Crowell & Moring Expands Government Contracts Group with Addition of West Coast Partner Duo

Washington, D.C. – October 9, 2013: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the addition of partners Gail D. Zirkelbach and David J. Ginsberg to the firm's Government Contracts Group in Los Angeles. Zirkelbach and Ginsberg have joined the firm from McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. Their practices are focused on a wide range of areas, including internal investigations of alleged fraud and ethics violations, including related Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) mandatory disclosures and False Claims Act (FCA) litigation; bid protests at the federal and state levels; litigation and arbitration of disputes involving government contractors; and all aspects of government contracts compliance counseling.

"The addition of Gail and David to our group in Los Angeles gives further depth to our West Coast presence and continues to enhance our national government contracts bench," said Angela B. Styles, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group. "We are particularly pleased with the added strength their arrival brings to the broad government contracts capabilities we offer our clients, ranging from bid protests, claims, ethics, and compliance counseling, to handling litigation matters and suspension and debarment proceedings."

With more than 20 years of experience, Zirkelbach focuses her practice on internal investigations, defense of fraud actions and white collar criminal defense for numerous aerospace and technology companies in all government contracts and compliance areas. Her work concentrates on the defense of qui tam actions under the FCA, conducting internal investigations, in the United States and abroad, and assisting clients with the development and implementation of compliance programs. She litigates at both the federal and state levels and at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition, Zirkelbach assists clients with defective pricing and termination cases and bid protests, and counsels clients on intellectual property, cost accounting, cybersecurity, export, and compliance issues.

An experienced government contracts practitioner, Ginsberg's background includes counseling clients in establishing and adhering to government contract compliance programs, FCA litigation, Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims, international commercial arbitration, federal and state bid protests, and counseling on cost accounting matters. Ginsberg routinely litigates before the ASBCA, Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeal, and the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). Ginsberg also handles internal investigations for government contracts clients. While Ginsberg practices primarily in the area of government contracts law, his experience also includes work in Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) matters and complex civil litigation.

Zirkelbach received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, her B.A., cum laude, from Princeton University, and she is vice-chair of the ABA Public Contract Law Section, Procurement Fraud Committee. Ginsberg received his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law, a B.A., with honors, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and he currently serves as the Young Lawyers Division chair of the Public Contract Law Section of the ABA.

The arrival of Zirkelbach and Ginsberg comes on the heels of partner addition Evan Wolff, whose practice is focused on homeland security regulatory counseling, security risk management and consulting, and cybersecurity compliance and investigation.

For more than 40 years, Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group has set the standard for effective legal guidance in this highly complex arena. With approximately 50 attorneys, it is one of the largest and most reputable government contracts practices in the United States and worldwide. The group's experience covers virtually every aspect of the increasingly complex and heavily regulated government contracts and grants process, from entering the government marketplace and bidding on public contracts to complying with complex regulatory regimes and performing contracts, litigating disputes, and handling terminations.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.