Michelle D. Coleman is an associate in the Government Contracts Group in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office. Michelle advises clients from diverse industries in connection with contract disputes and other government contract matters, including Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims and requests for equitable adjustments, fiscal law questions, prime-sub disputes, and bid protests.
Prior to working at Crowell & Moring, Michelle served as an attorney in the Air Force’s Acquisition Law and Litigation Directorate, where she provided acquisition and litigation risk advice on procurements valued over $14 billion on major Air Force procurements. She also served as a trial attorney in the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Law and Litigation Directorate. As a trial attorney, Michelle litigated complex contract disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) and bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO). As an Air Force litigator, Michelle litigated a broad range of issues before the ASBCA, including: organizational conflicts of interest; small business issues; price realism analysis; past performance; NAICS code issues; technical acceptability; nonmanufacturing rule, brand name, or equal issues; construction claims; commercial items; terminations; assignment of claims; reprocurement; limitation of funds; release; differing site conditions; setoffs/withholding; and evidentiary issues.
Before her Air Force career, Michelle was employed by a defense contractor, where she gained valuable government contract experience in her roles as a business analyst and a subcontracts administrator. Michelle’s government and contractor experience gives her the unique ability to take both parties’ perspectives into consideration when providing advice on government contract issues.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: Virginia, U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Michelle is admitted in Virginia only, practicing under the supervision of D.C. Bar members.
Professional Memberships
- Board of Directors, Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association (2018-2019)
- Program Chair, ABA Introduction to Government Contracts Course (September 6-7, 2017 and September 17-18, 2018)
- Co-Chair, 2018 ABA Federal Procurement Institute (FPI) (March 14-17, 2018)
- Co-Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Federal, State, and Local Government Attorneys Committee (August 2016 – 2018)
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Young Lawyers Committee (August 2015 – August 2017)
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Contract Claims and Dispute Resolution Committee (August 2016 – 2018)
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Bid Protest Committee (August 2016 – July 2017)
- ABA Strategic Alliances, Teaming and Subcontracting Committee Co-Author, Guide to Fixed-Price Supply Subcontract Terms and Conditions (5th Edition)
Speeches & Presentations
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"Changes, Claims and Terminations," Government Contracts "101" - Back to Basics, Washington, D.C.
(October 10, 2018).
Presenters: Steve McBrady, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Monica Sterling, and Michelle Coleman.
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"Key BCA Decisions: The Year in Review," Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association (BCABA) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
(October 9, 2018).
Moderator: Skye Mathieson; Presenter: Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Contract Changes, REAs/Claims, and Terminations," Client Training, Chantilly, VA
(September 13, 2018).
Presenters: Brian McLaughlin, Skye Mathieson, and Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Litigating the Federal Construction Case," ABA Section of Public Contract Law Annual Meeting
(August 3, 2018).
Moderator: Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Claims and Affirmative Recovery: Keeping the Customer Happy While Watching the Bottom Line," OOPS 2018, Crowell & Moring's 34th Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar, Washington, D.C.
(May 17, 2018).
Presenters: Stephen J. McBrady, Skye Mathieson, Monica DiFonzo Sterling, Sharmistha Das, and Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Government Contract Claims 101," ABA Contract Claims and Disputes Resolution Committee
(February 14, 2018).
Moderator: Skye Mathieson and Presenter: Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Key BCA Decisions: The Year in Review," Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association (BCABA) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
(October 25, 2017).
Moderator: Skye Mathieson and Presenter: Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Alternative Dispute Resolution – Mock Mediation Program," ABA Section of Public Contract Law Contract, Claims, and Disputes Resolution Committee Meeting
(May 10, 2017).
Presenter: Michelle D. Coleman.
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"In With the New and Out with the Old: Construction Contracting Under the Trump Administration," ABA Federal Procurement Institute
(March 16, 2017).
Presenter: Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Agency Counsel Perspectives," ABA Section of Public Contract Law Bid Protest Committee
(January 17, 2017).
Presenter: Michelle D. Coleman.
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"Key BCA Decisions: The Year in Review," Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association (BCABA) Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
(October 19, 2016).
Moderator: Skye Mathieson and Presenter: Michelle D. Coleman.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"DoD Publishes New Other Transactions Guidance,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(December 7, 2018).
Contacts: John E. McCarthy Jr., Jonathan M. Baker, Michelle D. Coleman, Stephanie L. Crawford
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"ASBCA's FY18 Report – a Look at the Numbers,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(October 18, 2018).
Contacts: Stephen J. McBrady, Skye Mathieson, Michelle D. Coleman, Sharmistha Das, Charles Baek
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"Cost Disallowance Claim Accrued When the Government Paid Invoices,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(September 11, 2018).
Contacts: Stephen J. McBrady, Nicole Owren-Wiest, Skye Mathieson, Michelle D. Coleman, Charles Baek