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John Jensen, Government Contracts Lawyer

John E. Jensen

Partner
Northern Virginia & Washington, DC

Partner, Northern Virginia & Washington, DC

T: +1.703.770.7560
T: +1.202.663.8000
T: +1.703.770.7560
T: +1.202.663.8000

Areas of Focus

John has a wealth of knowledge that comes from many years of experience. He is thorough, responsive and super effective. He is a great advocate.
—Chambers USA  2023

John Jensen is noted by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 U.S. as a federal government contracts authority.

John has over 30 years of experience representing and counseling clients across almost all areas of federal government contracts law. John has served as the head of the firm’s Government Contracts Practice and as the managing partner of the firm’s Northern Virginia Office. He has served as co-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) section on Public Contract Law’s Small Business Committee. He has extensive experience in:

  • Bid Protests before the GAO and the Court of Federal Claims
  • Mergers & Acquisitions, including Diligence and Novations
  • Internal Investigations, Disclosures & Government Investigations
  • Claims and Appeals
  • Suspension and Debarment
  • Ethics and Compliance
  • Small Business and Socio-Economic Issues
  • Subcontracts and Teaming Arrangements
  • GSA Multiple Award Schedules
  • Data Rights
  • Cost and Pricing
  • National Security

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Prior to joining the firm, John represented the government as a government contracts attorney for a federal agency, and before that he was a research assistant in the Government Contracts Program at George Washington University Law School for Professors John Cibinic and Ralph Nash.

Representative Experience

  • Performed government contracts and regulatory due diligence for a private equity firm, leading to its successful acquisition of multiple aerospace suppliers, and advised on purchase agreement terms and risk mitigation.
  • Successfully represented an incumbent military acquisition support contractor in a sustained GAO bid protest of an award to a competitor, demonstrating agency failure to conduct meaningful discussions and improper evaluation of past performance.
  • Represented a large publicly traded information technology provider through a mandatory disclosure, investigation and a False Claims Act settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

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  • Served as regulatory counsel to a large private equity firm in multibillion-dollar sales of an aerospace MRO business and a health/IT business, as well as the acquisition of multiple roll-up companies.
  • Advised a global aerospace contractor in its successful pursuit of two multibillion-dollar Department of Defense aircraft procurements, including teaming and subcontract agreements, “Buy American” and other regulatory issues, and performance matters.
  • Represented accounting firm in successful bid protest defense of a major defense department award protested at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, winning arguments over organizational conflict of interest and contract interpretation.
  • Represented an information technology contractor in avoiding debarment after it was suspended from government contracting by the Department of the Navy for a perceived violation of the Procurement Integrity Act.
  • Overturned a termination for default by the State Department, and negotiated a settlement providing for reimbursement of termination for convenience damages.
  • Successfully represented an incumbent in a GAO protest, demonstrating that the Army improperly eliminated the contractor’s proposal in a multibillion-dollar procurement.
  • Represented several contractors before the boards of contract appeals and negotiated settlements of alleged cost accounting standard violations with the DCMA and DCAA.
  • Assisted companies in forming joint ventures and securing regulatory approvals under the SBA Section 8(a) program.

Professional Highlights

  • Recognized by Chambers USA, Government Contracts – National (2014 – 2024) and The Legal 500 U.S., Government Contracts (2016 – 2023).
  • Named as a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (2025).
  • Presents frequently on developments in bid protests, investigations, mergers & acquisitions and small business issues.

