Covington & Burling LLP operates as a limited liability partnership worldwide, with the practice in England and Wales conducted by an affiliated
limited liability multinational partnership, Covington & Burling LLP, which is formed under the laws of the State of Delaware in the United States
and authorized and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with registration number 77071..
Samantha Clark provides advisory and advocacy support and counseling to clients facing policy, political, and regulatory challenges in the aerospace, defense, national security, and emerging technologies sectors. Samantha also plays a leading role in the firm’s Global Supply Chain initiative, advising clients on complex, emerging regulatory requirements in global supply chain security.
Before joining the firm, Samantha served in senior staff positions on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, most recently as Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel. On the committee, she managed a multi-billion dollar policy portfolio that covered acquisition and national security law and policy. Importantly, she managed the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense policy bill that authorizes the Defense Department’s (DoD) budget. Samantha also worked on Chairman McCain's legislative priorities to modernize the military retirement system and reform the defense acquisition system and served as an investigative counsel for the committee's inquiry into cyber intrusions affecting U.S. Transportation Command contractors.
At Covington, Samantha works at the intersection of public policy, government contracts, and national security, counseling clients on how to navigate challenging emerging national security issues. For example, she advises on restrictions concerning telecommunications equipment and services, software source code review, DoD cybersecurity requirements, CFIUS reform, DoD acquisition reform and alternative acquisition pathways, secure 5G, and emerging and dual-use technologies. Her strategic counseling has aided global clients, from large defense contractors to technology innovators, in securing and performing on contracts with the U.S. government.
Samantha has particular expertise in supply chain security issues. She draws on her knowledge and experience with DoD and the Senate Armed Services Committee to help clients navigate and develop corporate strategies for complex supply chain security requirements, including Section 889, Executive Orders related to securing the information communications technology and services supply chain, DoD’s source code requirements, product exclusions, DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and the U.S. State Department’s 5G “Clean Networks” initiative.
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