Seth Locke
- Firmwide Co-Chair, Government Contracts Practice
- Washington, D.C.
Seth protects government contractors’ rights and interests in a range of matters, including bid protests, contract performance issues, cost accounting claims, and other disputes.
Skilled in government contracts litigation, Seth Locke advocates before the Armed Services and Civilian Boards of Contract Appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. He also counsels clients in mergers and acquisitions, helping them comply with the government regulations and issues surrounding these deals. Seth has extensive experience with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and he is adept at risk management and litigation prevention in the government contracting process.
Seth’s clients include defense contractors, logistics contractors, global aerospace manufacturers, technology companies, service contractors, and healthcare contractors. He has experience with False Claims Act cases, contract termination procedures, and internal investigations. He also advises clients on protecting their rights in technical data and computer software.
Seth has taught courses at the George Washington University Law School, his alma mater, and for Federal Publications Seminars and provides various CLE presentations for clients. Seth’s pro bono practice includes working with the National Veterans Legal Services Program to assist veterans in submitting claims for combat-related special compensation to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with high honors, Associate, The George Washington Law Review, 2008
- Boston University School of Law, 2006
- Washington University in St. Louis, B.A., History, with honors, 2005
Bar and Court Admissions
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District of Columbia
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Virginia
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Related Employment
- Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, L.L.P., McLean, VA, Associate, 2008-2011
- U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for U.S. Trustees, Office of General Counsel, Legal Intern, 2006
Professional Recognition
Listed in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Government Contracts, 2019-2024
Selected as a “Rising Star” by Law360 for Government Contracts Law, 2016
Recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, 2018
Impact
Professional Leadership
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law - Accounting, Cost and Pricing Committee and Intellectual Property Committee, Member
- Perkins Coie, Associate & Counsel Committee; Washington, D.C. Summer Associate Subcommittee
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Litigation and Dispute Resolution - Bid Protests
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. v. United States, No. 22-1571C (Court of Federal Claims, December 14, 2023)
Successfully defended the Coast Guard’s $3 billion award to Austal USA for construction of Offshore Patrol Cutters.
Vectrus Sys. Corp. v. United States, Fed. Cl. 20-2053 C, Vectrus Sys. Corp., B-419143, Dec. 23, 2020
Successfully represented a defense contractor’s award of a $558 million contract to provide base support services to the U.S. Air Force in Africa and Europe. Defended against back-to-back protests before U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
ATA Aerospace, LLC, B-419962.2, B-419962.3
Represent intervenor-awardee in a bid protest before the Government Accountability Office arising out of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) small business contract for mechanical engineering and other services.
Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) Bid Protests
Defended KBR in multiple bid protests arising out of the Army's LOGCAP V before the GAO Court of Federal Claims.
- Matter of AECOM Management Services, Inc., B-417506.12, AECOM Management Services, Inc. v. United States, Case No. 1:19-cv-01176-LAS
- Matter of DynCorp International, LLC, B-417506.10, DynCorp International, LLC v. United States, Case No. 19-1133C
- Matter of Fluor Intercontinental, Inc., B-417506.14, Fluor Intercontinental, Inc. v. United States, Case No. 19-1580
Matter of Intelsat General Corporation, B-412097
Protested the award of a $450 million contract to provide comprehensive satellite services contract to the United States Navy.
Matter of Harris IT Services Corporation, B-41169; B-411796
Served on the team that won a precedent-setting protest against a $335 million IDIQ contract from the FBI for Land Mobile Radio System equipment. The GAO sustained the client’s protest against the agency’s attempts to limit competition through an inappropriate use of pre-existing IDIQ contracts.
Matter of MTU Maintenance Canada, Ltd., B-41185
Defended successfully an award from the United States Air Force to The Boeing Company to maintain specialized, nuclear-hardened aircraft used to protect and convey the nation’s senior leadership in the event of nuclear war.
ITT Information Systems, Lockheed Martin Corporation, ODRA 12-ODRA 00628
Conducted a successful defense against protests of a billion-dollar award for FAA Data Communications Integrated Services contract.
First Coast Service Options, Inc. B-409295, 409295.2
Represented a healthcare contractor in a successful bid protest challenging its exclusion from the competitive range under a large Medicare services acquisition.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution - Claims and Disputes
Silver State Land LLC v. United States, Court of Federal Claims No. 19-688
Represent Silver State in breach of contract action against the United States
AAA Arbitration
Secured a substantial win for a major aerospace defense contractor in an arbitration proceeding with its subcontractor under a large government contract.
Appeal of The Boeing Company, ASBCA Nos. 57090 and 57402
Represented The Boeing Company in a favorable resolution of a $72 million claim under an Air Force F-15E aircraft simulation training contract.
Appeal of The Boeing Company, ASBCA Nos. 57549 and 57563
Represented The Boeing Company in the successful defense of the contractor practice of "netting" the impacts of simultaneous accounting changes 13 BCA ¶ 35 5427.
Unitrac v. The United States, Court of Federal Claims No. 11-581C; Federal Circuit Appeal No. 14-5034
Obtained dismissal of Northrop Grumman Corporation as a defendant in a §1498 patent infringement suit through the assertion of defenses unique to the Court of Federal Claims matters; successfully defended the dismissal on appeal.
Transactional and Regulatory Counseling, and Investigations
ASGN’s Acquisition of Enterprise Resource Performance, Inc.
Served as Government Contracts counsel for ASGN.
ASGN’s Acquisition of IndraSoft, Inc.
Served as Government Contracts counsel for ASGN.
ASGN’s Acquisition of ECS Federal
Served as Government Contracts counsel for ASGN.
ASGN’s Acquisition of Blackstone Technology
Served as Government Contracts counsel for ASGN.
Investigation and Compliance Counsel for IT Services Contractor
Conducted internal investigation and advised contractor regarding compliance issues.
Investigation and Compliance Counsel for Major Aerospace Contractors
Conducted internal investigations and advised contractors regarding compliance issues and disclosure obligations.
Software Rights Counsel for Technology Company
Advised a technology firm on how best to protect its computer source code in a dispute with another government contractor and with the U.S. government. The company maintained all rights in its computer software.