Feldesman Leifer LLP (Feldesman) is a national law firm with offices in Washington, DC, and California. As one of the few practices in the nation devoted to federally funded programs, our attorneys advise federal grant and government contract recipients of all types, from nonprofit and for-profit corporations to state, local, and Tribal governments, to community health care organizations.

Founded in 1970, amid a vast expansion of federal grant-in-aid programs, Feldesman’s mission was (and still is) to meet the expected demand by nonprofits, small businesses, and state and local governments for experienced and effective counsel in this complex area of federal law. By building a firm around the diverse legal needs of federal grantees, Feldesman filled a gap that other law firms overlooked by dedicating its practice to the protection of new, often fragile, organizations actively in pursuit of social justice across the country. More than 50 years later, we have grown into a nationally recognized law firm specializing in federal grants.

Feldesman’s practice areas include:

Federal Grants

The firm’s attorneys literally “wrote the book” on Federal Grants, having over a period of more than 50 years advised federal grantees and written leading reference materials, including the Federal Grants Management Handbook. Our Federal Grants attorneys have also successfully litigated numerous landmark cases in the Federal courts involving a wide variety of federal grants programs. Today, our attorneys proudly count as clients hundreds of organizations throughout the nation that receive federal funding to assist Americans with health, education, housing and human service needs.

Health Care

An outgrowth of its Federal Grants practice, the Health Care practice is national in scope, representing organizations that provide essential health-related services to medically underserved populations at community health centers, primary care clinics, behavioral health organizations, family planning organizations, and AIDS service organizations. With an eye towards the future, the firm’s attorneys guide clients in pursuing innovative collaborations, affiliations, and networks to improve care coordination, enhance the health of populations, and lower the overall costs of health care. At the same time, our Health Care attorneys also help clients implement new legal requirements, manage the broad array of legal exposures, and respond to increasing regulatory scrutiny.

Litigation & Government Investigations

The firm’s Litigation and Government Investigations practice represents companies, individuals, non-profit and for-profit organizations, universities, local governments, and federal grantees facing a variety of investigations, civil litigation, and enforcement actions throughout the United States. Our Litigation team supports clients through all stages of their litigation or enforcement matters, from internal investigations, administrative hearings, arbitrations and mediations, to DOJ investigations, litigation and trial.

Government Contracts

The firm’s Government Contracts practice is rooted in deep and diverse experience in federal programs. Leveraging our attorneys’ broad experience, we provide our clients efficient hands-on support throughout the full life cycle of their federal contracts, including with respect to bid protests, requests for equitable adjustment (“REAs”) and claims, and, when necessary, administrative, and judicial litigation. We further assist clients with strategic and organizational matters, such indirect rate and cost allocation strategies and disputes, small business program planning and compliance, subcontracting, and ancillary compliance matters. Our attorneys are committed to helping our clients operate effectively and efficiently within the complex rules inherent in the federal procurement system to achieve their desired business outcomes.

Education

The attorneys in the firm’s Education practice have diversified depth of experience, providing counseling, training, and comprehensive legal representation to a broad spectrum of education clients including nationally renowned public and private universities, academic medical centers, charter schools, educational management organizations, educations companies, head start programs, K-12 educational institutions, proprietary schools, research institutions and school districts. Our group draws on its technical expertise and industry experience to efficiently represent our clients’ diverse interests in the face of ever-changing compliance and regulatory challenges.

Employment Law

The firm’s Employment Law practice focuses on representing businesses in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Our employment law attorneys routinely advise businesses on compliance issues arising under federal and state workplace and employment laws, personnel policies and practices, and agreements pertaining to employment law transactions. In the event an employment dispute arises, our attorneys have decades of experience representing employers before federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies. Regardless of the issue, we strive to provide our clients with practical, efficient, and tailor-made solutions in order to protect their business objectives and priorities