Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce that Edward DeLisle has joined its Government Contracts practice in Washington, D.C. as a partner. He previously served as chair of the government contracts practice and co-chair of the litigation group at Offit Kurman. Also joining the firm is managing associate Andrés Vera whose practice concentrates on federal contracting and corporate law. He also joins from Offit Kurman.
These new additions follow those of other recent Government Contracts laterals who focus on construction, including partners, Ryan Spiegel and Jessica Haire.
“I was looking for a firm with a strong culture and robust platform to support my clients. The firm’s collaborative nature immediately became apparent in my conversations with everyone at the firm, and its deep bench in a multitude of disciplines is what I want to offer to my clients,” said DeLisle of his move to the firm. “Additionally, the predictability afforded by Thompson Hine’s sophisticated approach to addressing legal service costs was a major draw. They’re just different and I wanted to be a part of it.”
DeLisle focuses his practice on federal contracting, construction law, construction litigation and small business procurement and litigation. He drafts and negotiates construction contracts, teaming agreements and joint venture agreements for subcontractors, contractors, developers and owners. He has litigated, arbitrated and mediated complex construction and procurement cases in various jurisdictions and forums.
“Ed is a natural fit for the office given his innovative mindset and focus on predictability in legal service delivery. He has hit the ground running, working seamlessly with lawyers in our Government Contracts, Construction and Labor & Employment practices,” said Tim Goodman, partner in charge of Thompson Hine’s Washington, D.C. office. “With 25 years of experience as a construction litigator, he brings a unique skillset to our government contracts practice.”
Vera joins Thompson Hine as a managing associate in the firm’s Government Contracts practice group. His practice is well positioned to advise start-ups and small businesses seeking to enter the complex federal procurement landscape. His experience as a former clerk in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Procurement Law provides unique perspective and insight as part of his compliance counseling pertaining to the SBA’s 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) small business programs. He also advises federal contractors and subcontractors in bid protests, contract disputes with federal agencies and general corporate administration. Prior to law school, Vera was a government contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development. He also clerked at the U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.
The firm noted that the team’s additions are particularly timely, pointing to the lawyers’ expertise in small businesses and federal small business programs. Given the recent transfer of the VA’s small business programs to the SBA, both lawyers will play a pivotal role in assisting their clients in navigating this transition. DeLisle received his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law and his B.A. in Politics, International Relations and Economics, cum laude, from Saint Joseph’s University. Vera received his J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and his B.S. from Towson University.
De Lisle is not admitted to the D.C. Bar; his practice is supervised by D.C. Bar Members. He is admitted in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.