Amanda H. McDowell

Associate | She/Her/Hers

Overview

Amanda focuses on litigating on behalf of government contractors. She advises clients facing high-stakes investigations and allegations initiated by the federal government or relators under the False Claims Act. Amanda also assists clients in affirmatively asserting claims against the government and helps strategize with clients defending against government-asserted claims concerning issues that arise in the course of contract performance.  Her experience in federal procurement regulations enable her to guide clients through an array of procurement litigation disputes.

Amanda is an associate in the Government Contracts Group based in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office focusing on False Claims Act litigation, government investigations, claims and disputes litigation, and state and federal regulatory compliance.

Her experience includes:

  • Counseling and strategizing with government contractors on performance disputes and compliance issues, including potential terminations, overpayments, requests for equitable adjustments, claims, contract changes, and allegations of noncompliance with various contract requirements and cost accounting practices;
  • Representing government contractors before the Boards of Contract Appeals in litigation both defending against Government-asserted claims and affirmatively asserting claims against the Government;
  • Advising clients on cost accounting practices, internal compliance policies and procedures, and litigation strategies that impact business decisions;
  • Representing government contractors in the defense industry in False Claims Act litigation and investigations initiated by whistleblowers and the government.

Amanda also maintains an active pro bono practice representing survivors of domestic violence. She regularly assists clients seeking civil protective orders in abusive situations and has also represented clients seeking legal immigration status under the Violence Against Women Act.

While in law school, Amanda was the editor-in-chief of the Public Contract Law Journal and a member of the Moot Court Board, Mock Trial Board, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. Amanda was a finalist and the highest-scoring competitor in the 2020 Government Contracts Moot Court Competition and served as chair for the 2021 competition. She was also a recipient of the Roger N. Boyd Memorial Scholarship, the 2020 National Association of State Procurement Officials Academic Scholarship, and the 2021 National Contract Management Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, all recognizing her academic success in government procurement while at GW Law. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Amanda interned with the World Bank’s Office of Suspension and Debarment and for the Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Career & Education

    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 2021
      Public Contract Law Journal: editor-in-chief 
    • University of Delaware, B.A., psychology and criminal justice, 2017
    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 2021
      Public Contract Law Journal: editor-in-chief 
    • University of Delaware, B.A., psychology and criminal justice, 2017
    • Virginia
    • District of Columbia
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
    • Virginia
    • District of Columbia
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • Professional Activities and Memberships

    • Vice-Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law, Young Lawyers Committee August 2023 - August 2024
    • ABA Section of Public Contract Law 
    • American Health Law Association

     

    Honors and Awards

    • Full Section Diversity Scholarship 2022-2024, ABA Section of Public Contract Law

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • Vice-Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law, Young Lawyers Committee August 2023 - August 2024
    • ABA Section of Public Contract Law 
    • American Health Law Association

     

    Honors and Awards

    • Full Section Diversity Scholarship 2022-2024, ABA Section of Public Contract Law

Amanda's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 09.25.26

FEATURE COMMENT: The Eleventh Circuit Overturns the Zafirov Decision on FCA Qui Tam Constitutionality

On September 1, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit issued its long-anticipated decision in U.S. ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates LLC, holding that the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act are constitutional because relators are not officers of the United States who occupy continuing positions established by law. The decision overturned the 2024 district court ruling that sparked a wave of constitutional challenges to qui tam suits and aligns the Eleventh Circuit with the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits on the issue. The constitutional debate is far from over, however, as the decision is limited to the constitutionality under the Appointments Clause. The court remanded the case for further evaluation of the parties’ Take Care and Vesting Clause arguments. At the same time, similar constitutional arguments are pending in the Third Circuit, related to the largest-ever FCA judgment in a non-intervened case, and multiple Supreme Court justices have already signaled potential willingness to weigh in on the qui tam provisions’ constitutionality. Crowell's FCA attorneys explain these developments and what's next in a “Feature Comment” published in The Government Contractor....

Representative Matters

  • Representing government contractors in the defense and health care industries in FCA litigation and investigations initiated by whistleblowers and the government.
  • Conducting internal investigations for private companies facing noncompliance and fraud allegations.
  • Counseling government contractors on performance disputes and compliance issues, including potential terminations, overpayments, and cost accounting practices.
  • Representing government contractors before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in litigation defending compliance with cost accounting practices.
  • Representing businesses engaged in federal procurement before the Boards of Contract Appeals in affirmatively asserting claims against the government.

Amanda's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 09.25.26

FEATURE COMMENT: The Eleventh Circuit Overturns the Zafirov Decision on FCA Qui Tam Constitutionality

On September 1, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit issued its long-anticipated decision in U.S. ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates LLC, holding that the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act are constitutional because relators are not officers of the United States who occupy continuing positions established by law. The decision overturned the 2024 district court ruling that sparked a wave of constitutional challenges to qui tam suits and aligns the Eleventh Circuit with the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits on the issue. The constitutional debate is far from over, however, as the decision is limited to the constitutionality under the Appointments Clause. The court remanded the case for further evaluation of the parties’ Take Care and Vesting Clause arguments. At the same time, similar constitutional arguments are pending in the Third Circuit, related to the largest-ever FCA judgment in a non-intervened case, and multiple Supreme Court justices have already signaled potential willingness to weigh in on the qui tam provisions’ constitutionality. Crowell's FCA attorneys explain these developments and what's next in a “Feature Comment” published in The Government Contractor....

Amanda's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 09.25.26

FEATURE COMMENT: The Eleventh Circuit Overturns the Zafirov Decision on FCA Qui Tam Constitutionality

On September 1, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit issued its long-anticipated decision in U.S. ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates LLC, holding that the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act are constitutional because relators are not officers of the United States who occupy continuing positions established by law. The decision overturned the 2024 district court ruling that sparked a wave of constitutional challenges to qui tam suits and aligns the Eleventh Circuit with the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits on the issue. The constitutional debate is far from over, however, as the decision is limited to the constitutionality under the Appointments Clause. The court remanded the case for further evaluation of the parties’ Take Care and Vesting Clause arguments. At the same time, similar constitutional arguments are pending in the Third Circuit, related to the largest-ever FCA judgment in a non-intervened case, and multiple Supreme Court justices have already signaled potential willingness to weigh in on the qui tam provisions’ constitutionality. Crowell's FCA attorneys explain these developments and what's next in a “Feature Comment” published in The Government Contractor....