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Kara L. Daniels chairs the firm's Government Contracts & National Security practice. She represents companies doing business with federal and state governments in bid protests, contract disputes and claims, investigations of alleged misconduct and fraud, as well as counsels such clients on diverse government contracts compliance issues.

She has extensive bid protest experience involving federal civilian and defense agencies (including classified contract matters) in cases before the Government Accountability Office, the FAA's Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She represents contractors in the various industries, including healthcare, aerospace and defense, information technology, professional services, energy, and construction. She has defended and challenged CICA-stay override and corrective action decisions.

Kara's contract disputes and claims matters with federal and municipal governments have involved out-of-scope or changed work, improper terminations, wrongful determination of noncompliance with Cost Accounting Standards, improper use of proprietary information, and challenges to data rights assertions. She also litigates commercial disputes for government contractors, including contractual, intellectual property, and other business-related matters. Kara practices in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Federal Circuits, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, the District of Columbia Contract Appeals Board, and other federal district and state courts.

Kara manages internal investigations for contractors and routinely counsels clients regarding compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and agency supplements, Federal Supply Schedule specific contract clauses, and applicable statutes including the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Procurement Integrity Act, and the Trade Agreements Act. She also counsels clients on: contractual flow-down requirements and best practices, intellectual property rights protections, prime and subcontractor relations, and cost and pricing compliance matters. She drafts and performs legal reviews on transactional products, such as teaming agreements, distribution agreements, nondisclosure agreements, subcontracts, and purchase orders.

Experience

  • IAP Worldwide Services Inc. v. United States, 159 Fed. Cl. 265, 160 Fed. Cl. 57 (2022).
  • Blue Origin Federation v. United States and Space Exploration Technologies Corp., 157 Fed. Cl. 74 (2021). 
  • People, Technologies & Processes LLC v. United States, 151 Fed. Cl. 713 (2020).
  • WellPoint Military Care Corp. v. Unites States, 144 Fed. Cl. 392 and 145 Fed. Cl. 349 (2019).   
  • Space Exploration Technologies Corp. v. United States, 144 Fed. Cl. 433 (2019).
  • Oracle Am. Inc. v. United States, 144 Fed. Cl. 88 (2019). 
  • Centerra Group LLC v. United States, __ Fed. Cl. ___, 2018 WL 2731235 (June 7, 2018).
  • Inspace 21 LLC v. United States, 128 Fed. Cl. 69 (2016).
  • Raytheon Co. v. United States, 121 Fed. Cl. 135 (2015).
  • Amazon Web Servs. Inc. v. United States, 113 Fed. Cl. 102 (2013).
  • Systems Application & Technologies Inc. v. United States, 619 F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2012).
  • Mission Essential Personnel LLC v. United States, 104 Fed. Cl. 170 (2012).
  • Systems Application & Technologies Inc. v. United States, 100 Fed. Cl. 687 (2011).

Recognition

The Legal 500 U.S.
"Leading Lawyer" Government Contracts (2023-2024)
Government Contracts (2015-2022)
Chambers USA
Government Contracts (Nationwide) (2015-2024)
"Spotlight Table" Government Contracts: Bid Protests (2023-2024)
Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers
Government Contracts (2018-2020, 2022)
More

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 1998, with honors
  • B.A., Haverford College, 1995

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Clerkships

  • Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, The Honorable Ellen Hollander

Activities

  • Member, Law360's Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board (2021)
  • American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section: Member, Contract Claims and Disputes Resolution; Member, Bid Protest Committee; Member, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection; Member, Procurement Fraud; and Vice Chair, Intellectual Property

  • National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): Member, Procurement Division Legal Committee

Overview