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Michael Rizzo, Government Contracts Lawyer

Michael R. Rizzo

Partner
Los Angeles

Partner, Los Angeles

T: +1.213.488.7202
T: +1.213.488.7202

Areas of Focus

[Michael Rizzo] provides valuable and timely advice. He takes the time to understand clients’ business, objectives and goals. Mike makes himself available even upon short notice and is very responsive to requests.
—The Legal 500 U.S. 2021

Michael Rizzo is managing partner of the Los Angeles office. He regularly represents service contractors, defense contractors, transportation contractors and technology companies in high-stakes matters involving resolution of precedential issues.

A government contracts lawyer in Los Angeles, Michael prepares Contract Disputes Act certified claims; resolves contract disputes before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA), California federal and state courts, and in arbitration; and leads termination disputes at the federal, state and local government levels. He also leads Pillsbury’s California State and Local government contracts practice and has served as first chair in numerous high-profile California state and local matters. Michael co-authors the authoritative publication on California state and local government contracts, the “California Procurement Handbook.”

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In addition, Michael serves as lead counsel in corporate suspension and debarment matters before the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, and the Defense Logistics Agency and defends lawsuits filed under the Civil False Claims Act. He also crafts comprehensive government contracts compliance programs designed to reduce clients’ future exposure and legal expenditures, including counseling on supply chain risk management issues.

Representative Experience

  • Represents Parsons Corporation in Contract Disputes Act claims valued at more than $40 million before the CBCA in relation to Parsons’ $2 billion contract for the Department of Energy to design, build, commission and operate a first-of-its-kind salt waste processing facility.

  • Represents Parsons in United States ex rel. Billy Hunt v. Cochise et al., a False Claims Act qui tam lawsuit alleging a conspiracy to defraud in connection with the $100 million Coalition Munitions Clearance contract in Iraq. Successfully secured a motion to dismiss the complaint on statute of limitations grounds in the Northern District of Alabama that was subsequently heard by the 11th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Pillsbury serves as lead trial counsel in remanded matter.

  • Represented WSP in 2021 in a successful $200 million local bid protest of a contract awarded originally to Cofiroute USA by the Orange County Transportation Authority for the back office and customer service functions supporting Interstate 405 express lanes expansion.

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  • Served as Government Contracts transactional counsel for Blue Shield of California in its sole source contract to serve as California’s third-party provider of California’s COVID-19 vaccine program.
  • Served as Government Contracts transactional counsel on Parsons Corporation’s recent successful $500 million acquisition of Polaris Alpha.
  • Defended Rockwell Collins in a protest of its award by the California Department of General Services of a $300 million+ IT contract for an integrated public safety vehicle environment in what was then the largest protest pursued under California’s Alternate Pilot Protest program.
  • Successfully resolved what are believed to be the two largest terminations for default stemming from the Iraq reconstruction effort, obtaining terminations for convenience on behalf of our design/build client.

Professional Highlights

  • Over the course of his career, Michael has handled and successfully resolved more than 20 claims and termination disputes collectively valued at more than $5 billion.
  • As co-leader of Pillsbury’s Government Contracts & Disputes practice for seven years, achieved numerous national practice recognitions, including being named Law360’s “Practice Group of the Year” in 2022, 2019, 2017 and 2016 and securing practice rankings by The Legal 500 U.S. for Government Contracts and Chambers USA Nationwide Government Contracts “The Elite Legal Rankings.” Michael served as the chair of his former firm’s Government Contracts practice before leading the group’s transition to Pillsbury.
  • For the past seven years, Michael has led Pillsbury’s participation at the Federal Publication Seminars annual Government Contracts Review & Outlook West Coast as conference co-chair and presenters. Michael’s presentation topics have included “Contract Disputes – Was That a Final Decision? Is That a Sum Certain? Agency Tactics and Precedential Inconsistencies That Threaten CDA Claims” and “What’s New with Contract Disputes Act – the ‘Top 10’ Cases over the past 12 Months and Their Impact on Your Business.”

