Wiley Rein Named Government Contracts ‘Practice Group of the Year’ by Law360 for Fourth Consecutive Year

January 26, 2018

Washington, DC — Wiley Rein’s prominent Government Contracts Practice has been named a 2017 “Practice Group of the Year” by Law360 in one of the publication’s hallmark annual awards. Selected for the honor for four years running, Wiley Rein earned a spot on the prestigious list with the successful culmination of several novel and complex matters.

“We were asked by our clients to solve some of the most unique cases that we have ever seen,” said practice co-chair Scott M. McCaleb. “They were huge cases, they were bet-the-company cases, and in each instance we were able to provide our clients with the result that they wanted.”

The publication noted that in the AECOM National Security Programs case, Wiley Rein secured the dismissal of a $69 million suit against the engineering titan after the Government invoked the state secret privilege, arguing that if AECOM had to litigate the case, it might be put in the position to disclose information related to an allegedly classified program.

Wiley Rein jointly represented Dow and Boeing-owned Rockwell Automation in another distinctive case, which involved a decades-old legal battle surrounding a class action suit by Colorado residents who allegedly were exposed to harmful nuclear material at a nearby weapons plant. After a $375 million settlement was reached, Wiley Rein was brought in to enforce the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) legal obligation to pay the cost.

Partner Jon W. Burd – who worked on the case – said that while the DOE was not part of the underlying settlement with the class, “we engaged them in the overarching process and were able to put our clients into a position where they were able to settle with the class with the assurance that they were able to get the indemnification they needed from the government.”

The firm’s other achievements included a win on behalf of General Dynamics Technology in a putative class action lawsuit alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act; an outstanding year successfully prosecuting and defending bid protests for clients at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims; and representing a Swiss food service company in a series of claims before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals regarding contracts to provide food, water, and other supplies to American troops in Afghanistan.

“We’re on the short list of firms” that clients rely on “when there’s a problem that doesn’t look like it’s got an easy solution,” said practice co-chair Paul F. Khoury.

Wiley Rein’s Government Contracts Practice was selected by a panel of Law360 editors, “with an eye toward landmark matters and general excellence.” The publication recognized 80 law firms across 35 practice areas, which were culled from 747 submissions. Wiley Rein was one of just five firms selected in Government Contracts this year.  In addition to Government Contracts, the firm received a “Group of the Year” honor for its International Trade Practice.

To read the Law360 story, please click here.