This briefing addresses the complex challenges facing government contractors in light of the change of control in Congress and significant increase in enforcement activity by the National Procurement Fraud Task Force and special inspectors general. This presentation explores the areas that are likely to receive heightened congressional and enforcement agency scrutiny in the new year, and the steps companies can take now to anticipate this increased government oversight.

Topics discussed include: 

• Which congressional committees will be most active, what industries will receive the most scrutiny? 

• What can government contractors do in advance to prepare for congressional investigations? 

• What are the National Procurement Fraud Task Force's enforcement priorities likely to be in 2007? 

• What are the likely IG enforcement priorities? 

• How has the Justice Department approached the False Claims Act in recent cases? 

Who should view this program: 
This briefing has been developed for in-house counsel, directors, senior executives, government and public relations staff, and corporate governance and compliance officers working for companies that do business with federal and state governments. 

Featured presenters include: 

Debra Wong Yang, Co-Chair of Gibson Dunn's Crisis Management Group. Ms. Wong Yang was appointed by President Bush to be the first Asian-American woman to serve as a United States Attorney. As U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Yang oversaw approximately 260 Assistant U.S. Attorneys who litigate criminal, civil and tax matters in U.S. District Court. During her first year in office, her staff filed 483 cases of business fraud, for the first time surpassing the historically busier New York U.S. Attorney's Office. She also played a principal role in the Justice Department's investigation and $615 million settlement with a leading aerospace and defense company relating to procurement misconduct. During her tenure as U.S. Attorney, Yang was selected to serve on President Bush's Corporate Fraud Task Force and on the Department of Justice's Intellectual Property Task Force. In 2005, she received the President's Award for Distinguished Leadership for Women in Federal Law Enforcement.

Mel Levine, Chair of Gibson Dunn's Public Policy Group. Mr. Levine served as a member of the United States Congress from 1983 until 1993, where his committee assignments included the Committees on Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Judiciary and Resources. Mr. Levine's legal practice includes providing counsel to U.S. and foreign companies whose businesses are affected by federal, state, local or foreign governments. In counseling clients at the federal level, Mr. Levine's practice includes assisting clients in all aspects of legislative advocacy before the United States Congress, including the development and implementation of strategy for enacting, modifying, or defeating federal legislation, preparing clients to testify before Congressional committees, and the relationship between legislative and executive branch advocacy.

Karen Manos, Partner in Gibson Dunn's Government and Commercial Contracts Group. Ms. Manos has more than 20 years experience representing clients in every aspect of government contracting, including bid protests, claims and disputes, commercial litigation, civil and criminal fraud investigations and litigation, qui tam suits under the False Claims Act, defective pricing, cost allowability, the Cost Accounting Standards, General Services Administration schedule contracts, and corporate compliance programs. Ms. Manos enjoys a nationwide reputation for her expertise in government contract costs and pricing. In 2004, Legal Times named Ms. Manos one of twelve "Leading Lawyers" in government contracts in the Washington, D.C. area. The 2006 edition of Chambers USA ranks her among the top twenty-two government contracts attorneys in the nation.