Veteran Government Contracts Attorney Bruce Shirk Joins Sheppard Mullin Washington, D.C.
W. Bruce Shirk has joined the Washington, D.C. office of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP in the firm's Government Contracts practice group. Shirk most recently led Powell Goldstein's Government Contracts practice in Washington, D.C.
Shirk focuses his practice in the areas of government and construction contract law and litigation, including cost accounting issues, defense and aerospace contracting, Medicare and Medicaid contracting and related areas of law including Medicare coordination of benefits and data sharing requirements.
"We are thrilled to welcome Bruce to the office," said Ed Schiff, managing partner of the firm's Washington, D.C. office. "His background is a perfect fit for our formidable Government Contracts group."
"With close to four decades of experience, Bruce brings with him a wealth of government contracting knowledge and expertise in resolving a variety of disputes," commented John Chierichella, a senior lawyer in the firm's D.C. Government Contracts practice. "He will be a great asset to our clients, as we continue to grow our robust practice."
Commented Shirk, "I look forward to working closely with John and the top-notch group of attorneys in the D.C. practice. I am greatly impressed by Sheppard Mullin and its reputation as a 'go-to' firm for government contracting clients."
Shirk's litigation experience includes the conduct of trials and appeals, including bid protests and other complex litigation and related discovery proceedings, before Boards of Contract Appeals, various federal administrative tribunals and state courts, Federal District courts, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He has represented both state and federal government entities in litigation and has served as an arbitrator in a number of construction arbitration proceedings under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Shirk's experience as a counselor includes review of contracts and provision of advice to clients in both the public and private sectors in negotiation and administration of contracts and grants; administrative prosecution of claims against the government and defense of civil claims and criminal proceedings brought or instituted by the government, including claims arising under the Medicare statutes and regulations; defense of claims against public sector entities; conduct of internal inquiries related to contract and regulatory compliance, the latter including government claims for reimbursement of Medicare payments.
Shirk has conducted assessments of the practical impact of the law on the conduct of business with the government for clients, working closely with experts in related fields such as cost accounting and data analysis to formulate recommendations for managers responsible for corporate decision-making and resolution of disputes; the establishment of compliance programs and advice and counsel to clients regarding pricing and cost accounting issues. He has a special interest in the principles and implementation of internal controls in the context of performance of government contracts and grants.
Shirk earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1969 and received a B.A., cum laude, from Harvard College in 1962. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps on active duty as a lieutenant from 1962 to 1966.
About Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with more than 520 attorneys in 10 offices located throughout California and in New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanghai. The firm's California offices are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Century City, Orange County, Del Mar Heights and San Diego. Founded in 1927 on the principle that the firm would succeed only if its attorneys delivered prompt, high quality and cost-effective legal services, Sheppard Mullin provides legal counsel to U.S. and international clients. Companies turn to Sheppard Mullin to handle a full range of corporate and technology matters, high stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm's clients include more than half of the Fortune 100 companies.