Howard Wolf-Rodda
Founding Partner
Howard Wolf-Rodda is a founding partner of Abrahams Wolf-Rodda, LLC, a boutique government contracts and wage and hour law firm in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The practice includes traditional government contracts work (bid protests, claims, compliance advice, prime-sub disputes, etc.) and a wage & hour practice (spanning the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, various Executive Orders, and state wage laws).
Mr. Wolf-Rodda represents organizations and individuals that do business with federal, state and local governments. Mr. Wolf-Rodda regularly describes himself as a general practitioner who guides his clients in all aspects of their operations in the highly-regulated world of government contracting.
His clients have ranged from small businesses and start-ups to some of the nation’s largest federal contractors involved in diverse industries including aerospace, IT, healthcare, security, energy, engineering, and construction. In addition to counseling them about their government contracts issues, he also advises them regarding their commercial interactions, employment relationships and compliance requirements. He advocates for his clients when disputes arise. He has handled many bid protests, claims, appeals, and litigation matters in numerous courts and administrative tribunals.
Mr. Wolf-Rodda’s most recent experience began in 2012 when he formed Wolf-Rodda llc following his 15 year tenure in the Washington, DC offices of two prominent national and international law firms. Before that, he practiced several years at a regional firm in Baltimore, MD. Following graduation from law school, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Diana Gribbon Motz, Circuit Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Associate Judge, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. Before attending law school, Mr. Wolf-Rodda worked in politics as a campaign organizer and political consultant in which he designed strategies and messaging for candidates and organizations.
Mr. Wolf-Rodda is admitted to practice in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. He is a member of the bars of the US Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Federal Circuit. He also is admitted to practice before the US Court of Federal Claims as well as the US District Courts for the District of Columbia and Maryland. Mr. Wolf-Rodda has litigated cases in state and federal trial courts throughout the National Capital region. In addition, he has litigated in state and federal courts in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Washington. Mr. Wolf-Rodda also has filed briefs and/or appeared before the US Supreme Court, US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the Court of Appeals and Court of Special Appeals of Maryland.
REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS
Provided ongoing advice to federal contractors regarding requirements under the Federal Acquisition Regulations including contract administration, proposal preparation, subcontract negotiation and administration, legal compliance, employment policies and agreements, nondisclosure agreements, commercial contracts, teaming arrangements, and codes of ethics and business conduct.
Represented clients in government contract disputes including the preparation of equitable adjustments, claims and the litigation of contract appeals and bid protests.
Analyzed, developed and updated client policies and procedures to ensure compliance with requirements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation and other relevant laws including Buy America Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Service Contract Act, as well as avoidance and mitigation of conflicts of interest.
Represented employers and employees regarding violations of federal and state wage and hour laws.
Represented and advised clients regarding the Service Contract Act, federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, among others.
Conducted internal audits and investigations regarding alleged noncompliance with federal contracting requirements.
Represented solar energy firm in defense of threatened suspension and debarment arising out of alleged violations of Buy American requirements.
Advised clients regarding requirements of GSA federal supply schedule contracts and assisted in response to GSA audits.
Developed and delivered enterprise-wide training program regarding federal contractor’s code of ethics and business conduct.
Served as special counsel regarding ethics matters in connection with defense of criminal investigation and response to suspension and debarment proceedings arising out of alleged gratuities violations.
Advised clients regarding risk management and insurance coverage.
Negotiated numerous contracts, subcontracts, and other agreements including settlements of disputes through both direct negotiation and mediation.
Served as transactional counsel regarding government contracting issues for health data analysis firm in a merger valued at $400 million.
Won an appeal on behalf of aerospace company that resulted in the award of a Service Contract Act price adjustment for severance costs paid at the end of a contract.
Obtained favorable settlement of wage and hour class action suit brought by role players against contractor that provided live combat simulation training for soldiers in preparation for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Represented transit authority in connection with a $44 million dollar subway construction dispute.
Defended commercial litigation arising out of the crash of ValuJet flight 592.
Represented Alaska native corporations in disputes arising out of government contracts, subcontracts and teaming agreements.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of global engineering firm accused of wrongful death arising out of alleged safety violations.
Represented health plans in defense of national class action that alleged improper claims practices.
Defended whistleblower action brought by plaintiff who alleged aviation maintenance firm falsified maintenance records.
Represented trade association regarding claims arising out of failure of insurance company.
Represented financial services firm in bankruptcy proceedings and renegotiation of distressed loans involving hospitals, nursing care facilities and other health care providers.
recent blog posts
EDUCATION
University of Maryland School of Law, J.D. with Honors, Order of the Coif, May 1993
American University, B.A. in International Studies, cum laude, May 1985
Bar Admissions
Maryland, District of Columbia
US Court of Federal Claims
US Court of Appeals for the 4th and Federal Circuits
US District Courts for DC and Maryland
American Bar Association
Public Contract Law Section (“PCLS”) (current)
Member, PCLS Council (current)
Member, PCLS Publications Board (current)
Co Chair, PCLS Subcontracting, Teaming and Strategic Alliances Committee (2020-2022)
Vice Chair, PCLS Subcontracting, Teaming and Strategic Alliances Committee (2017-2020; 2022-current)
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP
Hon. Diana Gribbon Motz
US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
Maryland Court of Special Appeals
Law 360 Government Contracts Editorial Advisory Board
Member (2013-2015)
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
PubK GovCon Annual Review Conference: Labor and Employment Panel (January 9, 2023)
PubK GovCon Annual Review Conference: Labor and Employment Panel (January 24, 2022)
The Obligations of the Government, Prime Contractors, and Subcontractors to Ensure Compliance with the David Bacon Act, Presentation to ABA Public Contract Section State and Local Government Contracting Committee (November 16, 2021)
Shared Duties: The Obligations of the Government, Prime Contractors, and Subcontractors to Ensure Compliance with the Service Contract Act, Presentation to ABA Public Contract Section Committee on Subcontracting, Teaming and Strategic Alliances (April 14, 2021)
The Thoughtful Contractor’s Approach to Subcontract Terms and Conditions, Moderator of Continuing Legal Education program, American Bar Association (April 28, 2020) on-demand recording available online here on the ABA CLE website.
The Thoughtful Contractor’s Approach to Subcontract Terms and Conditions, Moderator of Panel Discussion, American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law, Fall Educational Program (November 1, 2018)
Who’s Buying What Here? Protest of the Boeing Company, Presentation to ABA Public Contract Section Committee on Subcontracting, Teaming and Strategic Alliances (December 2017)
Back to School Night: Recent Developments under Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Order and DoD Mentor/Protégé Program, Presentation to Committee on Subcontracting, Teaming and Strategic Alliances (October 2016)
International Procurement Year in Review, 46 Int’l Lawyer 231 (2012) (editor)
Relief May Be Denied for Failure to Disclose Claim in Bankruptcy, Employer’s Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act (March 2008)
Construction Superintendents May Be Eligible for Executive Exemption, FLSA Employee Exemption Handbook Newsletter (June 2008)
Classification Focus: The Exempt Status of Electronics Technicians under the FLSA, Employer’s Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act (June 2006)
Payroll Lessons Learned from Natural Disasters, Employer’s Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act Newsletter (June 2006)
Delivered presentations on subcontracting, intellectual property under government contracts, insurance law, and surety bond claims
The Support for Eastern European Democracy Act of 1989: A Description and Assessment of its Responsiveness to the Needs of Poland, 17 Md. J. Int’l L. & T. 107 (1993)