Cooley Godward Kronish Forms Government Contracts Group

WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 20, 2006 -- Cooley Godward Kronish LLP announced today that Gregory A. Smith and Kevin P. Mullen have joined the Firm as partners. Smith and Mullen will anchor Cooley's newly formed Government Contracts practice group, which will be based in the Firm's Washington, DC office. Formerly partners in DLA Piper's Government Contracts practice group, Smith and Mullen bring to Cooley more than 50 years of government contracts experience and deep expertise in the industry sector.

"Our clients have an ever-expanding need for this expertise, and Greg and Kevin are two of the leading government contracts attorneys in the U.S.," said Joe Conroy, partner in charge of Cooley's Washington, DC office. "Increased spending on research and services for homeland security and defense needs has made the federal government an important source of funding and business for technology and other growth companies. A growing number of our clients nationwide also have substantial business dealings with the federal government. The addition of these partners expands our service offerings to clients and strengthens our growing Washington, DC practice."

The Government Contracts practice group provides both counseling and litigation services to clients. Currently, matters handled by the group include negotiations with government agencies, IP counseling, compliance advice related to issues such as pricing and accounting rules, advising on subcontractor, joint venture and teaming relationships with other private sector entities, and mergers and acquisitions due diligence. Litigation matters include bid protests and contract actions, such as claims for contract price adjustments and termination disputes.

Smith has spent the majority of his career in private practice and was most recently chair of DLA Piper's Government Contracts practice group, where he represented domestic and international clients in negotiations with government agencies and counseled clients on matters involving defective pricing, cost accounting disputes and termination disputes. He has represented subcontractors and prime contractors in claims before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. district courts and courts of appeals, and has tried complex cases before boards of contract appeals involving shipbuilding and other major claims. In addition, he has litigated contract award disputes before the Government Accountability Office and the Federal Courts. He is a past Chair of the ABA's Section of Public Contract Law and currently serves as the Chair of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Advisory Council.

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business cites Smith for his government contracts practice and in 2005 he was named among Washington's Legal Elite by Washington SmartCEO magazine.

Smith earned his A.B. from Miami University, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia. Following law school he clerked for the Hon. Marion T. Bennett, U.S. Court of Claims (now the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit).

Along with broad expertise in government procurement matters, Mullen has particular experience counseling clients involved in homeland security contracting, including vaccine development and production for bio-defense and Avian flu programs, chemical and radiological detection products and security services. Mullen is considered one of a handful of national experts in risk and liability mitigation for anti-terrorism technology companies, having represented clients in obtaining liability protection under the SAFETY Act and Government indemnification under Public Law 85-804. In addition, he is experienced in bid protest litigation, and has represented protesters and contract awardees before the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and state protest forums. Mullen is a co-chair of the Bid Protest Committee within the ABA's Public Contract Law Section.

Mullen earned his undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Virginia. He has spent his entire career in private practice.

About Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

Cooley Godward Kronish's 580 attorneys have an entrepreneurial spirit and deep, substantive experience and are committed to solving clients' most challenging legal matters. From small companies with big ideas to international enterprises with diverse legal needs, Cooley Godward Kronish has the breadth of legal resources to enable companies of all sizes to seize opportunities in today's global marketplace. The Firm represents clients across a broad array of dynamic industry sectors, including technology, life sciences, financial services, retail and energy.

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Contact Information: Media Contact: Emily Foley Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Direct: 650-843-5383 efoley@cooley.com