Bio
Mel is a government contracts and technology attorney who helps contractors position themselves to win, perform, and defend their most critical work. She brings a rare combination of frontline operational experience, top-tier law firm training, and in-house leadership at a multi-billion-dollar contractor to advise on high-stakes disputes, compliance requirements, and strategic transactions.
Mel’s practice spans the full lifecycle of government contracting—from capture and teaming through performance, investigations, and claims—with a particular focus on cybersecurity, data privacy, and artificial intelligence. As a former in-house counsel and Data Protection Officer for a multi-billion-dollar global contractor, she led enterprise cybersecurity, privacy, and AI governance, advising on FAR/DFARS and a broad spectrum of U.S. and international data protection laws, including but not limited to GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, HIPAA, and GLBA, and breach notification regimes worldwide, while architecting enterprise-wide compliance programs.
Clients turn to Mel to manage risk where legal, technical, and operational issues intersect. She has deep experience handling cyber incidents, internal investigations, regulatory scrutiny, and False Claims Act exposure, including matters involving subcontractor breaches and complex disclosure decisions. She is equally adept at structuring deals and relationships—negotiating teaming agreements, joint ventures, and mentor-protégé arrangements—and guiding contractors through disputes, REAs, and claims.
Known as a pragmatic business partner, Mel helps contractors identify and mitigate risk early, protect revenue, and position themselves for growth in an increasingly regulated environment.
In addition to Mel’s broad practice supporting clients, she is a frequent speaker and instructor on government contracts, cybersecurity, and AI governance, and has taught at Georgetown University Law Center and leading industry forums.
Related Practice Areas
Representative Matters
- Advises contractors on complex FAR/DFARS compliance, including cybersecurity and cloud obligations under FAR 52.204-21, FAR 52.204-23/25, DFARS 252.204-7012, 7019, 7020, 7021 (CMMC), 252.204-7023, and FedRAMP requirements, alongside global privacy laws and AI governance frameworks.
- Leads high-stakes internal investigations and cyber incident response, including subcontractor breaches, potential False Claims Act exposure, and mandatory/voluntary disclosures to the U.S. government.
- Develops and executes regulatory and enforcement strategy across DOJ, DOD, and civilian agency scrutiny, aligning breach response, reporting, and litigation risk mitigation.
- Structures and negotiates teaming agreements, joint ventures, and mentor-protégé arrangements to position contractors for compliant growth and competitive procurements.
- Counsels prime contractors and subcontractors in disputes, including REAs, claims, terminations, and performance conflicts across complex federal programs.
- Designs and implements enterprise-wide compliance and data governance programs, integrating NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, FedRAMP, and global data protection requirements.
- Supports M&A and strategic transactions for government contractors, with a focus on cybersecurity posture, data risk, and regulatory diligence.
- Advises on cost allowability, allocability, and reasonableness, CAS compliance, and audit readiness in connection with DCAA/DCMA inquiries.
Insights
Events
Credentials
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2014, cum laude
- Roanoke College, B.A., 2008, Political Science & English
Admissions
- District of Columbia
Activities
Activities
- Member, American Bar Association
- Certified Information Privacy Professional / Europe (CIPP/E), IAPP, 2024 – Present
- Certified Information Privacy Professional / U.S. Credential (CIPP/US), International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), 2023 – Present