James F. Nagle | Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP

A nationally recognized attorney and thought leader in government contract law, Jim Nagle is sought after for his valuable counsel as consultant, expert witness or arbitrator/mediator by the government and its federal contractors. He has unrivaled experience working on supply, services, international, major systems and construction contracts. Throughout his distinguished career, Jim has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, sureties, architects, engineers and all parties in the contracting process. In addition to representing contractors, he has mediated disputes between both the government and the prime and the prime and its subcontractors. Lawyers often consult Jim on government contracts, and he has been used as an expert witness by the United States Department of Justice, prime/general contractors, and subcontractors, in criminal and civil cases, in federal and state courts and arbitrations, in judge alone and jury trials. Prior to joining the firm, he served as chief of the Logistics and Contract Law Branch of the Department of the Army staff and as a trial team chief in the Army’s Contract Appeals Division.

Jim is committed to sharing his extensive knowledge of government contract law to advance the next generation of attorneys. He is the author of six books on federal contracting and more than 100 articles that have appeared in publications such as Public Contract Law Journal, Military Law Review, National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Journal, and Contract Management. Jim is a coveted lecturer on federal government contracts and construction law. He regularly teaches courses on all aspects of government contracts, construction law, and contract management for the Graduate Program on Contract Management of the Florida Institute of Technology, The George Washington University’s School of Business and Public Management, The George Washington University’s National Law Center, the University of Washington, Seattle University’s School of Law, The FAR Bootcamp, and other professional organizations. He has lectured in 33 states, the District of Columbia, and six foreign countries.

Actively involved in professional organizations, Jim is a past president of the Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association (and has received its Life Services Award); served on the Board of Directors of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), and on the board of editors of the NCMA Journal, as the book review editor for both the Public Contract Law Journal and The Construction Lawyer, and as the director of publications for numerous organizations. He is the founder and past chairman of the Public Contract Law Committee of the ABA’s General Practice Section and a Member of JAMS. He received the Federal Bar Foundation Award for Distinguished Accomplishment in the Study of Procurement Law, is listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in America, and is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and the NCMA.

Jim received the Federal Bar Foundation Award for Distinguished Accomplishment in the Study of Procurement Law.

Representative matters

Litigation

Served as an expert witness in various federal and state courts on behalf of government and contractors in matters ranging from False Claims Act, contract types, and contract pricing.

Successfully represented a national constructon and engineering firm in a multimillion dollar claim against the United States Air Force on a nationwide construction matter that was settled on the eve of trial on terms very favorable to the client.

Represented a national construction engineering firm in a multimillion dollar claim against the United States Air Force in a litigation before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in a major construction project on the East Coast. The decision is still pending

Successfully defended a major Energy Department contractor in a multi-hundreds of millions of dollars lawsuit in federal court in Idaho

Publications & Presentations

Publications (Books)

Jim has written over 100 articles in nationally distributed publications. A complete list of publications is available upon request.

Co-Author, “Possible Relief from Trump’s Steel Tariffs for Federal Contractors,” AGC WA Works Newsletter, PTAC Newsletter, October 8, 2018
Author, “Introduction,” Federal Government Construction Contracts, Third Edition, American Bar Association, 2017
Co-Author, “Sealed Biddings,” Federal Government Construction Contracts, Third Edition, American Bar Association, 2017
Co-Author: “Federal Government Contracts Cases and Materials,” Third Edition, Foundation Press, New York, 2007
Co-Author: Nash, Cibinic, Nagle, “Administration of Government Contracts, Fifth Edition, 2016
“How to Review a Federal Contract and Research Federal Contract Law,” Second Edition, ABA Press, 2000
“History of Government Contracting,” Second Edition, by George Washington University Press, 1999
“1948: The Crossroads Year” BookSurge, 1998
Co-author and co-editor: “Washington Building Contracts and Construction Law,” Butterworth Legal Publishers, 1994
“Federal Construction Contracting,” Wiley Law Publications, 1992
“Federal Procurement Regulations: Policy, Practices and Procedures” (his doctoral dissertation), ABA Press, 1987

Publications (Articles)

Jim has written over 100 articles in nationally distributed publications. A complete list of publications is available upon request.

