Eric Leonard

Co-Chair, Government Contracts

Recent Publication:

Department of Defense Publishes Final Rule on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification [Alert]

The DoD's long-awaited Final Rule for the CMMC program introduces new cybersecurity requirements for almost all DoD contracts.

Eric represents clients from diverse industries in all aspects of federal, state, and local procurement matters. He appears before federal agencies, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Boards of Contract Appeals, federal district and appellate courts and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

His experience encompasses government contracts compliance with labor issues faced by federal service and construction contractors, including the Service Contract Act (SCA), Davis-Bacon Act (DBA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) obligations, and Office of Federal Procurement Programs (OFCCP) issues. He also handles bid protests, contract disputes, termination litigation, mergers and acquisitions, government investigations, grant issue, suspension and debarment matters, and False Claims Act actions. Eric's practice extends to labor and employment issues, including compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and federal and state sick leave requirements, as well as non-compete agreements and employee termination.

Before joining Cozen O'Connor, Eric was a partner at a leading Washington, D.C., firm, where he has been practicing law for more than 25 years. During that time, Eric has been an active member of the American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law, currently serving on the Employment Safety and Labor and Bid Protest Committees. He also sits on Law360's Government Contracts Employment Authority Wage & Hour Editorial Advisory Board.

Eric holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Experience

News

3 Wage Cases to Watch as Justices Return to Bench

October 11, 2024

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was quoted in a Law360 article discussing a challenge to a 2021 U.S. Department of Labor rule raising the minimum wage for federal contract workers and President Biden’s executive order regarding the rulemaking.

Circ. Ruling Seen As Harbinger of Remote Work Battles

August 26, 2024

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, was quoted in the article “4th Circ. Ruling Seen As Harbinger of Remote Work Battles” by Law360.

7 Wage-Hour Cases To Watch In 2024

July 22, 2024

Eric Leonard was quoted in a Law360 article discussing the Texas federal court’s decision in Associated General Contractors of America et al. v. U.S. Department of Labor et al., which resulted in issuing a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking parts of the Davis-Bacon Act regulation that governs prevailing wages for publicly funded construction projects over $2,000.

Eric Leonard Elected to the George Washington Law Alumni Association Board of Directors

April 30, 2024

Eric Leonard, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts practice, has been elected to the George Washington Law Alumni Association (GWLAA) Board of Directors.

Pay Equity Rule For Contractor Firms Could Nudge Others

February 21, 2024

Eric Leonard was quoted in a Law360 article discussing the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council’s proposed rule to require federal contractors to disclose pay ranges in job ads.

Cozen O'Connor Hires Wiley Atty As Gov't Contracts Lead

February 05, 2024

Eric Leonard was featured in a Law360 article discussing his practice and transition to Cozen O’Connor.

Nationally Recognized Government Contracts Attorney Eric W. Leonard Strengthens Cozen O’Connor’s Government Contracts Practice

February 05, 2024

Leonard, who comes to Cozen O’Connor from Wiley Rein LLP, joins as a shareholder and will work out of the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

Publications

Department of Defense Publishes Final Rule on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification [Alert]

October 21, 2024

The DoD's long-awaited Final Rule for the CMMC program introduces new cybersecurity requirements for almost all DoD contracts.

Federal Circuit Increases Jurisdictional Scope for Bid Protests in Percipient.ai, Inc. v. United States [Alert]

July 08, 2024

Eric Leonard, Larry Prosen, and Rachel Schwartz discuss the recent expansion of the Court of Federal Claims' jurisdiction over bid protests.

Federal Judge Blocks Portions of Department of Labor Rulemaking on Davis-Bacon Act [Alert]

July 01, 2024

Eric Leonard, Larry Prosen, and Brian Doll discuss a nationwide injunction that has been issued against parts of the U.S. DOL’s 2023 Davis-Bacon Act rule, finding it exceeded statutory authority.

Ever-Evolving SCA Compliance Challenges In A Post-Pandemic World [Briefing Papers]

June 24, 2024

Eric Leonard contributed an article to Briefing Papers discussing the four evolving areas of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) that a federal service contractor should be prepared to address as part of a DOL SCA investigation or audit.

New FAR Part 40 Established to Centralize Supply Chain and Information Security Requirements [Alert]

April 22, 2024

Eric Leonard, Matt Howell, and Rachel Schwartz discuss the DoD, GSA, and NASA's Final Rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Navigating Ever-Evolving SCA Compliance Challenges In A Post-Pandemic World [Westlaw Today]

March 25, 2024

Eric Leonard contributed an article to Westlaw Today discussing three challenging areas of SCA compliance that a contractor should be prepared to address as part of any SCA audit.

Back Again: U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers [Alert]

February 21, 2024

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts Rule is back in effect and will apply to all new SCA-covered solicitations and contracts issued after February 12, 2024.

Education

  • George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 1997
  • Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1994
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law

Co-Chair and Vice Chair, Employment Safety and Labor Committee (2017-2021)

Vice-Chair, Debarment and Suspension Committee (2009-2016)

Vice-Chair, Procurement Fraud Committee (2004-2016)

ABA Forum on Construction Law Division 13 (Government Construction) Committee (2023-Present)

Bid Protest Committee (1997-Present)

Services Contracting Best Practices Task Force (2011)

Editor, Public Contract Law Journal (2000-2005)

American Bar Foundation Fellow

Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, Former Co-Chair, GovCon Communications Committee (2008-2010)
National Contract Management Association (NCMA) (1997-Present)

Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), B2G Committee (2006-Present)

Professional Services Council (PSC) (2003-Present)

Law360 Government Contracts Employment Authority Wage & Hour Editorial Advisory Board (2022-Present)

George Mason University School of Law, Adjunct Professor (2003 & 2007)

George Washington Law Alumni Association (GWLAA), Board of Directors