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Marques O. Peterson

Partner
Washington, DC

Partner, Washington, DC

T: +1.202.663.8022
T: +1.202.663.8022

Areas of Focus

Marques Peterson is the managing partner of the firm’s Washington, DC office. His practice focuses on counseling and representing aerospace/defense and civil contractors in both federal procurement and international defense sales.

Marques has significant experience in bid protests and contract performance disputes before the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims and the Boards of Contract Appeals. He also regularly counsels clients on a wide array of government contracts compliance issues, including contracting with the General Services Administration (GSA), pricing issues and mandatory disclosure requirements.

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An important aspect of Marques’ practice is helping clients navigate the intersection of government contracting and international defense sales processes. He represents and advises clients on foreign military sales, direct commercial sales and contracts, and the complex regulatory compliance requirements associated with such international defense sales. Clients seek Marques’ counsel on their international business sales on topics including compliance with anti-bribery/anti-corruption laws, export control laws, national security issues and economic sanctions. He has represented several U.S. government contractors before international arbitration tribunals.

Prior to entering private practice, Marques served on active duty in the Air Force Office of General Counsel at the Pentagon, where he counseled senior leaders on numerous acquisition-related matters including services contracting and space acquisitions.

Marques is an active author and speaker in the government contracts field. He has written for various publications on issues such as foreign military sales, government contractor tort liability, trade issues and emerging markets, and the Buy American Act and Trade Agreements Act. He is an instructor in government contracts courses for the Public Contracting Institute, covering topics such as foreign military sales, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, export controls and offsets. He serves in a leadership position for the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section’s International Procurement Committee.

Representative Experience

  • Represented a client in a voluntary self-disclosure before the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, receiving a “No Action” response to the underlying disclosure.
  • Represented a private equity fund in the successful acquisition of a middle-market government contractor.
  • Represented a client before the GSA, Army and Air Force Suspension and Debarment Officials, resulting in a non-debarment.

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  • Battelle Memorial Institute, B-418390.2, B-418390.3, B-418390.4 (6/12/2020): Pillsbury successfully defended a nearly $300M protest resulting in award to client Battelle Memorial Institute.
  • Battelle Memorial Institute, B-418047.3, B-418047.4, May 18, 2020, 2020 CPD – Successful protest of $20+ million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention award, resulting in corrective action.
  • Battelle Memorial Institute, B-418047.1, B-418047.2, October 22, 2019 – Successful protest of $20+ million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention award, resulting in corrective action.
  • Successfully defended a client’s award of a FAA contract before the Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisitions.
  • Successfully represented a client before the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Customs and Border Protection in challenging the seizure of property due to an apparent violation of U.S. export controls and economic sanctions regulations.
  • Implemented several export control and economic sanctions compliance programs for government contractors and aviation firms.
  • Conducted an anti-bribery investigation of a large defense contractor related to potential issues involving third-party consultants.
  • Represented a client in obtaining a facility security clearance post-acquisition of a Department of Energy and Department of Defense government contractor.
  • Represented cleared individuals in security clearance appeals before the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals.

Specific client engagements withheld due to client sensitivity, but client references available upon request.

Professional Highlights

  • Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S., Government Contracts (2023)
  • Named a Rising Star (2014 – 2019) by Super Lawyers
  • Co-chair, American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, International Procurement Committee

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  • Honors & Awards
    • Recognized as a top-rated Government Contracts Attorney in Washington, DC, by Super Lawyers.
  • Associations
    • Member, American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, Privatization, Outsourcing and Financing Transactions Committee
    • Co-chair, American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, 2016 Federal Procurement Institute Program
  • Speaking Engagements
    • “Regulatory Update: Adapting to Supply Chain Changes in a Heighted National Security Environment,” GovCon East 2025, January 16, 2025.
    • " Anti-Corruption, Exports & Sanctions," Pub K’s Government Contracts Annual Review, Washington, DC, February 14, 2024.
    • “Emerging Issues in Supply Chain Management: Buy America, Section 889, Proposed Climate Initiatives, and Employment Non-Competes,” Pillsbury’s 2023 East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, May 16, 2023.

    • "Buy American and Sanctions Developments: New Risks for Contractors," Public Contracting Institute's Supply Chain Symposium, April 18, 2023.

Education

  • J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2004

    B.A., University of Kansas, 2001

Admissions

  • District of Columbia

    New York

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

    U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Marques' Insights

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