Add a bookmark to get started

Richard P. Rector

Richard P. Rector

Senior Counsel
About

Rich Rector is Senior Counsel and former chair of DLA Piper's Government Contracts practice.

Rich litigates contract actions and bid protests before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court of Federal Claims, federal district courts, state and federal boards of contract appeals and the US Government Accountability Office. He also represents prime contractors and subcontractors in breach-of-contract and protest actions in state and federal courts, and he advises contractors on the preparation and avoidance of contract claims and disputes.

Rich also counsels clients on a broad range of federal procurement and grant matters, including IT contracts and transactions, audits and investigations, False Claims Act issues and potential disclosures, grant compliance and negotiations, commercial-item contracting, terminations for convenience, and compliance with procurement integrity and ethics laws.

Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaMaryland
CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitUnited States Court of Federal ClaimsUnited States District Court for the District of ColumbiaUnited States District Court for the District of Maryland
Education
  • J.D., University of Maryland 1987
  • B.A., University of Maryland 1981

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 1, Nationwide Government Contracts: Bid Protests (2023-2024)
  • Band 1, Nationwide Government Contracts (2022-2024)
  • Band 2, Nationwide Government Contracts (2012-2021) 
  • Spotlight Table, Nationwide Government Contracts: Bid Protests (2021-2022)
  • Recognized every year since 2006 when Government Contracts rankings began

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Government Contracts (2024)
Additional Awards
  • Recognized by Who's Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader for his outstanding experience in government contracts
  • Winner of the Burton Award for distinguished legal writing for an article on bid protests (2016)
  • Recognized by The International Who's Who of Public Procurement Lawyers
  • Named a "Top Washington Lawyer" in Government Contracts Law by Washingtonian magazine

Seminars

Rich lectures frequently for clients, bar groups and professional associations on commercial-tem contracting, bid protests, contract types, state and local contracting, and procurement integrity and ethics laws.

He lectures annually on "Commercial Item Contracting" for the Government Contracts Year-In-Review Conference sponsored by Federal Publications, Inc./West Group, as well as on "Competition and Bid Protests" for the PubKLaw Annual Government Contracts Review.  He has lectured on "FAR Part 16 – Types of Contracts" for the past three years for the Public Contracting Institute's "Fun With the FAR" series, and he has been a lecturer for the American Bar Association's Program on Trial Preparation and Advocacy in Federal Procurement.

  • Webinar Presenter, "Government Contracts 101: An Overview of U.S. Government Contracts for Non-Government Contracts Attorneys," Federal Bar Association and MyLawCLE (March 2, 2017)

Prior Experience

Prior to entering private practice, Rich worked for Litton Industries, Inc. for eight years in a variety of business development and legal positions. During that period, he gained valuable experience in the preparation and management of new business proposals, as well as in the review and preparation of subcontracts and teaming agreements.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Co-chair, Federal Division, ABA Section of Public Contract Law (2014 – present)
  • Board of Governors, US Court of Federal Claims Bar Association (2005 – 2011)
  • Co-chair, State and Local Legislative & Regulation Coordination Committee, ABA Section of Public Contract Law (2010 – 2012)
  • State-Vendor Communication Work Group, National Association of State Procurement Officials (2011)
  • Council Member, ABA Section of Public Contract Law (2004 – 2007)
  • Co-chair, Emerging Issues Committee, ABA Section of Public Contract Law (2003 – 2004)
  • Chair, Regulatory Coordinating Committee, ABA Section of Public Contract Law (2000 – 2003)
  • Co-chair, Contract Claims and Disputes Resolution Committee, ABA Section of Public Contract Law (1997 – 2000)
  • Managing Editor, Public Contract Law Journal (1994 – 1997)
  • Member, Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association
  • Member, Maryland State Bar Association

Connect