Ralph Avery

Principal, Avery Law Firm

43 years of experience
Employment Law, Gov & Administrative Law
District of Columbia

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Claimed Profile

Biography

Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and litigation attorney with the federal government, focusing on government contract matters, including acquisition planning, solicitation, contract formation, contract administration, and terminations for convenience or default. I have counseled clients on all aspects of contract, grant, and cooperative agreement law as well as specialized vehicles such as multiparty scientific research and international agreements. I also have experience in federal personnel law, including representation before the MSPB and the EEOC. I am familiar with anti-discrimination law and matters relating to termination of employment, failure to promote, standards of conduct issues, and a broad range of other employment issues. For more than a decade, I represented the federal government as a creditor in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcies, reclaiming property, prosecuting and defending claims, obtaining relief from the automatic stay, and filing and defending other contested matters, adversary proceedings and appeals.

Practice Areas

Employment Law: Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination

Gov & Administrative Law: Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs

Additional Practice Area

Government contracts

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

District of Columbia: District of Columbia Bar
Since 1981

Professional Experience

Assistant General Counsel: Commodity Futures Trading Commission; 2008 - 2011; Argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals regarding enforcement of the Commodity Exchange Act. Dealt with prohibitions on market manipulation, segregation of client funds, and other regulations of the market for commodities. Also counseled the acquisition team on contract matters, such as cost overruns, conflicts of interest, and numerous other issues. Represented and counseled the agency on numerous federal personnel matters.

Deputy Chief, Bankruptcy Judges Division: Administrative Office of U.S. Courts; 1999 - 2008; Supervised professional staff in formulating and implementing policy supporting U.S. Bankruptcy system. Counseled and represented the agency concerning federal personnel issues.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Branch Chief: U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corp; 1987 - 1999; Represented the Army and other military branches in litigation in federal courts. Subjects included all aspects of contract administration and termination, bid protests, and bankruptcy proceedings.

Assistant General Counsel: U.S. Nuclear Regulation Commission; 1978 - 1987; Served as principal government contracts attorney. Counseled and represented the agency in all aspects of formation, administration,and termination of government contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements,and international and domestic multi-party research agreements. Contract types included fixed price, cost reimbursement, time and materials, and incentive contracts. Was counsel to group that established grant and cooperative agreement procedures. Counseled team that promulgated the agency's organizational conflicts of interest regulation.

Assistant General Counsel: U.S. Navy Aviation Supply Office; 1975 - 1978; Counseled and represented the agency in all aspects of contracting for support of the Navy Air arm, procuring such items as survival gear, aircraft engines and services, airframe components, and navigational instruments.