Government Contracts Section: 2025 GovCon Section Leadership Showcase

About this Event

Join us on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, for the “2025 GovCon Section Leadership Showcase” with a mixed audience of GovCon lawyers and specially invited Government Contractors, featuring a half-day program of critical presentations from the GovCon Section Committee Chairs.  The Committee Chair presentations will be followed by a networking reception. The Section extends its thanks to The Watergate Hotel for hosting our GovCon Section Committee Showcase and Reception.

Presented by the FBA Government Contracts Section

WHERE GOVCON LAWYERS & GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS CONNECT

Registration has closed. 

Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Program: 1:00 – 5:00 pm ET
Reception: 5:00 – 6:30 pm ET

Venue:
The Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20037

More Information

We are excited to hold this in-person event for Section members in order to provide an additional opportunity for our members to enjoy two of the best benefits of being a Section member—networking with colleagues old and new and engaging in informative discussion of significant legal developments. We offer this opportunity to Government contractors in order hear GovCon lawyers address your specific concerns in the present environment as well as network with them at the closing reception.

The Committee Chairs, who are most knowledgeable in their specific Government Contract fields, will be panelists on all three workshops and will discuss how the new Administration initiatives impacts such GovCon arenas as  contract terminations, bid protests, claims and disputes resolution, construction law, suspensions and debarments, tax considerations,  small business and other socioeconomic programs compliance, Federal grants,  strategic alliances, sanctions and export controls, international procurement, labor and employment, and cybersecurity enforcement. In addition to the workshops, all attendees are invited to reconnect with old friends, and to make new connections at the Showcase Reception immediately following the panels.

Registration

Registration has closed. 

Registration Fees

FBA Members: $125
Nonmembers: $175

Cancellation Policy
A $75 charge will be assessed for any cancellation request received, in writing, by Noon ET on October 21, 2025; thereafter, no refunds will be issued. Substitution requests may be accepted upon notification by Noon ET on October 27, 2025. Please contact sections@fedbar.org with cancellation and/or substitution requests.

Presenters

• Christopher Chaisson, Chair, Sanctions & Export Controls Committee; Partner, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, Washington, DC
• Daniel Schoeni, Chair, International Procurement Committee; Professor, University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, OH
• David Timm, Chair, Bid Protest Committee; Senior Associate, Burr & Forman LLP, Washington, DC
• Gabriel V. “Vince” Tese, Secretary/Treasurer, FBA Government Contracts Section; Partner, Spector Gadon Rosen Vinci, PC, Philadelphia, PA
• John McMurray, Chair, Membership, Marketing & Promotion Committee; Lecturer, John Carroll University, Cleveland, OH
• Kara Sacilotto, Chair, Suspensions and Debarments Committee; Partner, Wiley, Washington, DC
• Kendra Perkins Norwood, Chair, Claims and Disputes Resolution Committee; Partner, Fluet, Washinton, DC
• Lisa Brauner, Chair, Employment & Labor Committee; Partner, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, New York, NY
• Nicole Bacon, Vice-Chair, Federal Grants Committee; Managing Attorney, Bacon PLLC, Washington, DC
• Ralph C. Thomas III, Chair, FBA Government Contracts Section; Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, Washington, DC
• Robb Wong, Chair, Small Business & Other Socioeconomic Programs Committee; FedSolve, LLC, McLean, VA
• Robert T. “Robby” Dube Jr., Vice Chair, FBA Government Contracts Section; Partner, Eckland & Blando LLP, Minneapolis, MN
• Y. Lisa Colon, Chair, Construction Law Committee; Partner, Saul & Ewing, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Agenda

Welcome & Introductions | 1:00 pm – 1:15 pm

The Impact of the FAR Overhaul and Executive Orders on Bid Protest Procedure, Traditional Small Business and Other Socioeconomic Programs, Construction and the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recent Interim DBE Rule – 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

In fiscal year 2024, the federal government spent about $755 billion dollars on goods and services through the contracting process. This panel will discuss the pros and cons on whether Congress should adopt a “loser pays” approach, or if this is just a solution looking for a problem. Regarding construction, there have been questions with regard to the legal status of Project Labor Agreements (PLA) in Federal Construction Contracts. Are they in or are they out? What is the impact of anticipated tariffs on the construction industry? The panelists will discuss the impact of the Administration’s recent interim DBE Rule on DOT contractors and subcontractors and how contractors should be reacting. As far as the impact of new Administration policies on Small Business and Other Socioeconomic Programs, there has been talk of the elimination of the small business “Rule of Two”, and a decrease in the emphasis of government utilization of businesses from underserved communities. Is this true? Or are there any bright lights for small businesses in the near future?

Networking Break | 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm

Prospective Outlook on Federal Construction, Employment & Labor Law, Federal Grants, and Strategic Alliances | 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

With regard to employment and labor law, the panel will discuss the latest legal developments and changing legal landscape at the US DOL, OFCCP, and the EEOC, as well as how federal contractors can navigate these changes, among other issues. There will also be discussion on the outlook for Federal Grants and what new grant vehicles will look like and how grant recipients should be preparing themselves for the future. Should grant terminations be challenged. What about contract terminations? How should contractors respond? What should contractors be doing during the shutdown in preparation of filing claims and recovering costs? In addition, what should contractors know about how the FAR overhaul has affected or will affect the claims and disputes resolution process?

Networking Break |3:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Latest Developments in International Procurement, Sanctions & Export Controls, Cybersecurity & Enforcement, Suspensions and Debarments | 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm

What is the current state of international procurement? Are there any common themes in public procurement in other countries that are common denominators that government contractors should be aware of? Meanwhile, have you ever wondered what happens when companies ignore red flags, bypass legal advice, and underestimate the reach of U.S. export laws? This panel will focus on how companies must navigate complex trade and sanctions landscapes, highlighting the steep costs of compliance failures. In addition, the Administration’s recent cybersecurity executive order seems to signal a strategy shift in federal cybersecurity that might be described as narrower in scope with an emphasis on decentralization and a streamlined compliance framework for federal agencies and defense contractors. And what about the procedures for suspensions and debarments? Are those regulations impacted by the FAR overhaul? And what should we know about the FAR overhaul in general?

Closing Remarks | 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm

Networking Reception | 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Thank You to Our Sponsors!