Nkechi A. Kanu is a counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Crowell & Moring, where she is a member of the firm’s Government Contracts Group.
Nkechi’s practice focuses on government and internal investigations involving various regulatory matters, suspension and debarment proceedings, and False Claims Act litigation. In addition, she provides affirmative and defensive claims counseling to clients in connection with complex government contracts. Her practice also includes conducting compliance reviews, counseling on regulatory and compliance matters, and performing government contracts due diligence.
Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Nkechi was a junior associate at an AmLaw 50 firm in its Global Regulatory Enforcement group. Nkechi received her B.A. in legal studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 2009 and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2014.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, Virginia
Speeches & Presentations
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"Procurement Fraud/FCA/Investigations," OOPS 20/20 - Setting Your Sights
(October 22, 2020).
Presenters: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Preston L. Pugh, Nkechi A. Kanu, and Jared Engelking.
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"Procurement Fraud and Enforcement," Government Contracts "101" - Back to Basics Webinar
(September 24, 2020).
Presenters: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Rebecca L. Springer, Nkechi A. Kanu, and Matthew Vicinanzo.
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"Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“COVID-19 Stimulus Law”) Section 3610 — Seeking Relief When Contractor Employees Cannot Perform as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(March 30, 2020).
Presenters: Stephen J. McBrady, Skye Mathieson, Nkechi A. Kanu, and Charles Baek.
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"Procurement Fraud and Enforcement," Government Contracts "101" - Back to Basics, McLean, VA
(October 23, 2019).
Moderator: Nkechi A. Kanu; Panelists: Trina Fairley Barlow, Brian Tully McLaughlin, David B. Robbins, and Gail D. Zirkelbach.
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"Procurement Fraud, Investigations, and FCA," Crowell & Moring's Ounce of Prevention Seminar (OOPS) 2019, Washington, DC
(May 8, 2019).
Moderator: David B. Robbins; Speakers: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Jason M. Crawford, and Nkechi Kanu.
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"Mandatory Disclosures, Investigations, and the False Claims Act," Government Contracts Breakfast Series, Herndon, VA
(October 24, 2018).
Panelists: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Trina Fairley Barlow, Jason M. Crawford, Nkechi Kanu, and Sarah A. Hill.
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“Special Compliance and Ethics Considerations for Contractors,” Government Contracts "101" - Back to Basics, Washington, D.C.
(October 10, 2018).
Presenters: Trina Fairley Barlow, David Robbins, Gail D. Zirkelbach, Jana del-Cerro, and Nkechi Kanu.
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"The False Claims Act: Civil Investigative Demands and Investigations," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(September 12, 2018).
Presenters: Laura M. Kidd Cordova, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Jason M. Crawford, and Nkechi Kanu.
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"False Claims Act: Investigations, Enforcement, and Litigation Trends," OOPS 2018, Crowell & Moring's 34th Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar, Washington, D.C.
(May 17, 2018).
Presenters: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Jason M. Crawford, Mana Elihu Lombardo, and Nkechi Kanu.
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"Trends To Watch In 2018: Compliance, Transactions, False Claims Act And Small Business Investigations," Federal Publications Seminars Webinar
(March 15, 2018).
Presenters: David B. Robbins, Judy Choi, Jason M. Crawford, Charles Baek, Nkechi Kanu, and Monica DiFonzo Sterling.
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"Commercial Item Contracting and GSA Federal Supply Schedules," Government Contracts "101" - Back to Basics, Washington, D.C.
(October 26, 2017).
Presenters: Lorraine M. Campos, Adelicia R. Cliffe and Nkechi Kanu.
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"All Contracting is Local: Insight into State and Local Procurement Process," OOPS 2017, Crowell & Moring's 33rd Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar, Washington, D.C.
(May 5, 2017).
Presenters: Lorraine M. Campos, David J. Ginsberg, Nkechi Kanu.
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"What Will the New Year (and Administration) Bring for Government Contractors?" Crowell & Moring First 100 Days Webinar, Washington, D.C.
(January 25, 2017).
Presenters: Crowell & Moring Government Contracts Group.
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"Cybersecurity and Government Contracting: Regulations, Implications and Compliance," Federal Publications Seminars, Washington, D.C.
(June 2016).
Presenters: David Z. Bodenheimer, Olivia Lynch & Nkechi Kanu.
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"The Challenges of Commercial Item Contracting," OOPS 2016, Crowell & Moring's 32nd Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar, Washington, D.C.
(May 25-26, 2016).
Moderator: Lorraine M. Campos; Panelists: J. Chris Haile, Christopher Monahan, and Nkechi Kanu.
Publications
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"Just When You Thought It Was Over: Eleventh Circuit Deepens Disagreement on FCA’s Tolling Provision," Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Legal Forum
(June 8, 2018).
Authors: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu, and Sarah Hill.
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"FEATURE COMMENT: The Top FCA Developments Of 2017," The Government Contractor
(January 31, 2018).
Authors: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Jason M. Crawford, Patrick S. Brown, and Nkechi A. Kanu.
