Drinker Biddle Launches Government Contracts Practice With Four New Lawyers in Washington, D.C.

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP has added four partners who will launch a new Government Contracts Team within the firm’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Group. The group, formerly with Dentons, includes Jessica C. Abrahams, John G. Horan, Thomas J. Kelly and Dana B. Pashkoff.

Led by Ms. Abrahams, the new partners have significant government contracting experience and leadership across a broad range of services, including procurement litigation, commercial litigation, trade compliance, regulatory ethics and compliance, M&A due diligence, and white collar and criminal defense. The attorneys reside in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

“The addition of four new partners is a significant milestone for our thriving government and regulatory practices and our Washington, D.C., office,” said Andrew C. Kassner, Chairman and CEO of Drinker Biddle. “Their experience aligns with the firm’s key industries, enabling us to serve clients in the highly regulated area of government contracting. We’re excited to have them join the firm.”

“Drinker Biddle is a firm with a strong commitment to growth and serving clients in the practice areas and industries that align with our own experience. The firm’s collaborative culture will enable our team to best leverage our interdisciplinary, holistic approach to serving clients,” said Ms. Abrahams, the chair of the firm’s new Government Contracts Team.

“We’re excited to add a dynamic team with substantive government contracts capabilities to complement and strengthen our current team of government and regulatory lawyers and professionals,” said Laura H. Phillips, Chair of the Government and Regulatory Affairs Group.

Below are brief biographies of Drinker Biddle’s new partners:

• Jessica C. Abrahams offers U.S. and international clients comprehensive counsel on issues concerning litigation, compliance and transactions. Her clients span a variety of industries, from biodefense and health care to information technology, defense services, supply chain and infrastructure development. She was most recently Chair of Dentons’ U.S. and Global Government Contracts Practices. She joins the firm’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Group as chair of the Government Contracts Team.
• John G. Horan represents clients in litigation with the government; internal investigations of contract, regulatory, civil and criminal violations; and compliance with contractual, regulatory, civil and criminal requirements. He is an experienced practitioner in government contracts, litigation and white collar criminal defense. He joins the firm’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Group and is a member of the Government Contracts Team.
• Thomas J. Kelly is a trial lawyer who represents clients in white collar defense matters, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations, procurement fraud cases, and cases under the False Claims Act. He has represented corporations, directors and officers, employees, and individuals in high-profile criminal and administrative matters throughout the United States. He joins the firm’s Litigation Group and is a member of the Government Contracts Team.
• Dana B. Pashkoff provides legal counsel to government contractors in the information technology, telecommunications, homeland security and aerospace/defense industries. She has litigated many contract claims and bid protests before federal district courts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Government Accountability Office. She joins the firm’s Government and Regulatory Affairs Group and is a member of the Government Contracts Team.