Rogers Joseph O’Donnell > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile

Rogers Joseph O’Donnell > Firm Profile

Firm overview: RJO represents clients on their most difficult legal problems in nine specialized areas of practice. Founded in 1981, this litigation-focused firm provides effective representation while utilizing technological assistance to handle proceedings of any size in state and federal courts both at trial and on appeal and in ADR of the most sophisticated disputes.

Main areas of practice
Government contracts:  RJO is nationally recognized as one of the leading government contracts firms, working from its offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The firm represents many of the major national government contractors, as well as local and regional companies, in their federal, state and local contracts. RJO works on all government contract issues, including contract disputes with the government, disputes between prime and subcontractors, cybersecurity and supply chain issues, teaming agreements, due diligence in acquisitions and mergers, bid protests, terminations, qui tam and other False Claims Act cases, Cost Accounting Standards and Multiple Award Schedule contracts.
Key clients: Microsoft, CGI Federal; Siemens Government Technologies; McKesson; Leonardo DRS Technologies; Blackboard; Raytheon; Infosys.

Construction: RJO has the experience to assist clients in resolving the most complex construction problems through a unique and comprehensive mix of expertise in both public entity and private construction. The firm represents general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, construction managers, suppliers, owners, sureties and construction lenders. The firm has extensive expertise in legal issues related to all types of construction projects, including contract negotiation, protests of contract award, insurance, extra work and delay claims, liens, false claims, stop payment notices, surety and employment disputes, terminations and warranties.
Key clients: Kiewit; ACCO Engineered Systems; TY Lin International; Watts Constructors, Obayashi; Alstom; Bombardier, ATVL Test Systems; RailWorks; Keller.

Attorney liability and conduct: RJO’s attorney liability and conduct practice group represents lawyers and law firms in litigation matters including legal malpractice, fee disputes, disqualification, sanctions and State Bar disciplinary matters. It also provides advice and counseling in the areas of ethical compliance and law practice management. The firm has significant experience representing large and small law firms and corporate legal departments, and is regularly called upon to provide strategic direction and risk management advice.

Complex commercial litigation: RJO represents companies and individuals in complex litigation in a wide variety of industries, including disputes involving complex commercial contracts, copyright and trade secrets, federal and state antitrust laws, unfair competition and false advertising statutes, securities and other business fraud claims, consumer class actions against retailers and other business entities, minority squeeze-out claims and insurance coverage.

Labor and employment: RJO provides advice and counseling to private and government contractor employers and has extensive litigation experience representing employers in individual and class action labor and employment disputes, including jury and bench trials, appeals, administrative hearings, mediations and arbitrations. The firm has defended wage and hour claims under federal and state law, discrimination and harassment claims based on a variety of different protected categories including age, race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion and disability and whistleblower claims including those arising under the State and Federal False Claims Acts.
Key clients: Houston Casualty Co.; Elk Grove Unified School Dist.; Workers Compensation Ins. Rating Bureau; franchises branded as Burger King, Jack In The Box, Denny’s, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Roundtable Pizza, Buffalo Wild Wings, Black Bear Diner, and Taco Bell.

Environmental law: RJO represents energy companies, manufacturers, developers, property owners and individuals in disputes and litigation with federal, state and local environmental regulators and in private party cost recovery cases arising under state and federal environmental laws. The firm’s practice is focused on the States of California and Washington. Lawyers in the firm have prosecuted and defended cases under all of the major federal statutes and California and Washington’s state law counterparts. These lawyers have particular expertise in litigation arising under CERLA (the “Superfund” law), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, California’s Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and Proposition 65, and Washington’s Model Toxics Control Act (“MTCA”).
Key clients: Chevron USA; The Dutra Group; Williams-Sonoma.

Retail trade regulation: RJO represents national and regional retail chains, suppliers and manufacturers in disputes with state, federal and local regulatory agencies, public prosecutors and private public interest groups. RJO has expertise defending companies in consumer class actions, litigation and compliance needs arising under the CA Hazardous Waste laws, the Food Drug & Cosmetics Act (“FDCA”), Consumer Legal Remedies Act, (“CLRA”) Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”), False Advertising Law (“FAL”), CA Proposition 65, ADA/Unruh Act Web Access, and the CA Organic Products Act (“COPA”). RJO attorneys regularly provide compliance advice on sales and e-commerce operations to national and international companies.
Key clients: Costco Wholesale Corp.; Walgreens Boots Alliance; Wayfair; Party City.

Cybersecurity and privacy: RJO attorneys focus on complex laws, regulations, proposed legislation, and industry initiatives to offer our clients a global perspective on ever-evolving information privacy and security practices and work closely with clients to develop practical and scalable solutions that appropriately minimize risk. RJO attorneys represent clients in the areas of general privacy and security counseling, regulatory and legal compliance, end-user policies and data transfer agreements, breach and incident response strategies. RJO attorneys are widely recognized for thought leadership and advanced expertise in cyber and supply chain security practices affecting defense and other public sector customers.
Key clients: Microsoft, Electric Power Research Institute; ManTech; The MITRE Corporation; Raytheon.

White-collar criminal defense: RJO represents individuals and companies in investigations and prosecutions by federal and state prosecutors and regulators. Led by former federal prosecutors with decades of experience and impressive trial records, who served in leadership at the U.S. Department of Justice, RJO has experience in defending antitrust, securities, environmental, health care, FDA, export control, banking, FCPA, money laundering, government contract and procurement fraud, RICO, tax frauds and customs. RJO also has extensive experience in the defense of SEC civil enforcement actions and investigations, and asset forfeiture.