Dawn E. Stern

Dawn Stern co-chairs DLA Piper's Government Contracts practice.

Dawn Stern is a Chambers-rated government contracts attorney that focuses her practice on providing counselling and litigation representation on a range of government contract matters.

Dawn assists clients at all stages of litigation in bid protests and Contract Disputes Act matters before the United States Government Accountability Office, the Boards of Contract Appeals and the United States Court of Federal Claims. Dawn also supports clients in litigation matters in Federal and State court involving government contracts issues such as disputes between prime and subcontractors arising under government contracts, and in investigations related to government contracts including False Claims Act or other Inspector General matters.

In addition to her litigation expertise, Dawn counsels clients on a wide range of government contracts issues including navigating the compliance obligations of government contractors and negotiations of subcontracts. Dawn also has a specific focus on advising clients on cybersecurity obligations that are unique to government contractors and is rated in Band 1 by Chambers for her Government Contracts Cybersecurity expertise.

Chambers USA has recognized Dawn "for her proficiency in advising government contractors on complex issues of compliance relating to cybersecurity obligation" and because "she is well versed in handling contentious government contracting matters, including bid protests and contract disputes." Chambers has also quoted clients who acknowledge Dawn as "great strategically and a pleasure to work with," "extraordinarily talented. Her writing and research is superb," "think[ing] two or three steps ahead” and able to "make suggestions with awareness of possible implications."

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Dawn served as a Trial Attorney in the National Courts Section of the United States Department of Justice, Civil Division, where she defended the government in bid protest and Contract Disputes Act cases before the United States Court of Federal Claims and United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She also clerked for the Honorable James I. Cohn of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Dawn also serves as the Washington, DC Partner Representative for the firm's affinity group for women lawyers, the Leadership Alliance for Women (LAW).