Robert Nichols

Robert Nichols is a partner in the firm's Washington, DC office and co-chair of the firm's Government Contracts practice group.

Mr. Nichols has nearly two decades of experience representing contractors in the defense and aerospace, information technology, large-scale construction, and international development sectors.  His expertise and practice includes both litigation and advisory work in the areas of:

• Claims
• Bid protests
• Investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, Inspectors General and Congress
• DCAA audits
• Suspension and debarment actions
• Procurement-related legislation
• Negotiating contract terms
• Contractor mergers & acquisitions
• Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales
• Security clearance issues
• Compliance counseling
• Risk mitigation techniques for contractors working overseas.

Representative Matters

• Lead counsel for an NGO in what is believed to be the largest USAID suspension and False Claims Act case ever brought, followed by a complex transaction to novate 1,000+ programs and transfer approximately 3,000 employees to an acquirer.
• Lead counsel for a development contractor in successfully protesting an agency’s improper use of the “low-price, technically-acceptable” procurement method in a $2 billion poverty reduction program.
• Representation of a top five defense & aerospace contractor on a range of bid protests, claims, and overseas contracting matters.
• Lead counsel for Fortune 50 aerospace contractor in seeking a “present responsibility” determination by its military customers following a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, a consent agreement with the State Department, and special interest from the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• Representation of a Middle East company on contracts with the U.S. State Department valued at $2 billion for the construction of embassies in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
• Representation of a Dubai-based energy company selling fuel to the Defense Department for military bases in the Middle East.
• Representation of multiple major defense contractors in successful defense of GAO bid protests relating to armored fighter vehicle procurements valued in excess of $40 billion.
• Lead counsel for a Fortune 50 contractor in $90 million claim against the government, settling the case at full value after extensive negotiations with USAID and the National Security Council.
• Advising some of the largest overseas contractors and NGOs in developing worldwide compliance programs, acquiring US subsidiaries, and navigating the regulatory environment to build US government contracts business.

Previous Experience

• Judge Advocate General, Honors Program of the U.S. Army Corps Engineers

Honors and Rankings

• Legal 500 US, Litigation - International Trade (2013)
• Washington DC Super Lawyers, Government Contracts (2013)
• Who's Who Legal, Public Procurement (2013)

Pro Bono

• Pro bono outside general counsel to the Army Engineer Association.

Memberships and Affiliations

• Ethics Resource Center, Fellow
• GW Law Government Contracting Industry Advisory Board, Member
• GW University Cybersecurity Initiative, Member
• Founder and former Advisory Board Chair of the publication “International Government Contractor”
• American Bar Association, International Procurement Committee of the Section of Public Contract Law, former Chair

Publications and Speeches

• Robert Nichols was interviewed by Law360 in “Q&A With Covington's Robert Nichols” (2/28/2013).
• Mr. Nichols was quoted in the Washington Post article entitled, “U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Declared Ready, With Nudge by Rockets” (4/18/2008).

• "The Government Contracts Update," Covington E-Alert (9/6/2013), Co-Author
• "The Government Contracts Update," Covington E-Alert (8/22/2013), Co-Author
• "Department of Labor Moves Forward on Affirmative Action Regarding Individuals with Disabilities," Covington Advisory (8/8/2013), Co-Author