Tara is recognized as a top government contracts lawyer across notable publications, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Law360 and Super Lawyers. She is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington Law School, the only law school with a nationally recognized Government Procurement Law LLM program. She also serves as editor-in-chief for Public Contract Law Journal. Tara received her AB (magna cum laude) from Princeton University and her JD (with honors) from The George Washington University Law School.

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• Counsels clients through the life cycle of contract award and any related protests, including assistance navigating debriefing requirements, analysis of potential protest grounds and available forums and related matters*

Contract Claims and Disputes

• Assists clients in analyzing, preparing, submitting, and negotiating requests for equitable adjustment and certified claims related to issues arising in contract performance*
• Represents government contractors in a wide variety of disputes with the government, including claims, terminations, cost disallowances and contracting officer final decisions before the Boards of Contract Appeals and the COFC*

Regulatory and Compliance Counseling

• Advises clients on OCI identification, avoidance and mitigation, with particular attention to the types of activities and contract work that can give rise to a biased ground rules OCI, impaired objectivity and unequal access to information*
• Counsels clients on domestic preference requirements and country of origin issues under the Buy American Act (BAA), the Trade Agreements Act (TAA), the Berry Amendment and others*
• Advises clients on supply chain issues, data rights and cybersecurity, including compliance with Section 889*
• Counsels clients on issues related to the government’s acquisition of commercial products and services as well as issues related to GSA Schedule contracts, including commercial sales practices (CSP) disclosures, compliance with the Price Reductions Clause (PRC), audits, Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) and other Schedule contracting issues*
• Advises clients regarding cost allowability issues and compliance issues, including submission of certified cost or pricing data under the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data Act (previously Truth in Negotiation Act, or TINA), allowability of costs incurred under FAR Part 31, the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) audits and business system audits*

Teaming Arrangements and Other Strategic Alliances, Including for Small and Emerging Businesses

• Assists clients in crafting, negotiating, and, if necessary, litigating a wide variety of business agreements, including teaming agreements, subcontracts and nondisclosure agreements*
• Conducted a multi-week trial and won all 13 counts for a government contractor in litigation over teaming agreement, employee noncompetes, and theft of trade secrets. Futrend Technology, Inc. v. MicroHealth LLC, 2020 WL 4982524 (Va. Cir. Ct.) *
• Assists companies entering or considering entering the federal marketplace with a wide variety of government contract issues, including training and counseling on standard contract clause requirements, development and implementation of compliance programs and regulation and oversight of the supply chain*
• Counsels clients on small business subcontracting and socioeconomic obligations, including as part of strategic planning for corporate reorganizations, mergers, and acquisitions*

Construction Contract Counseling and Disputes

• Represents construction contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, design professionals, and insurers in construction disputes before the Boards of Contract Appeals, in federal court and in arbitrations*
• Counsels and helps contractors navigate construction-specific rules and regulations, including analysis of legal risk related to multiphase design-build projects*
• Represented a construction contractor and subcontractor in a three-week hearing at the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) related to expansion of a medical center, including, among other issues, excusable and compensable delay, constructive changes and Eichleay damages*
• Represented a large construction contractor in a six-week hearing at the CBCA regarding issues arising under a significant US embassy project, including differing site conditions; delay; including Critical Pat Method (CPM) analysis; superior knowledge; and changed conditions*
• Negotiated a favorable settlement for an Indonesian construction company in an arbitration related to a USAID contract for the design and reconstruction of a road following an earthquake and tsunami*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.

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• Legal 500 US, Government Contracts, 2019 to 2021, 2023-2024
• Super Lawyers, “Rising Star”, Government Contracts, 2015 to 2020
• SmartCEO, Washington Power Player Finalist, 2014

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