Robert Nichols is a partner in Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts and International Dispute Resolution groups. He represents U.S. and foreign contractors to the U.S. Government, foreign governments, and international NGOs such as the World Bank, NATO, and the United Nations. Although his practice has encompassed clients from five continents, he has particular geographic specialization in the Middle East and North Africa, where he spends considerable time.
Robert has successfully represented defense and civilian contractors in significant claims against the U.S. Government, prime contractors, and subcontractors at the Boards of Contract Appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and in arbitrations in the U.S. and overseas. He also has a wide-ranging counseling practice that includes negotiating contract terms, defending against investigations by Inspectors General and Congress, defending against suspension and debarment actions, as well as advising on legal and regulatory compliance, "battlefield contracting," foreign military sales, domestic content restrictions, cost accounting, due diligence reviews to support mergers and acquisitions, risk mitigation techniques for contractors working transnationally, and security clearance issues.
Robert serves as outside General Counsel to the international advisory firm Khalilzad Associates, with which Crowell & Moring has a strategic alliance (www.khalilzadassociates.com).
Robert is an active lecturer and author. He taught the course on international government and commercial contracts for Federal Publications Seminars for several years, and he guest lectured at the Georgetown University Law Center on international contracting issues. He also taught a transnational litigation and arbitration course to practicing attorneys in the LL.M. program at the Stetson University College of Law, both in Florida and in Grenada, Spain. He is the founder and advisory board chair of the International Government Contractor, a Thomson West publication.
Robert has held leadership roles in the American Bar Association as a chair of the International Procurement Committee of the Section of Public Contract Law and as a vice-chair of the International Procurement Committee of the Section of International Law. He is a member of the American Society of International Law and the International Peace Operations Association. His pro bono work includes being outside general counsel to the Army Engineer Association.
Robert began his career as an active-duty military officer serving as a Judge Advocate General in the Honors Program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with a part-time assignment to the White House. He then clerked for the Honorable Raymond L. Finch, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also served as a Congressional Fellow for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.
Robert obtained an LL.M. degree in international and comparative law from the Georgetown University Law Center, graduating with Distinction. He obtained a juris doctor degree from the Arizona State University College of Law, where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the Law Review and the Order of the Coif. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Finance) from Northern Arizona University, where he graduated summa cum laude and as the top graduate of his college.