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  • Michael is the co-author of West Publications’ “California Procurement Handbook,” the leading reference guide for state and local government contracts practitioners outlining the authority of state agencies and the procurement process under The California Public Contract Code, The California Government Code, The California Public Utilities Code, The California Code of Regulations, and state government administrative and contracting manuals.
  • Michael leads Pillsbury’s Supply Chain Symposium webinar series with Public Contracting Institute, a program which has now run for almost 10 years.
  • Honors and Awards

    • Recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. for Government Contracts (2017 – 2023)

    • Recognized as a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated lawyers (2022 – 2025). This is a client-nominated listing that legal departments around the world use to search for peer-reviewed lawyers.

    • Michael has twice been named to the BTI Client Service All-Star Team, an annual list honoring attorneys who deliver incomparable levels of client service excellence in the United States.   

  • Speaking Engagements
    • “Jurisdiction Under the CDA: Practice Pointers to Assist Contractors’ Efforts to Secure Jurisdiction and Defeat Government Efforts to Challenge It,” Pillsbury’s 2024 West Coast Government Contracts Summit, San Diego, May 16, 2024.
    • “2023-2024 Statutory and Regulatory Changes That Impact Contractor Compliance Risks,” Pillsbury’s 2024 West Coast Government Contracts Summit, San Diego, May 16, 2024.
    • “The Contract Disputes Act: Procedural and Substantive Developments and Recommended Strategies to Employ the Lessons Learned.” Federal Publications 2023 Government Contracts Review and Outlook Seminar, La Jolla, CA, November 14, 2023.
    • "The Contract Disputes Act: Termination Trends and Mitigation Strategies," Pillsbury's 2023 East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, May 16, 2023.
    • "The Contract Disputes Act Covers Terminations Too: Trends in Default Termination Litigation, Convenience Terminations and Mitigation Strategies," Pillsbury's 2023 West Coast Government Contracts Summit, San Diego, April 20, 2023.
    • "International GovCon Issues: How Geopolitical Conflicts Are Affecting Procurement in the U.S.," Pillsbury's 2023 West Coast Government Contracts Summit, San Diego, April 20, 2023.
    • "Update – Mandatory FAR Flow-Down Clauses and Best Practices," Public Contracting Institute's Supply Chain Symposium, January 17, 2023.
    • "2022 Government Contract Review and Outlook – West Coast," San Diego, CA November 2022.
    • “Was That a Final Decision? Is That a Sum Certain? Agency Tricks and Precedential Inconsistencies That Threaten CDA Claims,” Pillsbury’s Annual West Coast Government Contracts Summit, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, April 19, 2022.
    • “Preparing for Evolving Cybersecurity Risks & Requirements: Legal and Practical Advice for Prime Contractors and Their Supply Chain,” Pillsbury’s Annual West Coast Government Contracts Summit, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, April 19, 2022.
    • “Crime or Mistake? The Government’s Increasing Civil Prosecution of Contract Violations and What Contractors Can Do to Protect Themselves,” Pillsbury’s Annual East Coast Government Contracts Summit, McLean, VA, April 12, 2022.
    • “Update – Mandatory FAR Flow-Down Clauses and Best Practices,” Public Contracting Institute (PCI) Supply Chain Symposium webinar, January 19, 2022.
    • “Industry Perspectives on CMMC 2.0,” Carahsoft webinar, December 9, 2021.
    • “Contract Disputes – Was That a Final Decision? Is That a Sum Certain? Agency Tactics and Precedential Inconsistencies That Threaten CDA Claims,” Federal Publications Seminars’ 2021 Government Contracts Review and Outlook (hybrid event), San Diego, CA, November 18 – 19, 2021.
    • “Managing Supply Chain Disruptions,” Public Contracting Institute (PCI) webinar, May 19, 2021.
    • “Update – Mandatory FAR Flow-Down Clauses and Best Practices,” Public Contracting Institute (PCI) Supply Chain Symposium webinar, January 27, 2021.
    • “The CO Has Denied Your Certified Claim – What Happens Next?,” Pillsbury GovCon Webinar, December 8, 2020.
