The United States Court of Federal Claims has nationwide jurisdiction over most claims for money damages against the United States, principally involving tax refunds, government contracts and Fifth Amendment takings. Most cases filed with the Court involve claims over $1 million. In 2005, the Court awarded judgments in favor of claimants totaling in excess of $934 million.
Sutherland’s attorneys are uniquely positioned to bring together in one place proven expertise in each of the principal substantive practice areas - “the iron triangle” - of the Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction.
Tax Practice
For more than 70 years, our firm has had a strong national reputation in federal, state and local taxation. Today, we have approximately 70 lawyers engaged in the practice of federal tax law, one of the largest and most highly regarded tax practices in the country.
Government Contracts
Our attorneys represent firms in the full range of procurement matters, including contract negotiations and responses to requests for proposal; bid protests; due diligence in the context of acquisitions; internal investigations of a range of issues (including False Claims Act matters and other federal laws and regulations); suspension, debarment and fraud proceedings; determining “commerciality” in government contracts; cost accounting issues; negotiating licensed rights agreements to protect the intellectual property rights of contractors and foreign governments; and preparing Defense Industry-Initiative compliant internal compliance programs and counseling on a wide range of other issues.
Fifth Amendment Takings
Our attorneys have extensive experience litigating Fifth Amendment takings/inverse condemnation cases involving real and intangible property issues before the Court and regularly lecture on eminent domain/takings issues at conferences throughout the country. Our attorneys have represented both public and private interests in the eminent domain area allowing them to understand both sides’ positions in these extremely important and high stakes disputes.
In addition to their experience in the substantive areas of the Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction, our attorneys are active participants and intimately involved with the Court’s administration.
- For more than 10 years, at least one Sutherland attorney has served as a member of the Court of Federal Claims Advisory Council whose members are appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court.
- Sutherland attorneys have twice served as President of the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association, including its first president and Bar Association founding member Randolph Thrower.
- Two Sutherland attorneys have served as Treasurer of the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association.
- Sutherland attorneys have served as members of the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association’s governing board since 1996.
- In 2003 and 2004, the Chief Judge of the Court of Federal Claims presented two Sutherland attorneys with the prestigious Golden Eagle Award, recognizing sustained and exemplary service to the Court.
- The Court’s Bar Association has named a distinguished service award in honor of Sutherland partner Randolph Thrower, the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association’s first president. Two Sutherland attorneys have been recipients of this award.
- Our attorneys regularly speak at the Court’s annual judicial conference and participate in the planning of numerous Court programs.
© 2008 Sutherland