Government Contracts Associate – Compliance & Regulatory

Location: Washington, D.C. (hybrid — 3 days per week in office)

Practice: Government Contracts

Experience: 3+ years (more senior candidates also considered)

The Opportunity Our client, a Tier 1–ranked Government Contracts practice in Washington, D.C., is seeking a Government Contracts Associate to join its market-leading team. This is a compliance and regulatory role at the heart of one of the most highly regarded government contracts groups in the country — a practice recognised by Chambers and ranked Tier 1 by The Legal 500.

The successful candidate will advise government contractors of all sizes across the full lifecycle of federal contracting, with a particular emphasis on compliance, risk assessments, supply chain issues, investigations, and mandatory and voluntary disclosures. This is a counselling-focused position rather than a disputes role; bid protests and litigation are not the primary focus of the work.

Because the team is actively building out capacity, candidates who can hit the ground running and take immediate ownership of client-facing work are especially encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do

• Advise clients on federal procurement regulations, including the FAR, DFARS, and agency supplements
• Counsel government contractors on regulatory compliance across the contract lifecycle
• Conduct and support internal reviews and investigations, and advise on mandatory and voluntary disclosures
• Perform compliance risk assessments and help design and strengthen contractor ethics and compliance programmes
• Advise on supply-chain compliance and domestic preference rules (e.g. Buy American / Trade Agreements Act)
• Support clients on cost accounting standards (CAS), TINA, and DCAA/DCMA audit matters
• Advise on suspension and debarment risk and remediation
• Address the growing overlap between government contracts and data privacy / cybersecurity, including handling of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), DFARS 252.204-7012, FAR cybersecurity clauses, CMMC, and FedRAMP requirements

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of relevant law firm or in-house experience in government contracts (more senior candidates will also be considered)
• A focus or strong interest in regulatory and compliance counselling, as distinct from litigation or bid protests
• Prior exposure to FAR/DFARS compliance, investigations, disclosures, or federal grants counselling
• Excellent writing, analytical, and client-facing communication skills
• Member of the D.C. Bar, or eligible to waive in

Why This Role

• Join a nationally recognised, Tier 1 Government Contracts practice
• High-quality, sophisticated compliance and advisory work for contractors across defence, aerospace, technology, private equity, and healthcare
• Clear runway for immediate responsibility and client contact
• Competitive market-leading compensation and a hybrid working model

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