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Amanda H. McDowell

Associate | She/Her/Hers
Associate | She/Her/Hers
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Areas of Focus

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 | 03.23.26

The Top FCA Developments of 2025

False Claims Act (FCA) settlements and judgments hit record highs yet again in FY 2025, surpassing the previous record by over $1 billion and setting a new high-water mark for the number of new FCA cases filed.  These records were built both on existing enforcement priorities such as pandemic-related fraud and healthcare enforcement actions and new guidance from the Executive Branch instructing the Department of Justice to enforce its 2025 priorities including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), civil rights, and customs issues.  Procurement fraud, cybersecurity issues, and small business fraud also remained focal points, with significant settlements in each of those areas.  In the courts, an Eleventh Circuit decision expanded relators’ ability to use discovery to avoid dismissal under Rule 9(b), and a Ninth Circuit ruling clarified a number of customs fraud issues while applying the Supreme Court’s Schutte scienter test.  Debate over the qui tam provisions’ constitutionality continued to grow, with arguments made in multiple circuits, including an Eleventh Circuit oral argument in the appeal of the Middle District of Florida’s Zafirov decision that helped to spark the recent wave of challenges.  Crowell FCA attorneys explain these developments, trends, and what’s next for the FCA in a “Feature Comment” published in The Government Contractor....

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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 | 03.23.26

The Top FCA Developments of 2025

False Claims Act (FCA) settlements and judgments hit record highs yet again in FY 2025, surpassing the previous record by over $1 billion and setting a new high-water mark for the number of new FCA cases filed.  These records were built both on existing enforcement priorities such as pandemic-related fraud and healthcare enforcement actions and new guidance from the Executive Branch instructing the Department of Justice to enforce its 2025 priorities including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), civil rights, and customs issues.  Procurement fraud, cybersecurity issues, and small business fraud also remained focal points, with significant settlements in each of those areas.  In the courts, an Eleventh Circuit decision expanded relators’ ability to use discovery to avoid dismissal under Rule 9(b), and a Ninth Circuit ruling clarified a number of customs fraud issues while applying the Supreme Court’s Schutte scienter test.  Debate over the qui tam provisions’ constitutionality continued to grow, with arguments made in multiple circuits, including an Eleventh Circuit oral argument in the appeal of the Middle District of Florida’s Zafirov decision that helped to spark the recent wave of challenges.  Crowell FCA attorneys explain these developments, trends, and what’s next for the FCA in a “Feature Comment” published in The Government Contractor....

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Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 03.23.26

The Top FCA Developments of 2025

Blog Post | 12.15.25

Eleventh Circuit Hears Argument on False Claims Act Qui Tam Constitutionality

Client Alert | 5 min read | 12.12.25

Eleventh Circuit Hears Argument on False Claims Act Qui Tam Constitutionality

Speaking Engagement | 10.23.25

"Procurement Fraud and Enforcement," Government Contracts 101 Seminar, Washington, D.C.

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Practices

Amanda's Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 03.23.26

The Top FCA Developments of 2025

False Claims Act (FCA) settlements and judgments hit record highs yet again in FY 2025, surpassing the previous record by over $1 billion and setting a new high-water mark for the number of new FCA cases filed.  These records were built both on existing enforcement priorities such as pandemic-related fraud and healthcare enforcement actions and new guidance from the Executive Branch instructing the Department of Justice to enforce its 2025 priorities including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), civil rights, and customs issues.  Procurement fraud, cybersecurity issues, and small business fraud also remained focal points, with significant settlements in each of those areas.  In the courts, an Eleventh Circuit decision expanded relators’ ability to use discovery to avoid dismissal under Rule 9(b), and a Ninth Circuit ruling clarified a number of customs fraud issues while applying the Supreme Court’s Schutte scienter test.  Debate over the qui tam provisions’ constitutionality continued to grow, with arguments made in multiple circuits, including an Eleventh Circuit oral argument in the appeal of the Middle District of Florida’s Zafirov decision that helped to spark the recent wave of challenges.  Crowell FCA attorneys explain these developments, trends, and what’s next for the FCA in a “Feature Comment” published in The Government Contractor....

View All Insights