Akin

Government Contracts

Partner

To learn more about Michael, please visit his profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/michael-j-vernick

Mike is the leader of the government contracts group at Akin, specializing in the higher education and health care sectors, particularly life sciences. His expertise in False Claims Act (FCA) cases encompasses various aspects of government contracting, including compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), General Services Administration (GSA) contracts, defective products, and bid rigging. Mike has extensive experience working with universities and academic medical centers, focusing on scientific compliance related to financial conflicts of interest, research misconduct, and human subject research.

He has successfully represented prestigious institutions in cases involving allegations of foreign influence on U.S. government-funded research, including the resolution of the first reported FCA case concerning undisclosed researcher ties to a foreign government. Mike assists research institutions with Uniform Guidance enforcement, compliance matters, and sponsor regulations, providing guidance on grants and cooperative agreements' financial, administrative, and scientific management. He also advises leading research institutions on international sponsored projects, capacity building, and training initiatives.

Mike has handled bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, as well as suspension and debarment proceedings across multiple U.S. government agencies. Additionally, he has worked on contract claims and disputes and provided counsel on government cost accounting matters, including Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) audits, disputes, and claims. Before joining Akin, Mike led the government contracts practice and education industry sector team at another international law firm.

Member, Government Contracts and Litigation Sections, Bar Association of the District of Columbia.

Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys.

J.D., George Mason University School of Law, with high honors, 1997

B.A., Tufts University, cum laude, 1991