A Partner in the firm’s Federal Grants, Litigation & Government Investigations, Health Care, and Education practice groups, Nicole Bacon has a diverse practice, representing a variety of community-based organizations, including Head Start programs and community health centers in a wide range of issues before State and Federal courts as well as administrative bodies.

In addition to litigation services, Ms. Bacon offers her clients specialized guidance in compliance with federal grant law, including specific programmatic requirements as well as the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements of Federal Awards. She drafts and negotiates a variety of subrecipient and contractor agreements to assist her clients in complying with the federal requirements so they can better serve their communities.

Ms. Bacon leads the firm’s Head Start education and training efforts by designing seminars and meetings both in-person and via webinar for large and small groups on a number of grants-related topics.  Ms. Bacon ensures that participants are brought up-to-date on federal regulations, management, and financial requirements to help attendees respond to critical events and protect their grants.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Bacon worked as a staff attorney with Legal Services of Northern Virginia and Rappahannock Legal Services, representing low-income clients, including Spanish speaking clients, in family law, housing, and consumer matters.

Ms. Bacon has always been passionate about helping underserved and underrepresented clients, and she feels strongly about her work at the firm assisting organizations that are fighting the systemic issues she often saw her clients facing in her prior work. Helping these organizations to better aid the populations they serve drives her work every day.

Representative Matters

  • Representing clients in Medicaid reimbursement, Federal Tort Claims Act coverage, False Claims Act defense, and cost disallowances litigation matters.
  • Reviewing and revising contracts, subrecipient agreements, procurement policies and procedures, and other grant-related documents to ensure compliance with programmatic requirements and other federal regulations.
  • Advising clients on the federal requirements for grant related construction and renovation projects.

Classes/Seminars Taught

Topics Include:

  • Grant Administration and Grants Management topics
  • Rights and Obligations of Federal Grantees and Subrecipients
  • Subrecipient Relationships – Formation, Monitoring, Closeout
  • Procurement Standards and Grantee Policies and Procedures
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Indirect Cost Rate Agreements
  • Time and Effort, Leave Time, Self-Insurance, Incentive Compensation
  • Matching Share with focus on in-kind valuation, documentation, allowability
  • Head Start Program Performance Standards

Previous Experience

  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Staff Attorney (2004 – 2008)
  • Rappahannock Legal Services, Staff Attorney (2004)

Education

  • J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, cum laude, International Law Review (2003)
  • B.A., University of Virginia (2000)

Bar/Court Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Languages

  • Spanish

Professional Memberships / Affiliations

  • Federal Bar Association, DC Chapter, President (2019-2021)
  • National Bar Association
  • Northern Virginia Black Attorney’s Association