Defense

Baker Donelson's public policy advisors and attorneys work with clients in defense sectors including aerospace, energy, homeland safety and security to develop and implement comprehensive strategic plans to achieve specific, quantifiable objectives at all levels of government.  Under the leadership of Baker Donelson Strategic Advisor, The Honorable Ellen Tauscher -- who served as former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs as well as on the House Armed Services Committee and as chairman of the Strategic Forces subcommittee -- the Baker Donelson team demonstrates a unique credibility, forethought and vision of situational awareness as well as sustaining the relationships necessary to ensure individualized advice to clients and direct advocacy with key decision-makers. As entities seek to find their way - especially during this time of evolving policies and procedures and dense regulation - they need an advocate who can help them plot a course to see beyond the horizon.

Our services include comprehensive analysis of each clients' business and political environment; crafting detailed strategic plans to achieve desired goals; the formation and management of effective coalitions; planning and outreach of public policy initiatives; and advocacy related to mergers and acquisitions, including the process associated with The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).  We counsel clients on election law, political action committees (PACs) and political compliance, ethics management and integration of lobbying efforts, and fiscal and policy forecasting.  Our team is experienced in advising clients on force realignment and the potential impact of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) actions, and we have successfully reversed legislative language designed to hinder clients' business objectives.

In addition, attorneys in Baker Donelson's Government Contracting group are dedicated to counseling U.S. and foreign military suppliers on the best ways to navigate the federal procurement system, particularly as it relates to combat zone contracting and contracting with the U.S. government overseas. We work to help contractors effectively navigate the complex system of export control laws that regulate the transfer of goods, technology, software, services, and information to foreign nationals and foreign destinations. We also have a profound understanding of compliance with the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and other relevant laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The Baker Donelson team supports client compliance with these export control laws by establishing and implementing internal procedures and training programs, assisting with licensing issues, conducting comprehensive audits and investigations, and responding to federal agency inquiries.

Our experience includes:

• Assisting clients in clearance of export control licensing
• Developing and leading coalitions for major defense procurements
• Advocating on behalf of clients for increases in defense procurement and successful reprogramming actions
• Monitoring and working to shape upcoming defense procurements through program briefings and capability statements
• Reversing legislative language that could hinder clients' business objectives
• Drafting legislative language to achieve clients' objectives in regulatory actions
• Representing clients before the Department of Defense on land acquisition and transfer rights