George E. Petel

George represents federal, state, and local government contractors, subcontractors, and grant recipients on issues including claims and disputes, bid protests, civil and criminal investigations and audits, defective pricing and cost accounting matters, and due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. He counsels government contractors on compliance with Small Business Administration and other agency regulations, and with mandatory disclosure obligations, incurred cost submissions, and other reporting requirements.

Representative Matters

• Prosecutes and defends bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), and before the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Hearings and Appeals.
• Counsels government contractors on compliance with SBA regulations, including size standards and affiliation, mentor-protégé agreements and joint ventures, and women-owned, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned, 8(a), and HUBZone program requirements.
• Counsels recipients and subrecipients on negotiating grants and cooperative agreements with federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Commerce, including counseling on compliance with Single Audit and other audit requirements, accounting rules, and intellectual property rights.

• Represents government contractors in drafting and negotiating various agreements, including nondisclosure agreements, corporate transaction agreements, joint venture operating agreements, master agreements and other long-term supply and services agreements, teaming agreements, strategic partnership arrangements, and subcontracting agreements.

• Counsels government contractors on compliance with mandatory disclosure obligations, incurred cost submissions, and other government reporting requirements.
• Represents companies and individuals in connection with procurement fraud and other civil and criminal fraud allegations and issues, including conducting internal investigations and preparing Mandatory and Voluntary Disclosures.
• Counsels government contractors on compliance with federal and state False Claims Acts, conflict of interest rules, and other ethics requirements.
• Participates in merger and acquisition due diligence reviews, advising clients on government contracts issues and risks.
• Counsels government contractors regarding claims and disputes, including claims under the Contracts Disputes Act (CDA).
• Assisted numerous clients with issues arising under the Service Contract act (SCA) including assessment of coverage and related counseling, and representation in connection with Department of Labor SCA compliance audits and compliance with SCA fringe benefit requirements.

Professional Experience

• Adjunct Professor in Government Contracts, Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University (Fall 2022)
• Research Assistant, The George Washington University Law School, Associate Dean Daniel I. Gordon (2013)
• Legal Intern, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Division of Enforcement (2012)
• Senior Accountant (2011), Staff Accountant (2009-2011), Fannie Mae
• Internal Auditor (2009), Staff Accountant (2005-2009), Charming Shoppes, Inc

Affiliations

•  American Bar Association (ABA), Section of Public Contract Law

  • Co-Chair, Regulatory Coordinating Committee (2020-Present)
  • Vice-Chair (2020-2021), Co-Chair (2019-2020), PCLS Diversity Committee
  • Vice-Chair, Small Business and Other Socioeconomic Programs Committee (2018-Present)
• Treasurer – Board of Directors, Del Ray Montessori School

Recognitions

• Named to Law360's Government Contracts Editorial Advisory Board (2024)
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America directory of “Ones to Watch” for Government Relations Practice (2025)