Brett Johnson represents businesses and individuals in government relations matters. His practice includes state and federal Constitutional law, government regulatory compliance, export, government contracting, political and election law, and health care matters, including professional liability defense and commercial litigation. Brett serves on the firm’s elected five-person Executive Committee, is the chair of the special litigation & compliance practice, and co-chair of the international industry group. Brett is also co-editor of the firm’s International Industry group’s Global Connection newsletter.
Brett regularly represents parties and witnesses involved with governmental investigations, including election law, governmental ethics, export control, False Claims Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and government procurement compliance laws and regulations. He has experience handling internal investigations and compliance audits for clients on a wide range of matters. Brett also provides training to businesses and governmental agencies concerning compliance matters and the drafting of related corporate policies.
Brett’s political and election law practice includes advising candidates, initiative committees, consultants, lobbyists, political action committees (PACs), ballot measure and independent expenditure committees, political parties, municipalities, corporations, trade associations and other tax exempt organizations, and individual donors and political contributors on matters ranging from constitutional law, referenda for the ballot, campaign finance law compliance and election law complaints. He handles election-related litigation and enforcement matters before local, state, and federal courts and agencies.
Brett advises and represents businesses in relation to negotiating and complying with government contracts. He negotiates and drafts Other Transaction Agreements, government subcontracts and compliance programs related to, among others, the Buy American Act, the Federal Acquisition Regulations, Small Business Subcontracting Plans, and Ethics policies. Brett also represents businesses before the Court of Federal Claims, Government Accountability Office, Department of Energy, Boards of Contract Appeals, Small Business Administration, state, county, city, and other judicial bodies in regard to government procurement bid protests, claims, equitable adjustments, small business size determinations, certifications challenges, and other disputes related to complying with government acquisition laws and regulations.
Brett also advises clients in regard to litigation subpoenas, Grand Jury Subpoenas, governmental administrative subpoenas, and other government requests for information. He regularly handles Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests and defends against competitors who seek proprietary information through such authorities. Prior to joining the firm, Brett was a judge advocate with the United States Navy, regularly appearing in state and federal courts throughout the nation on behalf of the Department of the Navy. Brett also was assigned as the Civil Law Attorney to the Commander, Navy Region Southwest, handling civil law matters for the Department of the Navy in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
