Daniel (Dan) Graham leads the Firm’s Government Contracts Group. Highly regarded in government contracts litigation, Dan has more than two decades of experience assisting clients across industry sectors on bid protests, Contract Disputes Act appeals, prime and subcontractor disputes, and commercial litigation.

Chambers USA has ranked Dan in Band 1 for Government Contracts (Nationwide). A client quoted by Chambers said Dan “is an expert in his field and he is very practical.” Another noted, “He is a top-notch government contracts attorney. He thinks creatively and provides excellent advice and guidance on a wide range of issues.”

Dan litigates cases before the US Court of Federal Claims (COFC), the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Boards of Contract Appeals, as well as before Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeals across the country.

In addition, Dan advises clients on cost accounting matters, compliance with evolving cybersecurity requirements, identifying and resolving organizational and personal conflicts of interest, mergers and acquisitions, business restructurings and reorganizations, internal investigations, and suspension and debarment proceedings. Dan also advises clients on all aspects of compliance with Federal Grants law and with the compliance requirements applicable to projects and loan guarantees funded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act of 2021. He also counsels clients on complying with ethics laws and regulations, including post-employment restrictions applicable to government employees.

Dan is committed to pro bono service and has argued before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in several veterans’ benefits cases.

Dan clerked for the Honorable D. Brooks Smith for the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Honorable Christine Odell Cook Miller for the US Court of Federal Claims.

Tony Torain is lead of the Employment Group’s traditional labor practice and is recognized among the standout lawyers of his generation. He provides strategic and trusted counsel to multinational corporations in labor and employment disputes, helping clients address and resolve critical issues efficiently and effectively. Recognized among the leading lawyers of his generation in labor and employment law, he has extensive experience representing companies across a range of industries – including healthcare, technology, consumer products, automotive, and private equity – in traditional labor matters and employment litigation, trials, and arbitrations.

In his traditional labor practice, Tony is adept at defending major organizations in unfair labor practice trials and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), audits, strikes, union election campaigns, collective bargaining negotiations, and strategic labor relations planning matters.

Tony represents employers in various kinds of employment disputes in state and federal courts and before state and federal agencies, including cases that involve claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as wage and hour class and collective actions. His practice also includes assisting federal and state contractors in complying with unique statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements regarding their employees.

Tara L. Ward represents a wide variety of companies that do business with the federal government, ranging from small and emerging tech companies looking to break into or expand their stake in the federal marketplace, to well-established defense, professional services and information technology contractors and subcontractors. Tara’s diverse practice covers the full range of government contracting issues, including litigation and counseling related to bid protests, contract claims and disputes and teaming agreement and other strategic alliance issues. Tara regularly helps clients navigate some of the most nuanced areas of government contract law, including other transaction agreements, small business regulations and supply chain issues.

Tara is recognized as a top government contracts lawyer across notable publications, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Law360 and Super Lawyers. She is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington Law School, the only law school with a nationally recognized Government Procurement Law LLM program. She also serves as editor-in-chief for the Public Contract Law Journal.

Sarah Bro focuses her practice on trademark prosecution, enforcement, and brand portfolio management, as well as licensing, due diligence, copyright, right of publicity, and domain name matters.

Sarah assists clients across an array of industries with all stages of domestic and international trademark prosecution, and provides consultation and strategy with respect to the selection, clearance, enforcement, and licensing of trademarks. Sarah’s clients include domestic and international companies in industries such as healthcare, blockchain and financial technologies, software/mobile applications, agriculture, fashion and apparel, consumer goods, beauty, wellness and lifestyle (including CBD products), arts and entertainment, food and beverage, hospitality, mining, and pharmaceuticals. Sarah has extensive experience in the research, drafting, and filing of documents with the US Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and the US Copyright Office. Sarah has a proven track record in recovering domain names through the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) policies. Sarah is also well versed in the submission of “takedown” and infringement notices across third-party websites, social media platforms, app stores, and online marketplaces. She has experience in swiftly addressing instances of fraud, phishing, or other online abuse by leveraging intellectual property claims through a multi-pronged enforcement approach. Sarah also regularly provides intellectual property (IP) support and guidance in due diligence matters in connection with corporate transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations. Sarah’s experience includes a three-month secondment in Germany in the in-house legal department of a leading generic pharmaceuticals company, where she handled a full array of trademark prosecution matters, global brand portfolio management, and strategic clearance for a key worldwide product launch.

Sarah is a member of McDermott’s Pro Bono Committee, the Gender Diversity Committee, and the Orange County Recruiting Committee. Sarah is a regular contributor to McDermott’s IP Update blog.

She is also a member of our legal cannabis industry group. Our Cannabis Industry group is a multidisciplinary team of lawyers providing clients with regulatory, litigation, intellectual property, trade, and tax services with respect to their investments and participation in the cannabis industry, all subject to the firm’s obligations under federal and state laws and bar licensure rules.

Alexei J. Cowett is a leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate finance dealmaker, with a focus on emerging growth companies in the consumer and tech sectors and production companies, content creators, and high-profile talent in the media, entertainment, and sports industries. He is the co-head of the firm’s Media, Entertainment & Sports practice. In addition to his leadership role, Alexei advises high-profile talent in endorsement and equity deals tailored to their unique priorities. He also advises recognized brands in other industries, including the food and beverage and health and wellness sectors.

Alexei’s representations include complex corporate transactions, such as domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and partnerships, and venture and private equity financings. Alexei also represents clients in general corporate and securities matters and advises on corporate governance issues. For several clients, he serves as outside general counsel and a strategic advisor.

Known for his relentless work in pursuing the interests of his clients, Alexei’s approach to financings and other transactions is as strategic as it is innovative. As such, he often develops and drives the terms of deals in which he is involved.

Alexei’s experience includes advising on more than $60 billion in closed transactions for public, private equity- and venture-backed companies and investment funds. He also served as a senior executive with two prominent growth companies, one of which raised more than $60 million, the other upwards of $240 million.

Drawing on his experience representing companies that are first to market with disruptive products, services and technologies, Alexei tailors his advice to help clients achieve competitive advantages and navigate the many inherent regulatory risks that arise in the pursuit of new technologies and other products, services and solutions. He is well versed in traditional and emerging industries alike, including information technology; e-commerce; biotech; pharma and healthcare; food, beverage, and other consumer products; entertainment, media, and telecom; energy (including clean tech) and financial services.

Previously, Alexei served as an economic development commissioner for Arlington County, Virginia, during which time he also served as vice chairman of the commission. In this capacity, he focused on improving the regulatory climate for business and increasing the county’s economic competitiveness.

Advises alcohol beverage clients on regulatory, commercial, and compliance matters

Counsels on M&A for companies buying, selling, and investing across the beverage industry

Handles audits, investigations, arbitration, and litigation tied to alcohol beverage regulatory issues

Guides legal strategy for delivery services, new beverage collaborations, and e-commerce in the alcohol sector