    • “What’s New with the Contract Disputes Act (Top 10 Cases over the past Year),” Federal Publications Seminars’ 2020 Government Contracts Review and Outlook – West Coast Conference, virtual, November 19, 2020.
    • “A New Government Contracts Paradigm,” Pillsbury GovCon Webinar, June 10, 2020.
    • “Government Contract Legal Developments Driven by COVID-19,” Pillsbury GovCon Webinar, April 16, 2020.
    • “Your Tax Dollars at Work: The Truth behind Government Contracting,” Los Angeles, CA. January 2020.
    • “2020 Update – Mandatory FAR Flow-Down Clauses and Best Practices,” Public Contracting Institute (PCI) Supply Chain Symposium webinar, January 15, 2020.
    • “The Contract Disputes Act Has Turned 41 – What Have We Learned?,” Federal Publications Seminars: 2019 Government Contracts Review and Outlook – West Coast Conference, San Diego, CA. November 2019.
    • “Do the Results Justify the Investment? A Dive into the Key Contract Disputes Act Cases of the past 12 Months,” Pillsbury’s Annual East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Tysons, VA, May 14, 2019.
    • “Do the Results Justify the Investment? A Dive into the Key Contract Disputes Act Cases of the past 12 Months,” Pillsbury’s 5th Annual West Coast Government Contracts Summit, Carlsbad, CA, May 9, 2019.
    • “2019 Update – Advanced Flow-Downs, Mandatory DFARS Clauses and Best Practices,” Public Contracting Institute (PCI) Supply Chain Symposium webinar, February 20, 2019.
    • “2019 Update – Mandatory FAR Flow-Down Clauses and Best Practices,” Public Contracting Institute (PCI) Supply Chain Symposium webinar, January 16, 2019.
    • “What’s New with Contract Disputes Act – the ‘Top 10’ Cases over the past 12 Months and Their Impact on Your Business,” 2018 Government Contracts Review & Outlook – West Coast, November 8, 2018.
    • Pillsbury’s Government Contracts Fall 2017 Briefing – Panel on Investigations, False Claims and Suspension & Debarment Updates (Oct. 3, 2017 – Tysons, VA).
    • “Opportunities and Compliance Risks in Federal Government Contracting,” Pillsbury’s 2016 CLE Marathon – Silicon Valley, January 13, 2016.
    • “Managing the Supply Chain: Legal & Practical Issues,” Federal Publications Seminars: 2015 Government Contracts Review & Outlook – West Coast, November 4, 2015.
    • “Shining Light on the Subcontracting Perspective,” NCMA Subcontracting Management Training Forum, March 27 – 28, 2014.
    • “Understanding Mandatory Flowdowns and Tailoring Subcontract Clauses to Mitigate Risk,” Public Contracting Institute, Webinar, March 2014, May and December 2012.
    • “Using Drones in the News and Entertainment Industries: Legal and Regulatory Issues,” Southwestern Law School, February 7, 2014.
    • “Contract Performance,” Federal Publications Seminars: 2013 Western Briefing Conference: A Review and Outlook, December 5, 2013.
    • “Self-Governance—A Discussion on Ethics & Compliance in Aerospace & Defense,” NCMA Aerospace & Defense Training Forum, March 14, 2013.
    • “Contract Performance,” Federal Publications Seminars: 2012 Western Briefing Conference: A Review and Outlook, December 6, 2012.
    • “Contractor/Subcontract Flow-Downs and Negotiation of Subcontractor Terms and Conditions,” NCMA, South Bay Chapter, January 2012.
    • “Recent Developments in State and Local Government Procurement,” ABA’s Section on Public Contract Law 6th Annual State and Local Procurement Symposium, May 2011.
    • “Contract Performance,” Federal Publications Seminars: 2010 Western Briefing Conference: A Review and Outlook, December 1, 2010.
    • “Strings Attached to Federal Stimulus Funding,” CLE Construction Law Conference, March 4 – 5, 2010.
    • “Performance Problems,” Federal Publications Seminars: 2009 Government Contracting Review & 2010 Outlook Conference, December 2, 2009.
    • “The Pendulum Swings Back: Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009,” NCMA, South Bay Chapter, June 9, 2009.
    • “Contract Claims/Equitable Adjustments,” NCMA, June 29, 2007.
    • “Teaming to Bid on Large Projects: A Legal and Practical Perspective,” Association of Language Companies Annual Meeting, June 18, 2005.
    • “Conducting the Effective Voluntary Disclosure,” NCMA, San Fernando Valley Chapter, February 17, 2005.
    • “Organizational Conflicts of Interest,” NCMA, South Bay Chapter, January 18, 2005.
    • “Handling the CID, Federal Agents, Suspension and Debarment,” Construction Superconference, December 8, 2000.
