Brian P. Cruz focuses his practice on government contract law, including classified and national security issues. Brian advises clients in all aspects of government contracts law, from contract formation to prosecuting claims against the government, as well as defending contractors against False Claims Act allegations.
Brian has worked to resolve contract claims and disputes involving defense contractors, construction companies and design/build firms involved in various Iraqi/Afghani reconstruction projects in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom” (OEF) and “Operation Iraqi Freedom” (OIF).
Brian has extensively counseled clients with obtaining and/or preventing the release of information under federal and state Freedom of Information Act provisions (FOIA), and has provided guidance on issues involving Compliance Programs, Subcontractor Management, and the Department of Defense Voluntary Disclosure Program.
Brian, as a former Facilities Security Officer (FSO), also has provided counsel and litigated matters for contractors and individuals with regards to obtaining and maintaining security clearances and regularly appears before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) on such matters.
He also counsels on measures to mitigate Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI) for clients participating in the National Industrial Security Program (NISP).
In one recent engagement, Brian counseled a company with three billion dollars in revenue in FOCI mitigation measures which allowed this partially foreign-owned client to enter the DoD / NSA Trusted Foundry Program.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE :
- Defended client successfully against charges of procurement fraud with a damages claim estimate of approximately $100 million.
- Represented a public utility in a $100 million negotiation for the privatization of a natural gas utility system on a U.S. military installation.
- Successfully litigated a multi-million dollar federal torts claim suit against the Department of the Navy for damage sustained to a state-of-the-art airship.
EDUCATION :
- J.D., Southwestern Law School, 2007
- B.A., University of Southern California, 1994
ADMISSIONS : California
COURTS : U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Cost
Rate : $$$