Sarah L. Wilson

Sarah L. Wilson is a former federal judge whose practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and government investigations.  She has handled a broad range of civil and criminal disputes, including False Claims Act litigation, environmental and natural resources litigation, insurance litigation, employment litigation, pharmaceutical and consumer product company investigations, and arbitration.  Ms. Wilson co-chairs the firm's Advertising and Consumer Law Practice Group, and has represented numerous consumer product manufacturers in product recalls and related enforcement actions.  Ms. Wilson serves on the Advisory Council of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, where she previously adjudicated major contractual disputes between government contractors and federal agencies, bid protests, tax, and employment issues.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Wilson served as a Trial Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice, as an Associate and Senior Counsel in the White House Counsel's Office, and as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Representative Matters

• Defense of major telecommunications investors in a $1.2 billion novel False Claims Act suit involving spectrum license auction rules for women-and-minority-owned businesses.
• Defense of a venture capital software company and a major investment fund in an arbitration involving allegations of fraud and breach of contractual representations and warranties.
• Representation of a global automobile manufacturing company in gender discrimination investigations.
• Representation of major pharmaceutical companies and medical device suppliers in False Claims Act litigations and Food & Drug Administration compliance investigations.
• Representation of corporate policyholder in a first-party property insurance coverage dispute involving extensive damage to Florida hotels caused by Hurricane Frances.
• Representation of a major natural foods distributor and retailer in a consumer class action involving the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.

Previous Experience

• United States Court of Federal Claims, Judge 
• White House Counsel’s Office, Senior and Associate Counsel 
• Department of Justice, Office of Policy Development, Deputy Assistant Attorney General 
• Department of Justice, Federal Programs Branch Civil Division, Trial Attorney

Pro Bono

• Represented the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce in a successful lawsuit challenging the Small Business Administration’s delay in implementing the Women’s Procurement Program.
• Represented a criminal defense attorney organization in a successful legal reform effort involving Virginia’s indigent defense compensation system.

Memberships and Affiliations

• Board Member, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
• American Bar Association, Litigation Section
• D.C. Women’s Bar Association

Publications and Speeches

• "National Poison Prevention Week," Covington E-Alert (3/19/2013), Co-Author
• "Supreme Court Issues Landmark Class Action Decision in Wal-Mart v. Dukes," Covington E-Alert (6/22/2011), Co-Author
• "Supreme Court Issues Important Decision in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion," Covington E-Alert (5/2/2011), Co-Author