Partner

Josh Schnell represents government contractors and federal grant recipients throughout the lifecycle of their contracts and grants. He litigates bid protests and disputes, advises on the universe of statutory, regulatory, and contractual issues that apply when doing business with the government, and defends against audits, investigations, and False Claims Act complaints.

Bid Protests: Josh prosecutes and defends bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and other federal and state tribunals. These protests cover a broad scope of military and civilian procurements, including those related to the defense, aerospace, healthcare, IT, natural resources, and professional services industries.

Contract Claims and Litigation: Josh litigates against the federal government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, federal district courts, and the Boards of Contract Appeals. These cases often involve breach of contract claims, terminations, and other contract disputes. He also represents clients in prime-sub disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country. These disputes can involve intellectual property claims, non-disclosure agreements, joint-ventures, performance problems, and a host of other issues that can arise between prime and subcontractors.

Counseling: Josh counsels clients on the compliance and contract administration issues that arise on a day-to-day basis. These issues often involve the following:

• Export controls
• Data rights and intellectual property
• Small business programs
• The Buy American Act and other domestic purchasing preferences
• Contract formation
• Cost-Accounting and Pricing
• Teaming agreements and joint ventures
• Representations and warranties
• Equitable adjustments
• Mergers and acquisitions
• FAR and DFARS interpretation
• Cybersecurity
• Security clearances
• GSA Schedule contracts
• The AbilityOne Program
• Cooperative Agreements and Other Transaction Authorities

Ethics, Compliance, Internal Investigations, and the False Claims Act: Ethics and compliance failures can lead to severe penalties, including civil liability under the False Claims Act, criminal convictions, default terminations, and debarment. To avoid these worst-case scenario outcomes, Josh helps clients develop and strengthen their ethics and compliance programs. When necessary, Josh also conducts internal investigations and defends clients in False Claims Act litigation, suspension and debarment proceedings, and other law enforcement proceedings.

Prior Employment: Josh joined Cordatis after leading the government contracts and grants practice group at a large national law firm. Prior to entering private practice, Josh was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he defended federal agencies in litigation related to government contracts, including breach of contract claims, takings, and bid protests. Earlier in his career, Josh worked as a government contracts attorney for SBA and USDA.

Outside the Office: When not practicing law, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, coaching lacrosse and basketball, and chasing brook trout in the Blue Ridge Mountains.