Biography: Public Procurement

John W Chierichella is a partner of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. His practice is national and international in scope, and he is admitted to practice not only in the District of Columbia but in New York and California as well.

Mr Chierichella received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his law degree from Columbia University, where he was named as a James Kent Scholar, a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a member of the Law Review. He has been named as a leading government contracts practitioner by Chambers & Partners, The Legal Times, The Washington Business Journal, Washingtonian Magazine, SmartCEO Magazine and The Washington Post, which lists him as among its DC 'super lawyers'.

He has practiced government contracts law for more than 30 years, from both sides, having served in the Air Force Office of the General Counsel before entering private practice. He counsels and litigates on behalf of domestic and foreign clients across the full spectrum of government contracts issues. His litigation practice involves claims against the government and the defence of claims made by the government (with a particular emphasis on cost and accounting-related claims, audits and investigations), an extensive False Claims Act and qui tam practice, an equally active bid protest practice, prime contractor/subcontractor disputes, and domestic and international arbitration. He counsels on a wide variety of Government contracts issues, including teaming agreements, cost disallowances, the Cost Accounting Standards, and non-tariff trade barriers (e.g., the Buy America Act, the Trade Agreements Act and additional, particularized Department of Defence restrictions on overseas acquisitions).