Michelle D. Coleman

Overview

Michelle D. Coleman is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s renowned Government Contracts Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Michelle advises clients from diverse industries in connection with contract disputes and other government contract matters, including Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims and requests for equitable adjustments, terminations, prime-sub disputes, other transaction authority, and AI.

Michelle also has an active pro bono practice, representing clients as an attorney volunteer with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Michelle has helped multiple clients receive long term housing through the Rapid Rehousing Program and other permanent voucher programs. In addition to being a volunteer, Michelle serves as an ambassador and as co-chaired the firm's fundraising campaign for the Clinic for the last two years.

Prior to working at Crowell & Moring, Michelle served as an attorney in the Air Force’s Acquisition Law and Litigation Directorate, where she provided acquisition and litigation risk advice on procurements valued over $14 billion on major Air Force procurements. She also served as a trial attorney in the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Law and Litigation Directorate. As a trial attorney, Michelle litigated complex contract disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) and bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

As an Air Force litigator, Michelle litigated a broad range of issues before the ASBCA, including organizational conflicts of interest; small business issues; price realism analysis; past performance; NAICS code issues; technical acceptability; nonmanufacturing rule, brand name, or equal issues; construction claims; commercial items; terminations; assignment of claims; reprocurement; limitation of funds; release; differing site conditions; setoffs/withholding; and evidentiary issues. Among the construction cases, Michelle litigated a $28 million Air Force design-build construction claim involving complex differing site conditions and delay issues, and she also litigated and won a claim for alleged defective specifications, undisclosed information, constructive interpretation, and technical impossibility for a contract for the design and construction of an Air Force dynamic break test stand.

Before her Air Force career, Michelle was employed by a defense contractor, where she gained valuable government contract experience in her roles as a business analyst and a subcontracts administrator. Michelle’s government and contractor experience gives her the unique ability to take both parties’ perspectives into consideration when providing advice on government contract issues.

Michelle also has an active pro bono practice, representing clients as an attorney volunteer with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Michelle has helped multiple clients receive long term housing through the Rapid Rehousing Program and other permanent voucher programs. In addition to being a volunteer, Michelle serves as an ambassador and as co-chaired the firm's fundraising campaign for the Clinic for the last two years.

Prior to working at Crowell & Moring, Michelle served as an attorney in the Air Force’s Acquisition Law and Litigation Directorate, where she provided acquisition and litigation risk advice on procurements valued over $14 billion on major Air Force procurements. She also served as a trial attorney in the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Law and Litigation Directorate. As a trial attorney, Michelle litigated complex contract disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) and bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

As an Air Force litigator, Michelle litigated a broad range of issues before the ASBCA, including organizational conflicts of interest; small business issues; price realism analysis; past performance; NAICS code issues; technical acceptability; nonmanufacturing rule, brand name, or equal issues; construction claims; commercial items; terminations; assignment of claims; reprocurement; limitation of funds; release; differing site conditions; setoffs/withholding; and evidentiary issues. Among the construction cases, Michelle litigated a $28 million Air Force design-build construction claim involving complex differing site conditions and delay issues, and she also litigated and won a claim for alleged defective specifications, undisclosed information, constructive interpretation, and technical impossibility for a contract for the design and construction of an Air Force dynamic break test stand.

Before her Air Force career, Michelle was employed by a defense contractor, where she gained valuable government contract experience in her roles as a business analyst and a subcontracts administrator. Michelle’s government and contractor experience gives her the unique ability to take both parties’ perspectives into consideration when providing advice on government contract issues.

Career & Education

Department of Defense
Acquisition Law and Litigation Attorney, Acquisition Law and Litigation Directorate, U.S. Air Force Headquarters, 2016–2018
Trial Attorney, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Litigation Field Support Center, U.S. Air Force, 2014–2016
- Department of Defense
  Acquisition Law and Litigation Attorney, Acquisition Law and Litigation Directorate, U.S. Air Force Headquarters, 2016–2018
  Trial Attorney, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Litigation Field Support Center, U.S. Air Force, 2014–2016
The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2013
Kent State University, B.B.A., 2007
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2013
- Kent State University, B.B.A., 2007
District of Columbia
Virginia
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Professional Activities and Memberships

Board of Directors, Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association, 2018–2019

Program Chair, ABA Introduction to Government Contracts Course, September 6–7, 2017 and September 17–18, 2018

Co–Chair, 2018 ABA Federal Procurement Institute, March 14–17, 2018

Co–Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Federal, State, and Local Government Attorneys Committee, August 2016–2018

Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Young Lawyers Committee, August 2015–August 2017

Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Contract Claims and Dispute Resolution Committee, August 2016–2018

Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Bid Protest Committee, August 2016–July 2017

ABA Strategic Alliances, Teaming and Subcontracting Committee Co–Author, Guide to Fixed–Price Supply Subcontract Terms and Conditions–5th Edition
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Board of Directors, Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association, 2018–2019
- Program Chair, ABA Introduction to Government Contracts Course, September 6–7, 2017 and September 17–18, 2018
- Co–Chair, 2018 ABA Federal Procurement Institute, March 14–17, 2018
- Co–Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Federal, State, and Local Government Attorneys Committee, August 2016–2018
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Young Lawyers Committee, August 2015–August 2017
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Contract Claims and Dispute Resolution Committee, August 2016–2018
- Vice Chair, ABA Section of Public Contract Law Bid Protest Committee, August 2016–July 2017
- ABA Strategic Alliances, Teaming and Subcontracting Committee Co–Author, Guide to Fixed–Price Supply Subcontract Terms and Conditions–5th Edition

Michelle's Insights

Speaking Engagement | 05.13.25

"Navigating New Developments in AI and IP Issues," OOPS 2025: Government Contractors Reacting and Adapting to the New Administration, Tyson's Corner, VA.

Speaking Engagement | 04.28.25
"The Changing Tide of Federal Funding Under the New Administration," Crowell & Moring Webinar.
Client Alert | 8 min read | 01.27.25
Navigating the Trump Administration’s Pause on IIJA and IRA Funding: Key Implications for Infrastructure Stakeholders
Client Alert | 1 min read | 01.15.25
Congress Has Spoken: DoD Unilateral Definitizations are Appealable Government Claims

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Representative Matters

Represented a major government contractor in three-week hearing before the ASBCA for a $130M disruption claim.
Secured a $28M settlement for a major government contractor on foreign military sales contracts.
Secured a $11M+ award for a major government contractor in a prime/sub dispute before the American Arbitration Association and had the award confirmed before the Circuit Court for Montgomery County Maryland.
Secured a $1.5M settlement, resulting in 100% recovery, for a government contractor’s claim to recover monies improperly deducted from the contractor’s contract.
Represented a contractor in the preparation of a request for equitable adjustment (REA) that resulted in 100% recovery of nearly $9M.
Represented a Women-Owned Small Business in the preparation of a REA that resulted in 100% recovery of a $480,000 REA.
Counseled a number of clients on COVID issues and claims.
Second chair to a hearing as Air Force counsel in a $28M design-build construction appeal before the ASBCA
First chair to a hearing before the ASBCA as Air Force counsel that resulted in a denial of the appeal to overturn a termination for default.
Represented the Air Force in an appeal before the ASBCA which resulted in saving the Air Force nearly $100,000 in termination settlement costs and certain costs allowable under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
Successfully represented the Air Force in appeal before the ASBCA which resulted in winning a motion for summary judgment on the contractor’s failure to produce evidence regarding a constructive change.