Michael E. Barnicle

is the Chair of the firm's Government Contracts and International Trade Group and serves as a team lead for the Duane Morris Transportation, Automotive and Logistics industry group. Mr. Barnicle provides a full range of litigation, compliance and corporate transactional services on virtually every facet of government contracting and international trade including industrial security and cybersecurity matters.

Mr. Barnicle represents federal government contractors relative to aerospace, national defense, homeland security, cybersecurity, information security, legislative affairs, foreign military sales and international trade matters. He assists clients throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Mr. Barnicle is recurrently called upon to advise upon matters arising in conflict and disaster areas.

After law school and prior to joining Duane Morris, Mr. Barnicle served as a government contracts attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps that included a combat tour in Iraq as a strategic legal advisor to senior military and other government officials. Due to his government-military experience, Mr. Barnicle possesses unique insight into the complex government contracting and acquisition processes that allows him to anticipate issues, assess litigation risk and develop practical solutions.

Mr. Barnicle's experience includes assisting clients with all aspects of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), contract-related statutes and federal agency policies involving services and supplies vital to national defense and infrastructure. Mr. Barnicle handles complex, high-stakes bid protests and contract appeals cases. Mr. Barnicle also represents government contractors before federal agencies and various federal district courts throughout the country. Mr. Barnicle also oversees and implements various government contract compliance audits, systems and investigations.

Federal government agencies routinely ask Mr. Barnicle to speak at internal government conferences regarding industry perspectives relative to various aspects of federal government contracting. Mr. Barnicle is also very active in, and provides pro bono services to, the military veterans community. In 2007, he co-founded the John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic in Chicago.

Prior to earning his J.D. in 2008 from the John Marshall Law School, Mr. Barnicle graduated with a B.A. in Political Science, with distinction, in 2004 from the University of Kansas. Mr. Barnicle also studied numerous government contracting and national security matters at the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Resume

Experience

•Duane Morris LLP
- Trial Attorney, 2014-present

•U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
- Government Contracts Trial Attorney, Washington, D.C., 2012-2014
- Government Contracts Attorney Advisor, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011
- Government Contracts Attorney Advisor, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, 2009-2010

•John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic
- Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member, 2007-present

•Judicial Extern to the Honorable Charles P. Kocoras, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Chicago, 2006

Pro Bono Activities and Board Memberships

•Co-Founder, the John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic in Chicago.
•John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Support Center Advisory Board
•University of Kansas, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board
•Mr. Barnicle’s recent significant pro bono victories include the reversal of a very complex debt action brought by the U.S. Navy that is now the model for similar cases, and he also participated in the firm’s Kingdomware case before the US Supreme Court that utilized both his military experience and government contracts background in a major victory for veteran-owned small businesses.
•Developed Veterans Cultural Competence and Infinity Programs for clients.
•Mr. Barnicle also regularly assists veterans transition from active duty military to civilian life and the civilian workforce.
•Co-Leader, National Veterans Legal Clinic Coalition (2015-2016)
•Planner, American Bar Association National Legal Network for Military and Veterans, Their Families and Caregivers (2015-2016)
•Chicago Council of 100

Honors and Awards

• Best in Litigation: Trial Lawyer Rising Star by Euromoney Legal Media Group, 2019

•Leading Lawyers' Emerging Lawyer in the Commercial Litigation and the Federal Regulatory Law categories for 2015-2019 (top 2% of attorneys younger than 40 years old)

•Featured Pro Bono Leader, Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation 2018
•2016 Hawks to Watch, University of Kansas (top graduates excelling in their professions that attended the university within the past 15 years)
•Recipient, Spirit Award, John Marshall Law School Board of Trustees, April 2013 (outstanding contributions to the legal and Illinois veteran communities)
•Military medals and badges include, but not limited to, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, German Parachutist Badge and Australian Parachutist Badge.

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Selected Publications

•Co-author, Department of Treasury Issues Guidance on Air Carrier Industry Assistance from CARES Act, Duane Morris Alert, April 7, 2020
•Co-author, Transportation Industry Gets $100 Billion in Aid from CARES Act, Duane Morris Alerts, April 1, 2020
•Co-author, CARES Act Creates New Opportunities for Companies That Can Supply PPE and Other Essential Medical Products, Duane Morris Alert, March 30, 2020
•Duane Morris Government Contracts and Litigation Blog
•Quoted in Trump Invokes Federal Law to Compel General Motors to Make Ventilators, Financial Times, March 27, 2020
•Co-author, Department of Defense Releases Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Framework for DoD Contractors, Duane Morris Alert, February 13, 2020
•Quoted in 4 Gov't Contracting Policy Developments to Watch in 2020, Law360, January 1, 2020
•Quoted in “Top 7 Gov’t Contracting Policy Changes in 2019,” Law360, December 20, 2019
•Co-author, New Cuba Sanctions Include Changes in Aircraft-Lease Licensing Policy, License-Exception Restrictions and a 10 Percent De Minimis Rule, Duane Morris Alert, October 23, 2019

•Co-author, U.S. Department of Treasury Warns Civil Aviation Industry About Iran's Attempts to Procure U.S. Aircraft Parts, Related Goods, Technology or Services, Duane Morris Alert, July 25, 2019

•“Construction Claims Before the Public Building Commission of Chicago,” Procurement Lawyer, ABA Public Contract Law Section, Spring 2016

•Selected Contributor, Government Contract Law: The Deskbook for Procurement Professionals (4th ed., Section of Public Contract Law, American Bar Association, expected fall 2015)

•Quoted in “ Illinois Holds First Veteran Treatment Court Summit, ” eNews Park Forst, May 15, 2015

•Featured in “ Jump Man, ” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, August 25, 2014

•“Contract Claims Against the Government,” The Federal Lawyer, July 2013

•“Military Service and the Law: VA Benefits,” Illinois Institute of Continuing Education, July 2009

Selected Speaking Engagements

•Speaker, “Contractor’s Perspective,” Contract Attorneys Course, US Army JAG School, 2019
•Speaker, “Federal Litigation and Industry Viewpoint,” Joint Conference of VA Procurement and Real Property Counsel, Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, 2019

•Panelist, “Perspectives from Private Industry,” New Developments Course, US Army JAG School, Charlottesville, IL, November 16, 2017

•Speaker, “Public Private Partnerships (P3s),” ABA Annual Section of Public Contract Law Conference, Chicago, IL, August 1, 2015

•Panelist, “Introduction to Fiscal Law: Why Fiscal Rules are Just as Important as the FAR,” ABA Section of Public Contract Law Seminar, Washington, D.C., May 20, 2015

•Panelist, The Veterans' Perspective - Best Practices for a Successful Transition to Private Practice, National Veteran Legal Career Fair, Washington, D.C., May 2, 2015
•Moderator, JMLS National Veterans Conference, Clinic Proposal: Getting the Concept Approved Panel, September 26, 2014