2024 Federal Contracts Symposium  

Join HKA as we co-sponsor Fox Rothschild’s 2024 Federal Contracts Symposium in Washington, DC! Now in its fifth year, the event kicks off with a reception on the evening of October 21, followed by a full day of programming on October 22.  

Attendees won’t want to miss this year’s keynote speaker, Steve Lerch, a digital strategist and former Google executive who is now president of Story Arc Consulting. Join him as he shares practical steps to encourage innovation and creative thinking in your teams. 

Several experts from HKA’s Government Contracts Group will also speak on October 22 at 10:45 AM ET and 2:45 PM ET. We encourage our colleagues, clients, and friends to take advantage of this free learning opportunity and hope to see you in DC!  

Refer to the complete agenda below for more details:  

Monday, October 21, 2024 

6:00 – 8:00 PM  Welcome reception 

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 

7:30 – 8:30 AM  Breakfast, registration, and networking 

8:30 – 9:30 AM  Year in Review: Federal Contracts Case Law Update 

Speakers: 

Nicholas Solosky, Fox Rothschild 

Reggie Jones, Fox Rothschild 

Michael Bauer, General Counsel, Versar, Inc. 

9:30 – 10:00 AM  Civil and Criminal False Claims Act Investigations 

Speakers: 

Diana Shutzer, Fox Rothschild 

Robbie Pratt, Fox Rothschild 

10:00 – 10:30 AM  Mergers and Acquisitions 

Speakers: 

Dirk Haire, Fox Rothschild 

Sarah Rozek, Fox Rothschild 

Courtney Spaeth, CEO, growth[period] 

Ryan Foley, Managing Director, FMI Capital Advisors 

10:30 – 10:45 AM  Networking break 

10:45 – 11:45 AM  Trends in Cost Accounting  

Speakers: 

Jeff DuVal, Partner, HKA 

Matthew Popham, Sr. Vice President, Government Compliance Director, Leidos 

Laura Semple, Assistant General Counsel, Amentum 

Jim Thomas, Partner, Government Contracts Lead, HKA 

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM  Lunch and networking 

12:30 – 1:30 PM  Keynote Address 

1:30 – 2:30 PM  Claims and Bid Protests 

Speakers:  

Doug Hibshman, Fox Rothschild 

2:30 – 2:45 PM Networking break 

2:45 – 3:15 PM  OTAs, Grants and Cooperative Agreements 

Speakers: 

Keeley McCarty, Fox Rothschild 

Mike LaCorte, Partner, HKA  

Debra Durham, Vice President & Chief Digital Officer, Serco 

Katherine John, Associate General Counsel, ABL Space Systems 

3:15 – 3:45 PM   U.S. AI and Privacy Laws: Managing AI Governance and Strategy 

Speakers: 

Odia Kagan, Fox Rothschild 

Melinda Lewis, Associate General Counsel and Data Protection Officer, Serco Inc. 

Hotel reservations can be made through Fox Rothschild’s discounted block here. 

Fox Rothschild LLP is an Accredited Provider of Continuing Legal Education in California, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. This program is eligible for a maximum of 300 minutes of CLE instruction in these states. Credit is pending in Georgia and Virginia. Attorneys seeking credit in other jurisdictions may apply individually for accreditation. We will provide a uniform certificate of attendance and timed agenda upon request. 

---

Jeff DuVal, Partner, Government Contracts Lead, US 

Jeff has over 25 years of consulting experience directing business and litigation consulting engagements, primarily for government and construction contractors. He has analyzed damages and costs on 500+ government contracts, investigations, and other matters. Jeff has prepared expert reports, presented at mediations, and provided expert testimony at various venues on behalf of corporations, non-profits, partnerships, in-house counsel, and outside counsel, including plaintiffs and defendants. He has consulted with government contractors, construction firms, IT companies, owners, developers, wholesalers, financial institutions, foreign companies, foreign agencies, and various U.S. government agencies. 

James W (Jim) Thomas, Partner, Government Contracts Lead, US 

Jim has more than 35 years of experience providing consulting and dispute resolution services to government contractors and has given expert testimony on more than 50 occasions.  He has served as a neutral accountant in purchase price disputes involving government contract accounting issues and as a forensic services partner specializing in government contracts at a Big Four firm. Jim’s industry experience includes aerospace and defense, technology, engineering, professional services, industrial products, construction, retail products, and healthcare. He specializes in cost and pricing matters, including government audit issues, False Claims Act damages, defective pricing, labor charging, Cost Accounting Standards, cost allowability, record-keeping requirements, Federal Supply Schedule contracts, claims, requests for equitable adjustment, terminations, and prime/subcontractor disputes. 

Mike LaCorte, Partner 

Mike has over 20 years of experience in government contracts, accounting, auditing, and management consulting. He has led consulting engagements involving regulatory compliance and business system assessments, investigations and litigation support, cost and damage analyses, organizational restructurings, bid protests, due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, management consulting, and other similar assignments. Mike is also well versed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and its supplements, Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance, Cost Accounting Standards, and GAAP. He has rebutted findings from governmental oversight bodies, presented findings to oversight bodies, participated in negotiations with the government, and given expert deposition testimony on GAAP and government contracting issues. 

---