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Susan Cassidy advises clients on the complex rules and regulations imposed on government contractors, with a special emphasis on the defense and intelligence sectors. She combines a sophisticated knowledge of the FAR and DFARS with the practical insight gained from senior in-house positions at both dedicated defense and commercial item contractors.
Ms. Cassidy conducts internal investigations for clients on wide array of government contracts and national security compliance issues. She regularly advises on FAR mandatory disclosure obligations and represents clients with regard to these investigations before the agency, DOJ, and the relevant Suspension and Debarring Official. Ms. Cassidy spends considerable time advising on contractor cybersecurity requirements, including assessing contractual requirements and investigating and assisting clients with cyber breach incidents involving government information.
Ms. Cassidy has considerable litigation experience and has represented clients in bid protests, prime-subcontractor disputes, APA cases, and product liability litigation before federal courts, state courts, and administrative agencies.
Prior to joining Covington, Ms. Cassidy served in a number of senior in-house counsel roles for commercial item and defense contractors. Before moving in-house, Ms. Cassidy was a litigation and government contracts partner at a large international law firm in DC.
- Lead counsel on multiple internal investigations and disclosures with regard to DoD Cyber Incident Reporting, FAR mandatory disclosure obligations, the False Claims Act, national security requirements, the False Statements Act, the Anti-Kickback Act, the Byrd Amendment, and the Procurement Integrity Act. Representation and favorable resolution of investigations with Agency, OIG, DOJ, and SDO.
- Lead counsel conducting internal investigation and successful negotiations with government to clear client with regard to product substitution and MIL-SPEC compliance.
- Lead counsel advising defense contractors on response cyber incidents, including interface with DoD, law enforcement and forensic consultants.
- Numerous matters advising clients on the full spectrum of procurement and compliance obligations including, FAR and DFARS requirements, cybersecurity and supply chain risks, MIL-SPEC qualification and retention of qualification requirements, counterfeit part obligations, sourcing requirements (BAA and TAA), socio-economic requirements, CDA claims, TINA requirements, commercial item determinations, organizational conflicts of interest, cost allowability issues, technical data rights, M&A due diligence and novations, revolving door restrictions, ethics and business conduct issues, and the creation and implementation of government contracts compliance programs.
- Lead government contracts counsel advising top-ten defense contractor on a multi-million-dollar prime-subcontractor dispute in connection with a NATO contract.
- Lead government contracts counsel representing top 25 defense contractor in a state court appeal of a quarter billion dollar adverse judgment in a prime-subcontractor dispute.
- Lead counsel in post award bid protest successfully convincing agency to reopen procurement, allow opportunity for new proposal submissions, and ultimately change its decision and award to our client.
- Lead government contracts lawyer advising Fortune 100 financial services corporation on all aspects of federal novation and various state procurement restrictions on the transfer of assets in connection with the company's global reorganization of various business units.
Pro Bono
- Represent multiple U.S. veterans in various benefits applications.
- Successfully represented non-profit agency in grant award negotiations with the Department of State.
- Successfully resolved payment dispute for non-profit victim assistance agency against government entity allowing non-profit to continue operating.
- Advised non-profit organization on DC procurement rules and requirements for competitive bid.
- Successfully convinced Department of Justice to release documents in FOIA litigation that were essential to underlying action against the Department of Housing Urban and Development.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Intelligence and National Security Alliance - Legal Working Group
- American Bar Association – Public Contract Law Section; Co-Chair - Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection Committee
- American Bar Association – Public Contract Law Section; Member - Counterfeit Parts Task Force (Acquisition Reform & Emerging Issues Committee)
- American University, Washington College of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law (2009-2013, Spring 2015)
- National Defense Industrial Association, Member
Previous Experience
- Northrop Grumman Corporation, Information Systems Sector, Senior Counsel
- Motorola, Inc., U.S. Federal Government Markets Division, Senior Counsel
April 25, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
On April 24, 2018, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a Notice and Request for Comment on draft guidance that DoD proposes for assessing contractors’ System Security Plans (SSPs) and their implementation of the security controls in NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-171. This includes assessments as part of source selection decisions and during contract ...