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  • Member, Board of Editors, Pratt’s Government Contracting Law Report.
  • Associations
    • American Bar Association, Section on Public Contract Law
    • District of Columbia Bar Association, Government Contracts and Litigation Section
    • Professional Services Council
  • Speaking Engagements
    • “Top Five Bid Protest Trends in 2024,” GovCon East 2025, January 16, 2025.
    • “What the SBA Recertification Rule Means for Business Strategy and M&A,” GovCon East 2025, January 16, 2025.
    • “ M&A and Small Businesses: Government Contracts Issues and Strategies,” Pillsbury’s 2023 East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, May 16, 2023.
    • “Bid Protests: The Increasing Divide between GAO and COFC,” Pillsbury’s 2023 East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, May 16, 2023.
    • “COVID Impact on the Supply Chain,” Public Contracting Institute's 2022 Supply Chain Symposium webinar, June 2022.
    • “Bid Protests: Strategies and Key GAO/COFC Decisions,” Pillsbury’s East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, April 2022. Moderator.
    • “Crime or Mistake?: The Government’s Increasing Civil Prosecution of Contract Violations and What Contractors Can Do to Protect Themselves,” Pillsbury’s East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, April 2022.
    • “Significant Bid Protest Decisions,” Aronson LLC’s Year-in-Review, Rockville, August 2021.
    • “M&A and Small Business Developments – Ramping Up or Off?” 2020 GovCon Series: Navigating Government Contract Issues, Northern Virginia, December 2020.
    • “Use of SBA Joint Ventures & Mentor-Protégé Programs,” Pillsbury & Cherry Bekaert, Washington, DC, November 2020.
    • “Contractor Responsibility Issues in the M&A Process,” American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law Mergers & Acquisitions and Suspension and Debarment Committees, Washington, DC, December 2019. Moderator.
    • “Navigating a Shutdown: Tips & Tricks,” Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Annual GovCon Symposium, Arlington, June 2019. Moderator.
    • “Developments in Government Contracts M&A – Protecting the Investment,” Pillsbury's Annual East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, May 2019.
    • “Navigating Bid Protests in Changing Times,” Pillsbury’s West Coast Government Contracts Summit, Carlsbad, May 2019.
    • “Don't Blow Your Business Opportunities: Key Cases Affecting Government Contracts M&A Deals,” Pillsbury's West Coast Government Contracts Summit, Carlsbad, May 2019.
    • “Developments in Government Contracts M&A – Protecting the Investment,” Pillsbury’s East Coast Government Contracts Summit, Northern Virginia, May 2019.
    • “Teaming Agreements & Subcontracts,” Aronson LLC's Fall Government Contracting Conference, Northern Virginia, October 2017.
    • “Best Prime/Sub Practices in Connection with Bid Protests,” Public Contracting Institute Webinar, July 2016.
    • “Cybersecurity and Data Rights protection,” Pillsbury's 2nd Annual Government Contracts Summit, Rancho Santa Fe, June 2016. Moderator.
    • “Employment Law Update – Recent Legal Changes That Affect Your Business Model,” Pillsbury’s Government Contracts Executive Roundtable, Northern Virginia, November 2015.
    • “The President’s Executive Orders: What They Mean for Government Contractors,” Pillsbury CLE Marathon, Northern Virginia, September 2014.
    • “Teaming & Subcontracting – Recent Decisions and Their Impact on Your Business,” Pillsbury’s Government Contracts Executive Roundtable Series, Vienna, May 2013.
    • “Small Business Administration – New Laws and Regulations,” Pillsbury's Government Contracts Executive Roundtable Series, Vienna, February 2011.
    • “Government Contract Bid Protest Highlights – 2010,” Pillsbury MCLE Marathon, Northern Virginia, September 2010.
    • “2010 Opportunities in Defense: DOD Outlook,” Bisnow Federal IT Seminars, Washington, DC, January 2010.
    • “Recent FAR Changes That Can Impact Your Company,” Pillsbury's Government Contracts Executive Roundtable Series, Vienna, December 2009.
    • “The Recovery Act, Mandatory Disclosures and Internal Investigations,” Pillsbury CLE Marathon, Vienna, April 2009.

Education

  • J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 1987
    with honors

    B.A., Cornell University, 1982

Admissions

  • District of Columbia

    Virginia

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

    U.S. Court of Federal Claims

John's Insights

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