The Basics of Contracting with the Federal Government (Online Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming video replay from the April 2018 webcast, The Basics of Contracting with the Federal Government.

Many of your clients, large and small, do business with the federal government, as hundreds of billions of contract dollars are awarded to companies for a broad range of services and products each year.

But, the federal government is not your average commercial customer. For those new to the government contracting business, there are many statutes and regulations that will impact their day-to-day business operations. Many contract terms that usually are determined by the mutual consent of the parties to a contract, as well as additional obligations and requirements, are mandated upon a government contractor by the Federal Acquisition Regulations and agency supplements to the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

This course will discuss the most commonly applicable statutes and regulations and identify potential pitfalls for a client seeking to do business with the government.

Topics to be covered include:

• How to read a government contract and understand flowdowns
• DCAA, DCMA, and accounting requirements
• AAP, EEO, VETS, and other fun employment policies (and acronyms)
• What do you mean, the government has rights in my IP?

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

James K. Cowan, Jr., CowanPerry PC / Blacksburg

Jim Cowan is the chairman of CowanPerry PC. His practice focuses on representing management in the full spectrum of labor and employment-related issues confronted by employers in today’s workplace, handling complex business litigation matters and representing property owners and developers on land use issues, and commercial real estate projects. He represents a wide range of employers, business owners, and developers in the region, ranging from high-tech start-ups to large manufacturers, and from local property owners to national developers.

Mr. Cowan has over twenty years of trial experience representing employers in non-compete litigation, myriad types of business and partnership disputes, and the waterfront of employment-related litigation, including employee benefits and ERISA claims.

Over the course of his career, he has represented companies in federal and state courts across Virginia in commercial litigation and in the defense of wrongful discharge claims, including disability, age, family medical leave, sexual harassment, race, and gender under the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Family Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981; and before the Virginia Supreme Court on appellate matters. Jim also represents employers before the NLRB, the EEOC, and the Virginia Employment Commission. Additionally, he specializes in the preparation of affirmative action plans and responding to OFCCP and other Department of Labor audits.

Mr. Cowan serves as general counsel to the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, and is a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the New River Valley Society for Human Resource Management and New River Land Trust. He is a frequent speaker and corporate trainer, and an active member of the Virginia State Bar—Labor and Employment Section. He has been recognized repeatedly over ten years by “The Best Lawyers in America” (since 2006 to present); and as a Virginia “Super Lawyer” (Rising Star 2007–2009, and since 2010 to present). Additionally, he has been named to Virginia Business magazine’s “Legal Elite.”

Amy P. Wheeler, CowanPerry PC / Blacksburg

Amy Wheeler focuses her practice in the areas of corporate and business law, intellectual property law, and commercial real estate transactions, and provides outside general counsel services to numerous clients. For over fifteen years, she has advised closely held entities on transactions as well as daily operations. Ms. Wheeler also has experience with healthcare regulatory compliance, government contracting, ITAR, and export control regulations.

In her corporate and business practice, Ms. Wheeler advises businesses in all types of transactions, including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, reorganizations, joint ventures, technology licensing, development collaborations, and supply and distribution relationships. She also assists with strategic decision making and formulating business and intellectual property strategies. Additionally, Ms. Wheeler is involved with resolving day-to-day legal issues for clients, and provides advice and oversees compliance-related matters.

In her real estate practice, Ms. Wheeler represents purchasers, developers, joint venture partners, and owners in negotiation and documentation of commercial lending and real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, construction loans, permanent financings, and senior credit facilities. She also works regularly with lessors and lessees in commercial leasing transactions.

Ms. Wheeler is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Bar of Tennessee, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Montgomery Radford Bar Association, the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council, and Women in Leadership (a New River Valley–based group that helps develop and support local executive and entrepreneurial women).