April 24, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
On April 17, 2018, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen delivered a keynote address at the RSA Conference. A copy of her prepared remarks is available here. Secretary Nielsen’s remarks highlighted efforts by DHS to address the evolving cybersecurity threats to our country’s critical infrastructure. Secretary Nielsen set the stage by ...
If Shulkin Didn’t Resign, Who Runs the VA Until a New Secretary Is Confirmed? A Vacancies Act Puzzle
April 3, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
Recent news reports have raised a substantial question about who has authority to run the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) in the wake of Dr. David Shulkin’s departure from the agency. According to the White House, Dr. Shulkin resigned. Meanwhile, Dr. Shulkin himself has publicly insisted that he did not resign and was instead fired....… Continue ...
March 20, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
Following instructions from Congress to create a new online shopping system leveraging existing commercial practices, the General Services Administration (“GSA”), in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), has released an implementation plan (“Plan”) to begin e-commerce purchases by 2019. As discussed in a previous blog post, GSA’s Plan ...
March 19, 2018, Covington Advisory
Cyberattacks targeting defense contractors illustrate the need for cybersecurity, for thoughtful planning—and for insurance when security and planning prove insufficient. Understanding your insurance policies before things go wrong can help ensure financial protection when they do.
March 12, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
Late last month, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) released a set of documents for public comment that are aimed at helping contractors assess and implement compliance with NIST Special Publication (“SP”) 800-171, which establishes the standards for protecting Covered Defense Information (“CDI”), among other forms of Controlled ...
March 9, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
Earlier this week, both chambers on Capitol Hill took steps that would increase the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) role in the area of cybersecurity. On the Senate side, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a DHS reauthorization bill that included amendments to rename and reorganize the DHS National Protection and ...
February 26, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
Inflection Point for IoT In a relatively short amount of time, the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its applications — from smart cars to the myriad of interconnected sensors in the General Service Administration building reminiscent of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey — has rapidly proliferated, providing significant opportunities and...… ...
February 22, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
On February 7, the Department of Defense (DoD) awarded REAN Cloud a contract valued at up to $950 million to work with defense agencies to migrate existing applications to commercial cloud solutions. The award is of significant relevance to efforts currently underway in connection with the upcoming DoD Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure—or ...
January 30, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
Federal contractors may be subject to a slate of new regulations in 2018, including rules that increase cyber reporting burdens, expand small business competition, and change the procedures for competitively awarding IDIQ contracts. Among the proposed rules, announced in the Semiannual Regulatory Agenda of the FAR Council and the General Services Administration ...
Feds to Ramp Up Online Purchasing Presence
January 22, 2018, E-Commerce Times
Susan Cassidy is quoted in an E-Commerce Times article regarding efforts to create an online marketplace for government purchasers. "One model that was discussed would require a portal provider to contract with GSA to provide an online interface. Under this approach, suppliers would then sign up to use the portal, potentially via a contract with the portal ...
January 11, 2018, Inside Government Contracts
As part of ongoing efforts to create an online marketplace for government purchasers, GSA officials held a public meeting yesterday to discuss potential market structures and legal requirements. A wide range of stakeholders attended the hearing, responding to questions from GSA on issues such as how many online portals should be implemented, who should have...… ...
Russian hacker claims there's proof of his DNC breach
January 2, 2018, Politico
Susan Cassidy is quoted in Politico Pro's "Morning Cybersecurity" newsletter regarding the December 31st deadline for defense contractors to meet minimum cybersecurity requirements for the systems they operate for the Pentagon. According to Cassidy, the cybersecurity rule presents “a problem for DoD because there’s a lot of subjectivity in what is ‘adequate ...
Complying with the FAR and DFARS Cybersecurity Requirements
December 8, 2017, ABA Webinar
December 2017, Pratt's Government Contracting Law Report
Aerospace Up Against Deadline on Cybersecurity
November 24, 2017, Los Angeles Business Journal
Susan Cassidy is quoted in a Los Angeles Business Journal article regarding the difficulties that some defense contractors in Southern California were facing trying to meet the Department of Defense deadline of December 31, 2017 for implementing the cybersecurity controls in NIST Special Publication 800-171. Cassidy notes that the definition of the information ...
