Profile
Shomari Wade counsels clients ranging from multinational Fortune 50 companies to small and emerging startups in all aspects of government contracts law. Over the course of nearly two decades in practice, he has successfully litigated hundreds of bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Court of Federal Claims (COFC) the Boards of Contracts Appeals (BCA), as well as numerous state and local forums including the D.C. Contract Appeals Board. Shomari is also passionate about advising and supporting clients participating in federal small business programs such as SBA 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses. This work includes representing clients before the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) on size and status protests, Mentor/Protégé Agreements, Joint Ventures and various compliance issues under those programs. He is also regularly engaged to support due diligence on acquisitions involving government contractors, which can include review of federal, state and local contracts, various purchase agreements, contract novations, compliance review, among other contract provisions that apply solely to government contractors. Shomari also helps clients of all sizes navigate the complex requirements of federal contracts, working on both internal and federal investigations, negotiating or litigating prime/sub disputes, drafting teaming agreements and assisting companies with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
Shomari also represents and advises banks and other financial institutions on special financing transactions under the Federal Assignment of Claims Act (FACA). To date, Shomari has advised financial institutions on over $1 Billion worth of federal contract lending transactions. This work includes due diligence and analyzing potential transactions, as well working on disputes and claims with the U.S. government.
Another important component of Shomari’s practice relates to ethics advice and training on Standards of Conduct. Shomari has insight into the importance of compliance, having been nominated by the Mayor of the District of Columbia and confirmed by City Council to serve on the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA), which is charged with investigating and providing advice to D.C. government officials on ethics.
Having served in the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Shomari also has an active practice involving procurement matters and business disputes involving the District of Columbia government compliance programs for government contractors.
Shomari is a frequent lecturer on the Assignment of Claims Act, Small Business matters and Bid Protests.
Concentrations
- Bid protests
- Small business program compliance
- Ethics and standards of conduct
- Export control
- Contract compliance
- Assignment of Claims Act
- The Procurement Integrity Act
- Mitigation of organizational conflicts of interest
Capabilities
Experience
- Challenged size status award before SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals of $30M Defense Logistics Agency small business, 8(a) set-aside contract and prevailed.
- Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC and GCM Grosvenor, as joint sponsors, in connection with their acquisition of Hallcon Corporation from Canadian private equity firm Novacap. Hallcon is the leading North American provider of mission-critical transportation services and infrastructure for a broad range of customers including railroads, universities, airports, hospitals and health care systems, public transit, technology and industrial companies, and other large employers seeking custom transportation solutions.
- Represented Crestview Partners in connection with the acquisition of Emerald EMS, an electronics manufacturing services provider specializing in high-mix, low-volume engineering, design, prototyping, testing, assembly and lifecycle support services for blue-chip original equipment manufacturers across a range of end markets.
- Prevailed in October of 2018 on a GAO protest related to a Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA) Systems Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI) solicitation.
- GAO bid protest on behalf of client challenging Agency’s ineligibility determination based on unreasonable application of late proposal submission.°
- Represented D.C. Certified Business Enterprise before D.C. Contract Appeals Board in protest resulting in Agency Corrective Action.°
- Represented small business before GAO in bid protest resulting in corrective action taken on behalf of U.S. Agency.°
- Represented plaintiff in State Court breach of contract claim against teaming partner.°
- Protested multimillion-dollar U.S. Navy contract based on violation of SBA affiliation regulations.°
- Represented Fortune 50 Company in State bid protest.°
- Pursued Miller Act claim in Federal Court against surety on behalf of client where prime contractor failed to pay for work performed.°
- Litigated multimillion-dollar IT bid protest for major international telecommunications company.°
- Defended multimillion-dollar contract award for client in small business set-aside protest before Small Business Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA).°
- Defended before GAO and SBA of $10 million U.S. Air Force contract award for small business client.°
- Assisted small business in appealing its suspension and debarment before Federal agency.°
- Conducted Standards of Conduct training for government contractors.°
- Set up Limited Liability Corporation in West African nation in effort to support client’s Joint Venture.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Wade prior to him joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia
- Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs, 2008-2009
- Deputy Director, Office of Boards and Commissions, 2007-2008
- Intern, Virginia Ship Repair Association in the Government Contract’s Committee, 2005
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Government > Government contracts, 2024
- Selected, National Black Lawyers – Top 100 Professional Honorary Organization, 2016
- Board Member, DC Appleseed, 2023-Present
- Member, ABA Public Contract Law Section, 2015-Present
- Member, Equipment Lease Finance Association (ELFA), 2021 – Present
- Member, National 8(a) Association, 2023-Present
- Member, Shipbuilders Council of America, 2023-Present
- Member, Virginia Ship Repair Association, Contracts Committee, 2023-Present
- Board Member, District of Columbia Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA), 2016-2019
- Former Chairman, Advisory Committee to the Office of Administrative Hearings, 2009-2012
- Past Chairman, Federal Bar Association Government Contracts Section, 2011
Credentials
- J.D., Tulane University Law School
- B.A., magna cum laude, Howard University
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims