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McDermott Will & Schulte

McDermott Will & Schulte

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United States • Government

3

Government contracts

The ‘innovative lawyers willing to go the extra mile’ at the McDermott Will & Schulte government contracts practice advise clients across the full lifecycle of public sector contracting, from regulatory compliance and contract negotiations to complex bid protests and high-stakes claims disputes. The Washington DC-based team is especially well known for its strength in cybersecurity compliance, cost disputes and bid protest litigation. The practice is co-led by Daniel Graham and Tara Ward. Graham represents technology, healthcare and defence clients in bid protests, disputes and commercial litigation matters, while Ward brings complementary experience in transactional agreements, regulatory frameworks and supply chain compliance. Darshak Dholakia joined the firm in 2025, from Dechert.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The Government Contracts team is great to work with. Very knowledgeable, practical and responsive.’

  • ‘Dan Graham and Llewelyn Engel are an amazing team. They are both extremely responsive and helpful. They provide sound legal and business advice and are always willing to help.’

  • ‘Smart and innovative lawyers willing to go the extra mile.’

  • ‘Each attorney specialises in a unique area and they are able to work well as a team.’

  • ‘Breadth of experience in varied aspects of government contracts and responsiveness to time sensitive needs with exceptional work product.’

  • ‘Responsiveness to time sensitive needs with exceptional work product. In particular, Daniel Graham has exemplified these qualities.’

Key clients

  • AirBoss Defence Group LLC
  • BDO USA LLP
  • CLogic Defense
  • Empower AI Inc
  • GuideWell Source
  • Maersk Logistics & Services USA Inc
  • ManTech International
  • Maxar Technologies
  • MicroHealth LLC
  • Noridian Healthcare Solutions
  • Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Perimeter Security Partners LP

Work highlights

Successfully represented AirBoss Defense Group LLC in an extensive bid protest before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims involving an HHS and ASPR procurement. After 18 months of litigation, secured key rulings that reinstated AirBoss into the competition and resulted in an award covering a significant portion of ASPR’s PPE requirements.
Advised Empower AI Inc on multiple GAO bid protests challenging a $108 million CMS award for the Medicaid Payment Error Rate Measurement Review program. The protests preserved Empower AI’s incumbent position and led CMS to cancel the procurement following repeated corrective actions.

 
Advise BDO USA and its public sector subsidiaries on federal, state, and local government contracting matters, including bid protests, negotiations and compliance issues such as DoD CMMC requirements. Also advised on BDO USA’s acquisition of Horne LLP and its merger into BDO Government Services, supporting complex public sector growth and high-stakes procurement and compliance matters.
Practice head

Daniel Graham; Tara Ward

Other key lawyers

Darshak Dholakia; Llewelyn Engel