Shanghai. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: litigation Tier 3

Class action litigation is a core strength of Crowell & Moring LLP, with the team representing a variety of clients in class actions relating to consumer fraud, false labelling, and false advertising. David Ervin and Holly Melton co-lead the practice from Washington DC and New York, respectively. Ervin is recognized for his focus on the convergence of advertising and IP, working on advertising and brand protection, alongside trademark litigation. Melton has particular expertise in defending consumer goods and services companies in investigations and enforcement matters prompted by the FTC and other regulatory bodies. She is well versed in advertising and brand protection, as well as initiating and defending false advertising disputes initiated by the NAD. In Denver, the group benefits from the experience of Meshach Rhoades who is adept at handling class actions and commercial cases involving regulatory bodies such as the FDA, FTC, DOA, and European Union regulators. In Chicago, Jason Stiehl is another notable name for his frequent representation of the food and beverage industry and consumer product companies in class actions.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory Tier 3

Crowell & Moring LLP has a robust offering, bringing together broad regulatory and product risk expertise with advertising counseling and disputes. The firm’s advertising and brand protection practice represents clients from a range of industries including private equity, consumer products, and energy manufacturing. It is co-chaired by David Ervin, based in Washington DC, and Holly Melton, based in New York. Ervin is highly regarded for his transactional experience, while Melton is recognized for her deep regulatory knowledge. She has extensive experience defending clients in investigations and enforcement matters initiated by the FTC, state attorneys general, and other local law enforcement agencies. The team also benefits from the expertise of New York-based Preetha Chakrabarti, who covers intellectual property transactions and diligence.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 4

Primarily located in Washington DC, Crowell & Moring LLP‘s practice is adept at representing consumer product manufacturers throughout the product life cycle, handling issues ranging from risk management strategies and product safety regulatory issues through to class action litigation. Drawing on deep insight gained from her former role as General Counsel at the CPSC, the ‘fantastic’ Cheri Falvey is pivotal to the firm’s success on the product safety regulatory front (including reporting obligations), and is often involved in subsequent product liability litigation brought by the regulator and civil class actions. First-chair trial lawyers Andrew Kaplan and Daniel Campbell co-head the mass tort, product liability, and consumer litigation group; both have considerable experience in jury trials relating to alleged defects in consumer products, including those involving misleading product labeling and advertising claims.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 4

Benefiting from the firm’s global reach and experience representing international clients, Crowell & Moring LLP has a diverse International Trade Commission practice that acts for parties in multiple industries in Section 337 investigations. Based in Washington DC, the ITC and Section 337 practice is co-led by Lyle Vander Schaaf, whose practice covers a broad range of infringement disputes, including patents and trademark cases. Practice co-head Katie Clune, who specializes in patent, trademark and trade secrets litigation in addition to her work on Section 337 matters, is also a key practitioner.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 4

Crowell & Moring LLP‘s regulatory: privacy and cybersecurity team ‘is exceptional in its depth of experience‘, counselling clients on compliance with new state laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, and internationally, including with GDPR. Co-chair of the practice Evan Wolff is based in Washington DC; drawing on his ‘strong technical and legal background’, Wolff leads complex cybersecurity incident responses and advises on strategy to mitigate risk. Also in DC, co-head Jeffrey Poston is recommended as ‘practical and professional’, experienced with data breach matters and the regulatory investigations that could follow.