Thomas (Tom) L. McGovern III | Washington, D.C. | Hogan Lovells

Thomas (Tom) L. McGovern III

Senior Counsel Global Regulatory

McGovern III Thomas

Thomas (Tom) L. McGovern III
McGovern III Thomas
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events
quote mark

"Thomas McGovern is developing a strong reputation in the cyber security field. He is a good litigator and good with dealing with the government. He also receives praise for his very methodical approach to matters."

Chambers 2015

Tom McGovern entered the world of government contracts as a U.S. Air Force officer in 1979. He worked part time for Stanford's contracts and grants office while in law school from 1984 to 1987, then joined the firm shortly after graduation.

For his first 20 years at the firm, Tom remained active in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 2007; his last assignment was in the Air Force Senate Liaison Office. Today, Tom builds off that experience as he handles high-stakes cases for major defense and aerospace contractors, information technology companies, and research institutions.

A litigator and a leader in the firm's Government Contracts practice, Tom handles all types of government contract matters, including bid protests, disputes and claims, termination settlements, misconduct investigations, and suspension and debarment cases. He is well known for his bid protest work before the Court of Federal Claims, Government Accountability Office (GAO), and FAA Office of Disputes Resolution for Acquisition. He represents clients in contract dispute cases before the Court of Federal Claims and Boards of Contract Appeals, as well as in prime and subcontractor disputes before federal district and state courts.

In addition to litigating, Tom advises clients on numerous other procurement-related matters, including subcontracts, teaming agreements, suspension and debarment matters, schedule contract compliance issues, small and minority-owned business programs, personal and facility security clearances, information assurance obligations, and defense of qui tam lawsuits. He regularly teams with partners in the firm's white-collar practice on significant procurement misconduct cases.

quote mark

"He is very experienced and has good insights into how the government will react. [He is] very bright, knowledgeable, creative, candid, and he has great connections."

Chambers USA 2017

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., Stanford Law School, with distinction, 1987
  • M.B.A., Babson College, with distinction, 1982
  • B.S., United States Air Force Academy, 1979
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • California
  • District of Columbia
Court admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
Memberships
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Member, Government Contracts and Litigation Section, Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2008-present
  • Past Member, Law360's Government Contracts Editorial Advisory Board
  • Past Co-chair, Contract Claims and Disputes Committee, American Bar Association, 2003-2007
  • Past Co-chair, Homeland Security Committee, American Bar Association, 2008-2010
  • Vice-Chair, ABA CCDRC, 2008-present

Recognition

Government Contracts

Who's Who Legal

2015-2018
Acritas Star

Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers

2017-2020
Government: Government Contracts, Hall of Fame

Legal 500 US

2020
Government Contracts

Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers

2013-2018
Government: Government Contracts: Bid Protests (Nationwide), Spotlight Table

Chambers USA

2012-2020
Government: Government Contracts (Nationwide)--Senior Statespeople

Chambers USA

2006-2022
Top Lawyers, Government Contracts

Washingtonian Magazine

2013-2018
Public Procurement

Who's Who Legal

2014-2016
Government: Government Contracts, Leading Lawyer

Legal 500 US

2015-2019
Law360, MVP of the Year

2014