Partner, Denver
1875 Lawrence Street
Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202

TEL: 303.634.4355
FAX: 303.634.4400
EMAIL: smasiello@mckennalong.com

PROFILE

Steve Masiello is a partner in McKenna Long & Aldridge's Denver office.  He joined the firm in 1999.  His practice focuses on contract formation, administration and dispute resolution, including federal, state and commercial contracts, and technology agreements. In the area of federal government procurement, Steve possesses significant experience in matters involving government contract cost allowability, the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA), as well as broad experience handling bid protests, contract compliance and audit issues, equitable adjustment or breach of contract claims, reverse-Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases, software and data rights matters and other contract disputes.

Steve has assisted clients with the resolution of government and commercial contract disputes in the state and federal courts, the Boards of Contract Appeals and through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedures.  He has further assisted clients with procurement protests to state and federal agencies, courts, and the Government Accountability Office.  Steve has also helped clients appeal federal grant decisions, pursue small business matters, and resolve other contractual or regulatory matters in state and federal administrative forums.  Most recently, Steve achieved a trial victory at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in American Ordnance LLC v. United States, No. 07-867C, 2008 WL 4266125 (Fed. Cl. September 12, 2008) (declaratory judgment overturning government claim of ownership in contractor production equipment acquired to perform munitions contract) and received summary judgment at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico in Sw. Multi-Craft Health & Welfare Trust Fund v. IAP World Servs. Corp., No. 1:07-cv-0337 MCA/ACT (D.N.M. August 28, 2008) (plaintiffs’ ERISA claim against government contractor employer for additional fringe benefits costs dismissed).

Steve’s experience includes internal investigations and assistance in resolving client matters involving allegations of contractor fraud under the False Claims Act (FCA), violation of law or regulation, overpayment or other alleged contractor wrongdoing.  Steve has drafted and negotiated a wide variety of highly technical and valuable contractual actions in many different contract types.  He has also participated in many facets of the government contracting process, including research and development, requirements generation, writing and review of Requests for Proposal (RFPs), source selection, drafting and review of contract terms, cost and pricing analysis, overhead negotiation, contract negotiation and award, contract administration and termination.

Steve served on active duty as an officer in the United States Air Force.  He was first assigned to Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) where he was responsible for contractual matters related to the engineering support provided to the Air Force by its Federally‑Funded Research and Development Center, The Aerospace Corporation.  While at SMC he also worked closely with government and industry professionals to provide contractual support for the Titan IV Launch System.  Steve was then assigned to Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) where he served in the contract administration offices responsible for the administration of all Department of Defense (DOD) contracts with Boeing North American, Inc.  While assigned to the DCMA position, Steve was responsible for the offices’ implementation in the relevant contracts of Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA) initiatives.

Upon receipt of his J.D. degree from Loyola Law School, Steve was selected to participate in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Fellowship Program in civil litigation. Prior to attending law school, Steve attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.