Mar 2025–Present
Current role
Government Contracts Attorney
Wiley Rein LLP
Washington, District of Columbia
AttorneyGovernment Contracts
About
Nick advises government contractors and subcontractors in the areas of federal procurement, compliance, and dispute resolution, including in contract claims, appeals, and bid protests. Leveraging his experience in representing multiple large federal government agencies within the Department of Defense, Nick helps clients navigate the complexities of government contract law, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements while protecting their interests in contract disputes and procurement matters. Prior to government contracts litigation, Nick was a public defender in Maryland, representing hundreds of clients and handling over a dozen jury trials over almost five years.
Roles
Mar 2021–Mar 2025
Former role
Trial Attorney
U.S. Air Force, Commercial Litigation Field Support Center
Maryland
AttorneyFederal GovernmentGovernment Contracts
GS-14 Trial Attorney
Represented U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) in claims and bid protests.
Litigated 15 appeals before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), totaling nearly $120 million in controversy.
Successfully defended over $2.6 billion in awards in 46 bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Served as Agency Counsel in claims and bid protests at the Court of Federal Claims (COFC).
Instructor, U.S. Army JAG School Contract Attorney’s Course.
Sep 2020–Mar 2021
Former role
Attorney Advisor
Small Business Administration (SBA)
District of Columbia
Attorney AdvisorFederal Government
May 2019–Feb 2020
Former role
Team Lead, Contract Litigation
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Government Contracts
Pennsylvania
AttorneyFederal GovernmentGovernment Contracts
GS-14 Team Lead
Responsible for overseeing all ASBCA contract litigation for DLA Troop Support: over 50 matters with over $10 billion in controversy.
Mar 2019–May 2019
Former role
Appellate Attorney
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims Division
District of Columbia
Federal GovernmentVeterans SupportAppellate Litigation
Feb 2014–Oct 2018
Former role
Assistant Public Defender
Office of the Public Defender
(appointed)Maryland
AttorneyPublic DefenderLegal
Aug 2013–Feb 2014
Former role
Judicial Law Clerk
Circuit Court, Anne Arundel County
(appointed)Maryland
Law Clerk
Served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Chief Judge Ronald A. Silkworth, researching and drafting opinions, orders, and bench memoranda.
Jan 2013–Aug 2013
Former role
Judicial Law Clerk
Circuit Court, Anne Arundel County
(appointed)Maryland
Law Clerk
Served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Paul F. Harris, Jr., researching and drafting opinions, orders, and bench memoranda.
Jan 2012–Aug 2013
Former role
Judicial Law Clerk
Circuit Court, Anne Arundel County
(appointed)Maryland
Law Clerk
Served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Chief Judge Ronald A. Silkworth, researching and drafting opinions, orders, and bench memoranda.
Publications & speeches
“Modernizing Defense Acquisition” EO Directs “Comprehensive Overhaul” of DOD Acquisition System
Wiley.law
April 2025
WHAT: The Trump Administration issued an Executive Order (EO) to kick off a “comprehensive overhaul” of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition system, aiming to “rapidly reform” acquisition processes with an emphasis on “speed, flexibility, and execution” as a means of accelerating procurement and revitalizing the defense industrial base. The EO also calls for modernization of the “duties and composition of the defense acquisition workforce” by incentivizing and rewarding “risk-taking and innovation from these personnel.” Entitled “Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base,” the EO outlines actions to reform the acquisition process and workforce; review internal regulations; and review major defense acquisition programs. WHEN: President Trump issued the EO on April 9, 2025. Within 60 days of the EO (June 8, 2025), the Secretary of Defense is required to submit to the President a plan to reform DOD acquisition processes. Within 90 days of the EO (July 8, 2025), the Secretary of Defense is required to complete a review of all major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs) and provide a listing of all MDAP contracts and their “performance against original and approved Government cost estimates” to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Within 120 days of the EO (August 7, 2025), the Secretary is required to develop and submit to the President a plan to “reform, right-size, and train the acquisition workforce” to incentivize use of innovative acquisition authorities and measured and calculated risk-taking. WHAT IT MEANS FOR INDUSTRY: The EO is just the latest action by the Trump Administration seeking to eliminate perceived waste and inefficiency in federal procurement, accelerate the acquisition process, and draw upon commercial practices.