November 2017, Pratt's Government Contracting Law Report
October 31, 2017, Bloomberg Government
Susan Cassidy is quoted in a Bloomberg Government article regarding contractors' efforts to comply with new cybersecurity standards. According to Cassidy, the mandate that contractors develop cybersecurity plans—the most recent requirement added to the NIST list—is crucial for contractors. Contractors must “develop, document, and periodically update system ...
October 2017, Pratt's Government Contracting Law Report
Pentagon demands contractors up cybersecurity
July 2, 2017, San Antonio Express-News
Susan Cassidy is quoted in a San Antonio Express-News article regarding new cybersecurity requirements for contractors. According to Cassidy, "Essentially, the DOD wants its contractors to protect its information, because the DOD is a huge target, and its contractors are also a target." Commenting on the fact that over the years, contractors have been working ...
July 2017, Pratt's Government Contracting Law Report
Cybersecurity in Practice: Strategies for Complying with Changing Cyber Contracting Regulations
June 2017, ACI 8th Advanced Forum on DCAA & DCMA Cost, Pricing, Compliance & Audits
March 2017, Pratt's Government Contracting Law Report
February 28, 2017
WASHINGTON—Covington represented semiconductor manufacturer Intersil Corporation in its $3.2 billion sale to Japan’s Renesas Electronics Corporation. The firm advised Intersil on aspects of the transaction involving Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI), trade controls, and government ...
January 17, 2017, Federal Contracts Report
Susan Cassidy is quoted in a Federal Contracts Report article regarding the fate of cybersecurity improvements made by the DoD under President Trump. According to Cassidy, “I would expect those to continue forward because I don't see a political will to say, ‘No you shouldn't protect this.’” The nomination of former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) to serve as director ...
January 2017, Pratt’s Government Contracting Law Report
November 2016, Government Contracting Law Report
October 25, 2016, Inside Government Contracts
On October 21, 2016, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued its long-awaited Final Rule—effective immediately—imposing safeguarding and cyber incident reporting obligations on defense contractors whose information systems process, store, or transmit covered defense information (CDI). The Final Rule...
DOD Updates Cyber Reporting Rule for Contractors
October 3, 2016, Federal Contracts Report
Susan Cassidy is quoted in a Federal Contracts Report article regarding the Defense Department’s updated cyber incident reporting rule. According to Cassidy, the rule succeeded in clarifying some industry concerns, but did not address them all. “They didn't take an opportunity to clarify everything you might have hoped they would.” For example, when asked ...
September 19, 2016, Covington Alert
On September 14, 2016, the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) issued the “Controlled Unclassified Information Final Rule” (Final Rule), effective November 13, 2016, establishing consistent practices and procedures for safeguarding, disseminating, controlling, destroying, and marking Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across Executive ...
Cybersecurity: Steps to Take Before, During, and After an Incident
September 14, 2016, 2016 Covington Government Contracts Briefing: Solving Problems, Securing Opportunities
August 19, 2016, Inside Defense
Susan Cassidy is quoted in an Inside Defense article regarding the DOD’s proposed rule change to implement sections of the National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2016 relating to commercial item acquisitions. According to Cassidy, "They were going to take out the 'of a type' commercial item, and that's been a big deal with DOD for a long ...
June 17, 2016, Covington Alert
In Universal Health Services Inc. v. U.S. ex rel. Escobar, No. 15-7 (Slip. Op. June 16, 2016), a unanimous Supreme Court affirmed the viability of the “implied false certification” theory of False Claims Act liability, at least in certain circumstances. This portion of the ruling was not unexpected given the overwhelming acceptance of implied certification among ...
May 31, 2016, Inside Cybersecurity
Susan Cassidy participated in a panel discussion at the annual cybersecurity conference at Georgetown University Law Center and is quoted in this Inside Cybersecurity article regarding the limited scope of liability protections under the new cyber info-sharing law. According to Cassidy, "Anything you create could be used in litigation against you," in referring ...
