Government Contracts Counsel

Exclusively focused on the Government, Kearney & Company provides financial services, including auditing, consulting, and technology services. Our commitment to employees and clients, as well as to dedication and trust, has led to recognition as one of the leading accounting firms in the country. Based on employee feedback, we are also consistently rated a Best Place to Work.

About the role

The Government Contracts Counsel serves as a strategic legal advisor on government procurement, regulatory compliance, and contracting risk. Reporting to the General Counsel, this position provides legal guidance across the government contracting lifecycle, with primary emphasis on federal procurement and support for the Company’s expanding state and local government business. The Government Contracts Counsel partners closely with the General Counsel, Director of Contracts, Growth/Business Development, Finance, Pricing, Technology, and operational leadership to identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risk while supporting the Company’s strategic business objectives. This position requires strong knowledge of federal procurement law, sound legal judgment, and the ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical, business-oriented advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and counsel regarding federal government procurement laws and regulations, including the FAR, agency supplements, procurement statutes, regulations, and relevant case law and administrative decisions.
• Review and analyze complex solicitations, requests for proposals, contractual requirements, and procurement strategies to identify material legal, regulatory, compliance, and business risks.
• Advise proposal and business teams on procurement requirements, proposal risk, representations and certifications, solicitation terms, acquisition strategy, and other legal issues arising during the pursuit process.
• Analyze organizational conflicts of interest (OCI), procurement integrity, unequal access to information, biased ground rules, impaired objectivity, and related ethics and compliance matters; develop or advise on appropriate mitigation strategies when necessary.
• Advise the General Counsel, Director of Contracts, and business leadership regarding non-standard or high-risk contractual provisions, including indemnification, limitations of liability, intellectual property and data rights, cybersecurity, confidentiality, audit rights, pricing obligations, termination provisions, and regulatory flow-down requirements.
• Provide legal support regarding bid protests, procurement disputes, claims, investigations, and other government contracting matters, including coordination with outside counsel as directed by the General Counsel.
• Monitor and analyze changes in federal procurement laws, regulations, executive actions, agency guidance, and other regulatory developments affecting government contractors; translate developments into practical guidance and recommended actions for the business.
• Support the Company’s expansion into state and local government contracting by researching and advising on jurisdiction-specific procurement requirements, contract terms, certifications, public-records requirements, indemnification, pricing provisions, cooperative purchasing arrangements, and related risks.
• Advise on government contract vehicles and acquisition structures, including IDIQ contracts, GSA Multiple Award Schedule contracts, GWACs, BPAs, and other federal and state/local procurement vehicles.
• Develop and maintain legal guidance, policies, templates, playbooks, training, and other compliance resources related to government procurement and contracting risk.
• Conduct legal research and prepare concise written analyses and recommendations regarding complex or emerging procurement and regulatory issues.
• Collaborate effectively with the Contracts function while maintaining clear functional responsibilities: Contracts owns contract operations, administration, and routine transactional execution; Counsel provides legal interpretation, legal risk analysis, and advice on matters requiring legal judgment.
• Escalate material enterprise legal risks, precedent-setting matters, and significant legal or regulatory issues to the General Counsel.
• Perform other legal duties as assigned by the General Counsel.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant legal experience, including substantive experience with federal government procurement and government contracts law.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and federal procurement laws and regulations, with the ability to independently research, interpret, and apply complex legal and regulatory requirements.
• Experience advising on government contracting matters involving solicitations and proposals, contract terms and compliance requirements, procurement risk, and regulatory issues.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, analyze, prioritize, and clearly communicate complex legal and business risks.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical, business-oriented advice that appropriately balances legal risk, compliance obligations, and business objectives.
• Strong legal research, analytical, drafting, negotiation, and written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to independently manage complex legal matters, exercise sound judgment, prioritize competing demands, and provide clear recommendations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, attorneys, contracts professionals, and cross-functional business teams.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with organizational conflicts of interest (OCI), procurement integrity, ethics, and government contractor compliance.
• Experience reviewing complex solicitations and advising on proposal strategy, procurement risk, bid protests, claims, or procurement disputes.
• Familiarity with GSA Multiple Award Schedule contracts, OASIS+, GWACs, IDIQs, BPAs, and other government-wide acquisition vehicles.
• Experience with government contractor pricing requirements, commercial products and services, cost or pricing data, representations and certifications, and subcontracting requirements.
• Experience advising on state and local government procurement or demonstrated ability and interest in developing expertise in state and local procurement laws and contracting requirements.
• Familiarity with government contractor requirements involving cybersecurity, data rights, artificial intelligence, supply-chain risk, and other emerging regulatory areas.
• Prior experience as in-house counsel for a government contractor, in a law firm government contracts practice, or in a relevant federal government legal or procurement position.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan and 529 Education Savings Plan
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Account
• Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity Insurances
• Legal Insurance and Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program, fitness and wellness benefits, and other firm benefits
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time