Profile
Ben counsels and represents government contractors and subcontractors on a broad range of federal, state, and local legal issues, including bid protests, contract claims and disputes, compliance issues, and investigations. Ben also has client experience involving the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Procurement Integrity Act (PIA), and the Service Contract Act (SCA).
Experience
Representative Matters
- Regularly litigates bid protests at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC).
- Represents clients in disputes with state and local government agencies, including bid protests before the D.C. Contract Appeals Board.
- Supported the investigation of a claim of fraud regarding a client’s performance of a federal contract.
- Assists clients in preparing and responding to FOIA requests relating to contracts and procurements.
- Supported the investigation of a potential PIA violation and advised client on disclosure to the agency.
- Advises federal contractors in U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) audits of SCA compliance.
- Represented a client in a dispute with two agencies relating to SCA wages and fringe benefits before the DOL Administrator and DOL Administrative Review Board.
Professional Experience
- Law Clerk (2020-2021), Summer Law Clerk (2019), United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals
- Law Clerk, Private law firm (2019-2020)
- Suspension & Debarment Division Intern, General Services Administration, Office of Acquisition Policy (2019)
- Acquisition and Procurement Law Legal Intern, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of the General Counsel (2018)
Affiliations
- American Bar Association (ABA), Section of Public Contract Law
Credentials
Education
J.D., The George Washington University Law School
B.A., University of Maryland
Law Journals
Associate Editor, Public Contract Law Journal
Bar and Court Memberships
- District of Columbia Bar
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Related News & Insights
- AlertNinth Circuit Panel Rejects EO 14026 Contractor Minimum WageCraig Smith, W. Benjamin Phillips, IIINovember 8, 2024
- AlertHouse Foreign Affairs Committee’s TIGER Task Force Releases Report on Recommendations to Improve the FMS ProcessW. Benjamin Phillips, IIIFebruary 29, 2024
- AlertFAR Council Publishes Proposed Rule Setting New Requirements for Pay Equity and TransparencyCraig Smith, W. Benjamin Phillips, IIIFebruary 6, 2024
- ArticleU.S. Department of Labor’s Davis-Bacon Act Overhaul Brings Significant Changes to Federal Construction ContractingPratt's Government Contracting Law ReportCraig Smith, W. Benjamin Phillips, IIIDecember 19, 2023