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 False Claims Act investigations and litigation. Nkechi has significant experience assisting companies with complex internal investigations and represents clients in government investigations involving allegations of fraud. She also focuses on assisting clients with investigations relating to cybersecurity and information security compliance. Her complementary litigation practice involves defending companies in government-facing litigation arising under the FCA, resulting in the dismissal of qui tam complaints and successful settlements of FCA claims with DOJ.
Nkechi has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" in government contracts.
Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Nkechi was a junior associate at an AmLaw 50 firm in its Global Regulatory Enforcement group.
Speeches & Presentations
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"What Will the New Year Bring for Government Contractors?" Crowell & Moring Webinar, 2023.
(January 12, 2023).
Presenters: Crowell & Moring Government Contracts Group.
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CMMC 2.0 and the Rise of False Claims Act Cyber Liability – Coalition for Government Procurement
(October 27, 2022).
Speakers: Michael Gruden, Nkechi Kanu, and Tully McLaughlin.
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“Information Risk Management & Security,” GC 101: Back to Basics, Washington, D.C.
(September 21, 2022).
Presenters: Evan Wolff, Nkechi Kanu, and Michael Gruden.
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"Cybersecurity & Privacy," Back Together Again for OOPS 2022, Washington, D.C.
(May 16, 2022).
Speakers: Evan D. Wolff, Alexander Urbelis, Nkechi Kanu, and Michael G. Gruden.
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“Dissecting CMMC 2.0” National Contract Management Association
(January 27, 2022).
Speakers: Nkechi Kanu, Evan D. Wolff, Michael G. Gruden, Christopher R. Hebdon.
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"Common Compliance Issues," Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts 101 Seminar 2021
(October 19, 2021).
Speakers: Monica DiFonzo Sterling, Nkechi Kanu, and Bridget Carr.
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"Procurement Fraud/FCA/Investigations," OOPS 2021, Crowell & Moring's 37th Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar
(May 13, 2021).
Presenters: Mana Elihu Lombardo, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Warrington Parker, Michael Shaheen, Gail D. Zirkelbach, and Nkechi Kanu.
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"A Look at the Top False Claims Act Developments of 2020," Healthcare Ounce of Prevention Seminar (HOOPS) 2021: Health Care in the Biden Era
(February 24, 2021).
Presenters: Michael Shaheen, Nkechi Kanu, and Payal Nanavati.
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"Part 2 - A Look at the Top False Claims Act Developments of 2020," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(February 18, 2021).
Presenters: Michael Shaheen, Nkechi Kanu, and Payal Nanavati.
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"Part 1 - A Look at the Top False Claims Act Developments of 2020," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(February 9, 2021).
Presenters: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Jared Engelking, Lyndsay A. Gorton, and Nkechi Kanu.
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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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"FEATURE COMMENT: The Top FCA Developments Of 2021," The Government Contractor, Vol. 64, No. 7
(February 16, 2022).
Authors: Tully McLaughlin, Lyndsay A. Gorton, Nkechi Kanu, Payal Nanavati, and Matt Vicinanzo.
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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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"The Top FCA Developments of 2022,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(March 8, 2023).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu, Lyndsay A. Gorton, Payal Nanavati, Matthew Vicinanzo, Amanda H. McDowell
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"The ISDC Issues Annual Report on Federal Suspension and Debarment Activities and Trends,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(April 19, 2022).
Contacts: Peter Eyre, Agustin D. Orozco, M. Yuan Zhou, Nkechi Kanu
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"NIST Publishes Assessment Procedures for Enhanced Security Controls Used to Protect CUI,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(March 18, 2022).
Contacts: Evan D. Wolff, Maida Oringher Lerner, Alexander Urbelis, Nkechi Kanu, Michael G. Gruden, CIPP/G, Garylene (Gage) Javier, CIPP/US
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"Department of Justice Settles First False Claims Act Case Under its Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(March 14, 2022).
Contacts: Agustin D. Orozco, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Stephen M. Byers, Evan D. Wolff, Nkechi Kanu
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"The Top FCA Developments of 2021,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(February 25, 2022).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Lyndsay A. Gorton, Nkechi Kanu, Payal Nanavati, Matthew Vicinanzo
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"Just in Time for Halloween: DOJ Launches Cyber Enforcement Initiative Using False Claims Act,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(October 8, 2021).
Contacts: Michael G. Gruden, CIPP/G, Nkechi Kanu, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Rebecca Monck Ricigliano, Stephen M. Byers, Evan D. Wolff
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"The Top FCA Developments of 2020,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(February 1, 2021).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Lyndsay A. Gorton, Nkechi Kanu
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"The DoD's Own Cyber Monday: Defense Department Releases CMMC Assessment Guides,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(December 9, 2020).
Contacts: Evan D. Wolff, Maida Oringher Lerner, Michael G. Gruden, CIPP/G, Nkechi Kanu
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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: Skye Mathieson, Stephen J. McBrady, Charles Baek, Michelle D. Coleman, Nkechi Kanu, 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, Skye Mathieson, Stephen J. McBrady, Charles Baek, Michelle D. Coleman, Nkechi Kanu
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"The Top FCA Developments of 2019,"
GSA Schedule Bullet Points
(January 30, 2020).
Contacts: Jason M. Crawford, 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: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Nkechi Kanu, Roma Sharma
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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, 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: Jason M. Crawford, 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, Laura J. Mitchell Baker, Nkechi Kanu, Payal Nanavati, Monica DiFonzo Sterling
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"Not Better Late Than Never: Timing Requirement is Material to Payment,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(June 15, 2018).
Contacts: Brian Tully McLaughlin, Jason M. Crawford, 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: Jason M. Crawford, 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).
Contact: 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: Peter Eyre, Evan D. Wolff, Maida Oringher Lerner, Nkechi Kanu
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"OGE Issues Final Rule on Gifts,"
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(November 22, 2016).
Contacts: Lorraine M. Campos, 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
Press Coverage
Firm News & Announcements