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"Feature Comment: The Top FCA Developments Of 2016 For Government Contractors," The Government Contractor
(January 11, 2017).
Co-Authors: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Jason M. Crawford, Patrick Brown, Nkechi Kanu, Mary Kate Healy, and Sarah Hill.
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"No Money, No Problem: Court Finds Certification Merely Defective on Pass-Through Claim, and Dings Severin Argument," Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Legal Forum
(May 4, 2016).
Authors: Steve McBrady, Skye Mathieson, and Nkechi Kanu.
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"New Enforcement Action Highlights Risks of Corporate Compliance Reporting," Contract Management Magazine
(September 2015).
Authors: Lorraine M. Campos, Leslie A. Monahan, and Nkechi Kanu.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"Fastest 5 Minutes: Section 889, Federal Network Security, and COVID Fraud News (August 13),"
Podcast: Fastest 5 Minutes in Government Contracts
(August 13, 2020).
Contacts: Peter Eyre, Nkechi Kanu
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"GSA Issues Class Deviation Regarding Implementation of Section 3610 of the CARES Act,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(April 28, 2020).
Contacts: Lorraine M. Campos, Adelicia R. Cliffe, Nkechi Kanu
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"DoD Issues Class Deviation Regarding Implementation of Section 3610 of the CARES Act,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(April 10, 2020).
Contacts: Nicole Owren-Wiest, J. Chris Haile, Stephen J. McBrady, Nkechi Kanu, Skye Mathieson, Charles Baek
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"The DoD Issues Memo Regarding Section 3610 of the CARES Act; Implementing Guidance to Follow,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(March 31, 2020).
Contacts: Stephen J. McBrady, Michelle D. Coleman, Nkechi Kanu, Skye Mathieson, Charles Baek, John Nakoneczny
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"Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) Section 3610 — Billing and Contractual Relief for Government Contractors When Employees Cannot Work due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(March 27, 2020).
Contacts: Peter Eyre, J. Chris Haile, Stephen J. McBrady, Michelle D. Coleman, Nkechi Kanu, Skye Mathieson, Charles Baek
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"The Top FCA Developments of 2019,"
GSA Schedule Bullet Points
(January 30, 2020).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu, Payal Nanavati
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"11th Circuit Issues Long-Awaited Opinion in AseraCare Affirming that Mere Differences in Reasonable Clinical Judgement Cannot Be False Under the FCA and Remanding for New Trial and Consideration of Full Record,"
Health Care Alert
(September 13, 2019).
Contacts: Jacinta Alves, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu, Roma Sharma, G. Meredith Parnell
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"A New Frontier: ASBCA Issues First Ever CPAR Decision on the Merits,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(June 24, 2019).
Contacts: Stephen J. McBrady, Skye Mathieson, Nkechi Kanu, Michelle D. Coleman
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"DOJ Centralizes Guidance on "The Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs","
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(May 7, 2019).
Contacts: Thomas A. Hanusik, Derek A. Hahn, Tiffany Wynn, Lorraine M. Campos, Jacinta Alves, Gail D. Zirkelbach, Paul Freeman, Nkechi Kanu, Payal Nanavati
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"Let’s Talk FCA: Civil Investigative Demands (February 2019),"
Podcast: Let's Talk FCA
(February 15, 2019).
Contacts: Mana Elihu Lombardo, Nkechi Kanu
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"SOL for Whom? Supreme Court Agrees To Review Deepening Disagreement on FCA’s Statute of Limitations Tolling Provision,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(November 26, 2018).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu
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"FY 2019 NDAA,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(August 15, 2018).
Contacts: Peter Eyre, J. Chris Haile, Anuj Vohra, Nkechi Kanu, Monica DiFonzo Sterling, Laura J. Mitchell Baker, Payal Nanavati
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"Not Better Late Than Never: Timing Requirement is Material to Payment,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(June 15, 2018).
Contacts: Gail D. Zirkelbach, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu
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"Just When You Thought It Was Over: Eleventh Circuit Deepens Disagreement on FCA's Tolling Provision,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(June 13, 2018).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu
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"The Top FCA Developments Of 2017,"
False Claims Bullet Points
(February 2, 2018).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu
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"Standardizing Federal PII Breach Response: OMB Updates Guidance for Agencies, Contractors, and Grant Recipients,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(January 11, 2017).
Contacts: Kate M. Growley, CIPP/G, CIPP/US, Nkechi Kanu
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"Privacy for Everyone! New FAR Rule Imposes Mandatory Training Requirements for Employees Handling PII,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(December 28, 2016).
Contacts: Gail D. Zirkelbach, Peter Eyre, Evan D. Wolff, Maida Oringher Lerner, Kate M. Growley, CIPP/G, CIPP/US, Nkechi Kanu
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"OGE Issues Final Rule on Gifts,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(November 22, 2016).
Contacts: Lorraine M. Campos, Gail D. Zirkelbach, Nkechi Kanu
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"“Good” Enough: Court Finds Certification Merely Defective on Pass-Through Claim,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(May 4, 2016).
Contacts: Stephen J. McBrady, Skye Mathieson, Nkechi Kanu
Media Mentions
Firm News & Announcements