    • “How Changing Paradigms within Client Companies are Changing Expectations for Lawyers,” American Management Association, November 7, 2000.
    • “Government versus Commercial Contracts ... Are They Really That Different?,” “War Stories and Practical Guidance, Government Criminal Investigations.”
  • External Publications
    • “California Public Procurement Handbook, 2021 – 2022 ed.,” West Publications, November 2021.
    • Bipartisan Senators Introduce the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021, Westlaw Today, Authors: Meghan D. Doherty, Brian E. Finch, Michael R. Rizzo, 08/09/2021.
    • California Public Procurement Bid Protest Process, Thomson Reuters Briefing Papers: Second Series, September 2020, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Brian P. Cruz, 11/03/2020.
    • “Defense Production Act Requires California Businesses to Ethically Weigh Whether to Close,”Daily Journal, March 30, 2020.
    • Unique Facts Entitle Contractor to Recover under Mutual Mistake Theory, Pratt’s Government Contracting Law Report, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Kevin J. Slattum, November 2019, Vol. 5, No. 11.
    • The Commercialization of Government Contracting, Pratt’s Government Contracting Law Report, Authors: Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, Travis L. Mullaney, Kevin Massoudi, May 2019, Vol.5, No.5.
    • Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals Releases Annual Report: Positive Trends Continue, Pratt’s Government Contracting Law Report, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Glenn Sweatt, Kevin Massoudi, January 2019, Vol. 5, No.1.
    • Changes to Supply Chain Management and Commercial Item Contracting in FY 2018 NDAA, Pratt's Government Contracting Law Report, Vol. 4, No. 2, Authors: Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, February 2018.
    • “Establishing Some Order: When the Government Should Act As Appellant in CDA Litigation,” The Government Contractor, October 2014.
    • “California Public Procurement Handbook, 2014 ed.,” West Publications, September 2014.
    • “Government Contract Disputes, 2010 – 2011 ed., Chapter 17, Subcontractor Disputes,” West Publications, November 2010.
    • “California Public Procurement Handbook, 2010 – 2013 ed.,” West Publications, November 2010.
    • “Health Care Exchange, Breaking New Ground,” Daily Journal, October 2010.
    • “Erosion of the Sovereign Acts Doctrine? How Recent Winstar and Spent Nuclear Fuel Litigation Impacts Government Contractors,” The Procurement Lawyer, Vol. 42, No. 3, Spring 2007.
    • “Performance Problems,” West Publications Year In Review, February 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005.
    • “Administrative Remedies Aimed at Combating Procurement Fraud – Suspension and Debarment,” Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, January 2005.
    • “Limitation of Liability Case Study,” Federal Publications Seminars: 40th Western Briefing Conference on Government Contracts, October 1999.
  • Firm Publications
    • Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, 01/31/2022.
    • ASBCA’s FY 2021 Annual Report Details Informative Statistics That Can Guide Potential Contract Disputes Act Claimants, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Aaron S. Ralph, Dinesh Dharmadasa, Whitney N. Alston, 11/15/2021.
    • The Pentagon Scraps Its Current Cybersecurity CMMC Program in Favor of CMMC 2.0, Which Promises to Ease the Burden of Participating in Government Contracts, Authors: Meghan D. Doherty, Brian E. Finch, Michael R. Rizzo, 11/08/2021.
    • DoD Requires Data Reporting for Certain Service Contracts Exceeding $3 Million, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Richard B. Oliver, Whitney N. Alston, 08/02/2021.
    • Bipartisan Senators Introduce the Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021, Authors: Meghan D. Doherty, Brian E. Finch, Michael R. Rizzo, 07/27/2021.
    • Time’s Up!: The Court Rejects the Government’s Request for a Longer Limitations Period Applicable to Fraud Counterclaims, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, 05/11/2021.
    • ASBCA Takes on Contract Dispute without Jurisdiction under the Contract Disputes Act, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Robert Starling, 03/30/2021.
    • DoD Codifies the NISPOM and Makes Other Changes Regarding Access to Classified Information, Authors: Meghan D. Doherty, Michael R. Rizzo, Aaron S. Ralph, 01/07/2021.
    • Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, 01/04/2021.
    • Privilege Logs in Contract Disputes Act Litigation: An Equal Obligation for Both Parties, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, 12/09/2020.
    • Fiscal Year 2020 ASBCA Statistics Show Case Load Increases, Slower Resolutions and Fewer ADR Proceedings, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, 11/02/2020.
    • Can the Government Terminate a Contract for Convenience When It Does Not Actually Terminate the Contract for Convenience?, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, 10/26/2020.
    • Up-to-the-Moment Status of COVID-19 Guidance on Contract Performance Impacts, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Kevin J. Slattum, Dinesh Dharmadasa, Marques O. Peterson, 03/23/2020.
    • Reconciling Stay-at-Home Orders and the Defense Production Act, Authors: Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, Marques O. Peterson, 03/20/2020.
    • President Trump Invoked the Defense Production Act: What Are the Implications?, Authors: Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, Marques O. Peterson, 03/18/2020.
    • Scenarios Government Contractors May Face During the COVID-19 National Emergency, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, Marques O. Peterson, Brian P. Cruz, 03/17/2020.
    • Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Releases 2019 Annual Report, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, Toghrul Shukurlu, 01/15/2020.
    • ASBCA Annual Report: Not All the News Is Positive for Contractors, Authors: Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, 10/31/2019.
    • Unique Facts Entitle Contractor to Recover under Mutual Mistake Theory, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Kevin J. Slattum, 08/22/2019.
    • Section 809 Panel: The Commercialization of Government Contracting, Authors: Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, Kevin Massoudi, Travis L. Mullaney, 01/24/2019.
    • Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Releases 2018 Annual Report, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Dinesh Dharmadasa, 12/12/2018.
    • Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals Releases Annual Report: Positive Trends Continue, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Kevin Massoudi, Dinesh Dharmadasa, Glenn Sweatt, 10/18/2018.
    • Department of Defense Makes Supply Chain Cybersecurity Provision Permanent, Authors: Mary E. Buxton, Michael R. Rizzo, Brian P. Cruz, 10/10/2018.
    • Is the Pendulum Swinging on Agency and Government Contractor Cooperation?, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Kevin Massoudi, Glenn Sweatt, 08/29/2018.
    • 2019 NDAA Signals Significant Expansion to Contractor Performance Evaluation Process, Authors: Alexander B. Ginsberg, Michael R. Rizzo, Kevin Massoudi, Glenn Sweatt, 08/06/2018.
    • The 2018 Government Shutdown – How Can Contractors Preserve Rights?, Authors: John E. Jensen, Michael R. Rizzo, Glenn Sweatt, 01/23/2018.
    • Changes to Supply Chain Management and Commercial Item Contracting in FY 2018 NDAA, Authors: Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, 11/20/2017.
    • Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals Backlog Shrinks, but Challenges Remain, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Glenn Sweatt, 10/12/2017.
    • One Potential Remedy for FCA Overreach?, Authors: Aaron S. Dyer, Alex D. Tomaszczuk, Michael R. Rizzo, James J. Gallagher, 09/21/2017.
    • Two-Minute Warning: Preparing for a Possible Government Shutdown, Authors: Michael R. Rizzo, Glenn Sweatt, 09/05/2017.
    • Post-Election Outlook: A New, Unpredictable World, Authors: Christopher J. McNevin, Christopher R. Wall, John E. Jensen, Sheila McCafferty Harvey, Alvin Dunn, Julia E. Judish, Glenn S. Richards, The Honorable Gregory H. Laughlin, Elizabeth Vella Moeller, Emily B. Erlingsson, Craig J. Saperstein, Gerry Hinkley, Aaron R. Hutman, Brian E. Finch, Aimee P. Ghosh, Matthew Oresman, Andrew Caplan, Michael R. Rizzo, Graham G. Wisner, John Scalia, Nancy Fischer, Mercedes K. Tunstall, 11/10/2016.

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1992

    B.A., Georgetown University, 1989

Admissions

  • California

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