[November 20, 2014]

Thompson Hine's Washington Office Again Expands Construction and Government Contracts Practices with Fifth Addition in Two Years

Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of government contracts attorney Gunjan R. Talati as senior counsel in its Washington, D.C. office. Talati's practice focuses on all aspects of government contract law, including the procurement process, suspension and debarment, ethics and regulatory compliance, bid protests and claims pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Talati joins from the law firm Reed Smith LLP.

Talati, the most recent addition to Thompson Hine's Construction and Government Contracts practices in Washington, is the fifth lawyer to join the Washington group during the past two years, following partner Lawrence M. Prosen, who also holds a degree in architecture, senior counsel John T. Bergin, a seasoned litigator, and experienced associates Christian F. Henel and Daniel P. Broderick. Talati's addition brings the total number of lawyers in the national group to 17.

"unjan's significant government contracts experience both complements and augments our existing practice," noted Construction practice group leader Jeffrey R. Appelbaum. "Counseling large corporations on government contracts matters has provided him with an insider's insight on the issues our clients are facing." Washington office partner-in-charge David A. Wilson added, "Gunjan's background further strengthens our federal Government Contracts practice, which we began expanding when Larry Prosen joined us. We are pleased to welcome yet another top-notch lawyer to our Washington office as we continue to enhance the services we offer our clients."

Talati has significant experience helping contractors navigate the government contracts regulatory framework. As part of his practice, he has helped contractors of all sizes through contentious suspension and debarment proceedings before multiple agencies including the U.S. Air Force, General Services Administration, U.S. Army and U.S. Agency for International Development. Talati is an experienced litigator and has represented clients in bid protests before agencies such as the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. While he was in law school, he was a law clerk for the U.S. Army Office of the Chief Attorney, where he provided guidance on government contracts administration and bid protests.

In addition, Talati has worked inside several Fortune 500 Global companies on secondment, developing comprehensive compliance policies and procedures and advising on negotiating long-term agreements, intellectual property disputes and general litigation.

"Thompson Hine impressed me as a forward-thinking, progressive law firm that understands and responds to its clients' needs for value, efficiency and predictability," said Talati of his decision to join the firm. "I am excited to join the growing government contracts practice and to be able to offer my clients the benefits of its substantial resources and innovative approach to service."

Talati was recognized in 2014 as one of D.C.'s Rising Stars - 40 leading lawyers who are 40 or younger - by the National Law Journal for his suspension and debarment experience. He was also named as a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers® Rising Star.

Since Prosen's arrival in June 2012, the D.C. Construction and Government Contracts groups have had several noteworthy representations and successes, including the Ft. Meade DISA Campus Project appeal, involving a $460 million project that generated a claim by a team of Hensel Phelps Contracting Company, M.C. Dean, Inc. and Southland Industries. Following a multi-day mediation, the team obtained a significant recovery from the U.S. government for the clients. The team also successfully represented the Desbuild/Limak/Group 77 JV as intervenor in a GAO bid protest filed by a disappointed offeror on an $85 million contract awarded to the client for a warehouse, chiller plant and emergency back-up building systems for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. Since Prosen's arrival, the firm's Government Contracts practice group has shown significant growth, now counting six attorneys resident in D.C. plus two other attorneys in other offices.

About Thompson Hine LLP. Thompson Hine LLP is a full-service law firm, established in 1911, with approximately 400 lawyers in seven offices. The firm is distinguished for embracing innovative strategies that maximize value to clients. Thompson Hine SmartPaTH^SM offers a smarter way to work - predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. Components of the program include Legal Project Management, Value-Based Pricing, Flexible Staffing and Process Efficiency. For the second straight year, the firm ranked in all categories of Service Delivery Innovation and is one of only seven leading U.S. firms noted for "making changes to improve the client experience." Among other distinctions, Thompson Hine has been ranked among the top five firms in the country for "Value for the Dollar" and "Commitment to Help" by in-house counsel, rated a leading law firm in Chambers USA for more than 10 consecutive years and named a top 10 U.S. firm for client service excellence on The BTI Client Service A-Team list. Thompson Hine serves premier businesses worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ThompsonHine.com.

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