Peter J. Eyre is a partner and co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group. He is also a member of the firm's Management Board and a co-leader of the firm's COVID-19 Response Team. Peter was named to BTI Consulting Group’s list of "Client Service All-Stars" in 2016, 2017, and 2019 and has been named an Acritas Star, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers (2016, 2017, 2019). He is nationally ranked by Chambers USA in Government Contracts since 2014, and by Super Lawyers since 2017.
Experience
Peter's practice includes a wide range of litigation, counseling, crisis management, and transactional capabilities, including: compliance reviews; enhancing and implementing compliance programs; due diligence in the transactional context; structuring transactions; dispute resolution; bid protests; complex investigations relating to the civil False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Procurement Integrity Act, and other civil and criminal matters at the federal, state, and local levels; grants and related requirements; GSA Schedule contracting; contract negotiation and administration; suspension and debarment proceedings; and mandatory disclosures.
Peter is the co-host of the “Fastest 5 Minutes, the Podcast Government Contractors Can’t Do Without,” which provides a biweekly summary of significant government contracts legal and regulatory developments. The podcast can be found at crowell.com/GovConPodcast. Peter is also a primary author of the Government Contracts chapter in “Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel,” Association of Corporate Counsel and Thomson Reuters (2019).
Peter also serves as the coordinator of the Construction Industry Ethics and Compliance Initiative. Recent engagements include:
Government Contracts Counseling and Investigations
- Represented major government contractors in investigations relating to the civil False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, and the Procurement Integrity Act.
- Represented government contractor in investigations and disclosures pertaining to time mischarging issues.
- Represented public company in investigation involving conflict of interest allegations about chief executive officer.
- Represented major government contractor in investigation relating to product substitution.
- Represented government contractor on quality escape issues and multi-faceted investigations and disclosures.
- Assisted clients in the development, enhancement, and implementation of compliance programs.
- Counseled clients regarding mandatory disclosure obligations and related regulatory reporting processes.
- Counseled clients regarding identification and resolution of organizational conflicts of interest (OCI).
Government Contracts Due Diligence and Transactions
- Provided government contracts counsel to Madison Dearborn Partners and CoVant Management, in connection with significant transactions: (1) acquisition of LinQuest Corp, a provider of space technology solutions; (2) sale of LGS Innovations, a leading provider of global networking products and services, to CACI; (3) acquisition of Aevex Aerospace, a provider of full-spectrum airborne intelligence solutions.
- Provided government contracts counsel in connection with formation of Perspecta, involving separation of the US Public Sector business from DXC and combination with Vencore, Inc. and KeyPoint Government Solutions.
- Provided government contracts counsel to Huntington Ingalls Industries in its acquisition of Fulcrum IT Services LLC.
- Provided government contracts counsel to PAE in its acquisition of Metis Solutions Corporation, a leading provider of intelligence analysis, operational and tactical training and program management.
- Represented Accenture Federal Services in its acquisition of Agilex Technologies, Inc., a provider of digital solutions for the U.S. federal government.
COVID-19 Response Team
- Provided counsel to General Motors in connection with contract with U.S. Government for supply of ventilators and related matters including Defense Production Act .
- Provided advice to companies regarding Paycheck Protection Program, including eligibility, audits, and investigations.
- Represented technology company in connection with supply of anti-viral products to the Department of Health and Human Services and Strategic National Stockpile.
- Provided counseling and analysis of government restrictions on business operations arising out of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to major product manufacturers.
- Provided advice on COVID-19-related claims and cost recoveries to companies in multiple industries, including construction, professional services, technology, and manufacturing.
- Advised private equity firms on COVID-19 related impacts for portfolio companies and potential acquisition targets.
Suspension and Debarment
Peter has handled suspension and debarment matters before a wide array of federal agencies, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, Department of Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Education, Department of Transportation, Small Business Administration, and U.S. Agency for International Development. Representative matters include:
- Represented public company in suspension and debarment matters relating to security clearance issues.
- Represented public company in suspension and debarment matters before the Environmental Protection Agency relating to improper disposition of materials.
- Represented public company in General Services Administration suspension and debarment proceedings relating to alleged procurement improprieties.
- Represented contractor in Air Force suspension and debarment proceedings relating to counterfeit products.
- Represented environmental remediation company in suspension and debarment proceedings relating to violations of the Clean Water Act.
- Represented government contractor in Army suspension and debarment matter relating to alleged violations of the Procurement Integrity Act.
As part of the firm's pro bono work with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Peter has participated in delegations to Cote d'Ivoire and Trinidad and Tobago to assist in assessments of the feasibility of presidential debates as part of the campaign process.
Since 2000, Peter has worked in a senior capacity for the Commission on Presidential Debates, the non-partisan entity responsible for producing the general election presidential and vice presidential debates. In 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, he served as senior advisor to the Commission, where his portfolio included campaign negotiations and media relations. In 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, Peter also served as a spokesman for the Commission and appeared on numerous local and national broadcasts and was quoted widely in local and national newspapers.
Prior to attending law school, Peter directed the business development activities of SmartBrief, Inc. SmartBrief partners with leading trade associations and corporations to offer daily news content targeted to specific industries.