Alex Sarria is an experienced litigator and trusted advisor who helps government contractors solve their most challenging legal issues. Named one of the nation's "Up and Coming" government contracts lawyers by Chambers USA, clients describe Mr. Sarria as "incredibly smart, responsive, strategic, and cost-effective." Other clients say Mr. Sarria "is a gifted communicator with executives" and "a very strong writer... who takes the time to understand the business in a meaningful way." "Put simply, he's the exact kind of lawyer a business wants on its side. He is an expert in government contracts law, as well as being business savvy," said another client.
Mr. Sarria represents government contractors in high-stakes contract disputes, bid protests, False Claims Act (FCA) lawsuits, and complex civil litigation. He has successfully litigated numerous multi-million-dollar cases for both traditional and non-traditional contractors across a range of industries, including aerospace and defense, nuclear energy, engineering and construction, transportation and logistics, oil and gas, high-tech manufacturing, information technology, and pharmaceuticals. His litigation experience includes matters arising from major weapon system programs, military operations, nuclear energy contracts, and environmental remediation projects.
Leading government contractors also turn to Mr. Sarria to investigate allegations of procurement fraud, prepare mandatory disclosures, and defend against government investigations and audits. In his counseling practice, he advises clients on an array of procurement matters including Buy American Act (BAA) and Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance, intellectual property and data rights, supply chain (section 889, secure software development) and cybersecurity regulations, Other Transaction agreements (OTs), contract terminations, cost allowability and cost accounting, defective pricing, subcontract pricing and flowdowns, commercial items and federal supply schedule contracting, organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), and business ethics and conduct requirements.
Mr. Sarria also is recognized for his unique experience helping companies identify and mitigate their exposure to civil and tort liability. He has helped clients secure liability protection and indemnification from the government under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act, Public Law 85-804, the Price Anderson Act (PAA), the Defense Base Act (DBA), and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.228-7 (Insurance-Liability to Third Persons).
- Served as lead counsel in a $41 million contract termination case for one of the Department of Defense's (DoD) largest jet-fuel contractors in Afghanistan. Litigated the case before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) and obtained a settlement for more than 75 percent of the amount claimed under the contract's termination clause.
- Successfully represented one of the nation's largest energy services companies in a multi-million-dollar FCA suit based on alleged BAA and TAA violations on a U.S. military energy-savings performance contract.
- Successfully represented a leading pharmaceutical distributor in multiple bid protests before federal agencies, Court of Federal Claims (COFC), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
- Served as lead government contracts counsel to one of world's largest engineering and professional services firms in its investigation of alleged Anti-Kickback Act violations involving a subcontractor.
- Served as lead regulatory counsel to several global energy companies in connection with multi-billion-dollar clean energy infrastructure projects administered by the Department of Energy (DOE).
- Served as lead regulatory counsel to a global munitions company in its multi-million-dollar acquisition of a U.S.-based defense contractor. Led a multidisciplinary team of Miller & Chevalier attorneys who advised on the government contracts, national security, export controls, and other regulatory aspects of the transaction.
- Successfully represented a Bloomberg Government 200 (BGOV200) government contractor in a GAO bid protest of a multi-million-dollar Navy procurement for base operations support at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Pax River).
- Successfully represented medical claims processing contractor before GAO in a bid protest of a multi-million-dollar Veterans Affairs (VA) procurement.
- Successfully represented a Washington Technology Top 100 government contractor as co-lead counsel in a $55 million Contract Disputes Act (CDA) dispute with the Army regarding the allowability of private security costs. Participated in five-week bench trial and authored briefs that resulted in complete victories for the contractor at the ASBCA and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
- Successfully represented a Washington Technology Top 100 government contractor in a wrongful employment termination suit arising from a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) environmental remediation project at the Kingston Fossil Plant in Tennessee.
- Successfully represented a Washington Technology Top 100 government contractor in a $12 million prime-subcontractor dispute litigated in U.S. district court.
- Successfully asserted the government contractor defense on behalf of a major federal government contractor in a tort suit arising from Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) use of cargo scanning equipment at the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Represented a Washington Technology Top 100 government defense contractor in a $21 million CDA dispute with the Army over unpaid award fees. Litigated before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC) and obtained settlement for more than 99 percent of the claimed amount.
- Represented two Fortune 500 companies in a $2 billion class action for alleged non-payment of Defense Base Act (DBA) benefits. Successfully litigated the matter before district court, appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Represented a major government contractor in a high-profile products liability suit arising from the crash of a military fighter jet during a classified operation. Successfully removed the case from state to federal court.
- Successfully prosecuted bid protest of multi-million-dollar Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) procurement before the GAO.
- Lead counsel in bid protest of multi-million-dollar Veterans Affairs (VA) procurement for home oxygen services before the GAO.
- Successfully prosecuted multiple bid protests of multi-million-dollar Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) procurements before the GAO.
- Successfully represented a Fortune 100 company in obtaining liability protection under the SAFETY Act for its anti-terrorism security program.
- Successfully represented the first public utility in the U.S. to obtain liability protection under the SAFETY Act for its anti-terrorism security program.
- Chambers USA: Government Contracts (Nationwide), 2024
- Legal 500: Government: Government Contracts, 2021 - 2024
- Top Lawyers Under 40 Award, Hispanic National Bar Association, 2020
- Washington, DC Super Lawyers®: Rising Star, Government Contracts, 2018
- Co-Chair, Battlespace and Contingency Procurements Committee, Section of Public Contract Law, ABA
- Vice Chair, Contract Claims and Disputes Resolution Committee, Section of Public Contract Law, American Bar Association (ABA)
- Procurement Division & Legal Committee, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)
- Member, Cuban American Bar Association
State Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Florida
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- Judicial Intern, Honorable Judge Shelby Highsmith, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2005