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “Contracting in the Age of Trump: A Non-Partisan Review of New Policies & Directions,” Navigating Federal Government Contracts Northwest 2019, Seattle, Washington, October 30, 2019
Presenter, “Navigating Tariffs, Shutdowns & Sovereign Acts,” Navigating Federal Government Contracts Northwest 2018, Seattle, WA, October 2018
Presenter, “Federal Contracts: The Year in Review,” Federal Contracts Year in Review, Southeast Idaho NCMA, Idaho Falls, ID, April 24, 2018
Keynote Speaker, “Contracting in the Age of Trump,” Alliance Northwest, Puyallup, WA, March 15, 2018
Presenter, “Contracting in the Age of Trump,” NCMA West Sound Chapter, Silverdale, WA, October 12, 2017
Presenter, “Federal Construction Law – New Developments,” 24th Annual Washington Construction Law, The Seminar Group, Seattle, WA, September 14, 2017
Co-Presenter, “Contract Close out – What Agencies, Prime and Subcontractors Need-to-Know,” NCMA 56th Annual Seminar on Government Contracts: Challenges and Opportunities in the Trump Era, Minneapolis, MN, September 13, 2017
Presenter, “Risk Management for Contracts and Projects,” NCMA West Sound, Richland, WA, May 4, 2017
Presenter, “The Spearin Doctrine Turns 100!,” American College of Construction Lawyers 28^th Annual Meeting, Amelia Island, FL, March 27, 2017
Presenter, “25th Annual Contracting Year-in-Review,” NCMA West Sound, Bremerton, WA, January 19, 2017
Presenter, “DIY: Developing a Danger Assessment in Contract Management,” Contract Management Workshop, NCMA San Gabriel Chapter, Pasadena, CA, April 20, 2016
Presenter, “Suspensions & Terminations,” NCMA Columbia Basin Chapter, April 14, 2016
Presenter, ‘Federal Contracts: A Year in Review,” Desert Bar Meeting, Richland, WA, April 13, 2016
Presenter, “Federal Contracts: A Year in Review,” General Membership Meeting & Training Event, NCMA Puget Sound Chapter, Bellevue, WA, October 12, 2016
Co-Presenter, “Ethics in Federal Contracting,” NCMA Puget Sound and West Chapters, May 6, 2015
Co-Presenter, “Ethics in Federal Contracting,” NCMA Idaho Chapter, Idaho Falls, ID, April 22, 2015
Presenter, “History of Government Contracts,” Federal Bar Association, North Alabama Chapter, Huntsville, AL, November 13, 2014
Presenter, “Delay Claims on Public Construction Projects,” AGC/CFM Construction Financial Management Conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 3, 2013
Presenter, “The Basics of Federal Contracting,” National Electric Contractors Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., September 27, 2013
Presenter, “Current Developments in Federal Contracting,” NCMA Puget Sound Chapter, Bellevue, WA, September 13, 2013
Presenter, “Federal Contracts: The Year in Review: A Review of Major Statutory, Regulatory, Case Law and Other Developments in Federal Contracts in the Past Twelve Months,” OMRB Alaska Construction Law and Government Contracting Seminar, 2012
Presenter, “Basics of Federal Contracting Seminar,” Northern California Chapter NECA, October 11, 2011
Presenter, “Resolving Federal Contract Prime-Sub Disputes” WSBA Construction Law Conference, Seattle, WA, June 11, 2010

Affiliations

American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, Forum on the Construction Industry
Washington State Bar Association, Construction Law Section
King County Bar Association
Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers
Fellow, National Contract Management Association
Department of Energy Contractors Attorneys Association
Member, JAMS
Board of Editors, NCMA Journal
Founder and Past Chairman, Public Contract Law Committe, ABA General Practice Section
Who’s Who in American Law
Who’s Who in America

Awards & Honors

Board of Contract Appeals Bar Association, Life Services Award
Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, Lawyer of the Year, 2021
Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, 2017-present
Super Lawyers, 2007-present
Federal Bar Foundation Award for Distinguished Accomplishment in the Study of Procurement Law
Former Board member, National Contract Management Association (NCMA)

News & Insights

Practice Areas

Education

S.J.D., George Washington University
LL.M., George Washington University
J.D., Rutgers University
B.S.F.S, Georgetown University

Bar Admissions

Washington State Courts
U.S. District Court, Western District, Washington
District of Columbia Courts
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Supreme Court