Information Sharing: You Want to Share What With Whom?
May 25, 2016, Panelist Speaker, Georgetown University 4th Annual Cybersecurity Law Institute
DOD Responds to Some Concerns About Supply Chain Rule
November 3, 2015, BNA Government Contracts
Susan Cassidy was quoted in this article.
November 2, 2015, Covington Alert
DoD Issues Interim Rule Addressing New Requirements for Cyber Incidents and Cloud Computing Services
August 27, 2015, Covington Alert
August 27, 2015, Inside Cybersecurity
Susan Cassidy was quoted in this article.
August 13, 2015, Inside Cybersecurity
Susan Cassidy was quoted in this article.
June 17, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Federal Contracts Report
Cybersecurity and supply chain considerations in procurement, and counsel’s role in mitigating risk
June 9, 2015, Inside Cybersecurity
Covington's David Fagan, Susan Cassidy and Caitlin Meade have authored this article for Inside Cybersecurity.
December 11, 2014, American Bar Association
Self-Reporting Is All The Rage In Recent Contractor Regs
August 25, 2014, Law360
Susan Cassidy was quoted in this article.
Inside The Proposed DFARS Business Systems Rule
July 22, 2014, Law360
Susan Cassidy, Scott Freling and Kayleigh Scalzo have co-authored this article about the U.S. Department of Defense issuing a proposed rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (“DFARS”) in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of auditing contractors’ accounting systems, estimating systems, and material management and ...
July 13, 2014, The Washington Post
Covington partner Susan Cassidy is quoted regarding a recent court decision by the Fourth Circuit that is set to change how much contractors who mislead the government face in potential penalties. "That potential windfall acts as a strong incentive for people to file suits on behalf of the government, said Susan Cassidy, a partner at law firm Covington & ...
July 7, 2014, National Defense Magazine
Susan Cassidy and Mike Wagner authored this article on the increase of "false claims" suits. Under a recent court decision by the Fourth Circuit, a federal government contractor may suddenly find itself facing potentially massive liability based solely on the number of invoices submitted in previous years, even if every one of those invoices was entirely ...
July 5, 2014, National Defense Magazine
July 3, 2014, Law360
Susan Cassidy and Mike Wagner write on the False Claims Act in this article for Law360: "For the past four years, FCA enforcement has focused most heavily on the health care industry, recovering more than $2 billion a year in cases involving health care fraud. This article discusses a recent FCA ruling by the Fourth Circuit that, if allowed to stand, could ...
May 9, 2014, Covington E-Alert
April 28, 2014, Bloomberg BNA
Covington partner Susan Cassidy was interviewed for Bloomberg BNA regarding the General Services Administration's draft plan to manage cybersecurity risks in the federal acquisition process. The article states: “When you read the actual proposal from GSA, it's hard to figure out what they are going to do,” Covington & Burling LLP Partner Susan Cassidy said. ...
February 13, 2014, Covington E-Alert
January 29, 2014, Covington E-Alert
January 21, 2014, Covington E-Alert
January 9, 2014, Covington E-Alert
Cybersecurity Hot Spots: The Evolving Role of Cybersecurity in Federal Acquisitions
December 13, 2013, Panelist, American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law, Annual Fall Meeting
November 21, 2013, Covington E-Alert
April 8, 2013, Covington E-Alert
April 2013, The Procurement Lawyer
February 12, 2013, Covington E-Alert
August 29, 2012, Covington E-Alert
July 31, 2012, Covington E-Alert
July 2, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, July 2, 2012 — Covington & Burling is bolstering its government contracts practice by adding Susan Cassidy as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office. This marks Covington’s second high-profile addition to its government contracts practice in recent months and underscores the firm’s strong commitment to expand in this area of law. Robert Nichols ...
- American University Law Review, The Distinguished Alumni Award (2018)
- Legal 500 US, Government Contracts (2016-2017)
- Washington DC Super Lawyers, Government Contracts (2015-2018)
- Law360, Government Contracts Editorial Advisory Board (2014)
- American University Law School, Legal Rhetoric Adjunct Instructor of the year (2010-2011)