James J. Gallagher
FAX: 213.243.6330
Experience
As the immediate past Co-Chair of McKenna Long & Aldridge, James J. Gallagher is one of the chief architects in the firm's long term strategic and policy direction. Prior to the merger, Mr. Gallagher was Managing Partner at McKenna & Cuneo, a predecessor firm to MLA and a member of the firm's Executive Committee.
As a nationally renowned litigator, Mr. Gallagher has been representing government contractors, including the largest aerospace companies, for more than three decades. His experience includes the full range of government contract financial issues, including civil and criminal fraud investigations and litigation, defective pricing, terminations, claims, breach of contract and cost allowability. Mr. Gallagher has served as lead counsel in more than 20 False Claims Act cases, most of which were qui tam matters. Five of those cases have been heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, including the highly publicized Schumer v. Hughes case. He has also argued more than a dozen cases at the federal appeals courts. Most recently, Mr. Gallagher, together with Susan Mitchell and Mike Kavanaugh, defended General Motors in a unanimous qui tam victory by the U.S. Supreme Court. Allison Engine Co. Inc., et al. v. United States ex rel. Sanders et al., 553 U.S. ___, No. 07-214, Slip Op. at 2.
In addition, he has been lead counsel for contractors regarding claims against the federal government that total more than $5 billion over the past 15 years.
Before joining the firm in 1970, Mr. Gallagher was a trial attorney for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service's National Office. He also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law in Government Contracts for Georgetown University Law Center (1973-1977) and for the Columbus School of Law (1975‑1977).
Chambers USA 2009 has recognized Mr. Gallagher as a leading government contracts lawyer in the nation.
Notable Engagements
General Dynamics: Counsel for General Dyamics in the DIVADS criminal case in Los Angeles in which the Department of Justice ultimately withdrew its indictment.
United Defense: Counsel for United Defense (predecessor company was FMC) in breach of contract suit in Northern District of Alabama. Recovery of $40 million. Affirmed in Eleventh Circuit.
Boeing: Represented company in contract claims on multiple programs that involved over $3 billion. Served as lead counsel in more than two dozen False Claims Act cases, most of which were qui tam matters. Five of those cases have been heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and one, U.S. ex rel. Schumer v. Hughes Aircraft Company, went to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Representative Clients
Jay has represented some of the world's largest aerospace and defense companies including Lockheed Martin, Hughes, Boeing, General Dynamics, Northrop-Grumman and General Motors.
Education
- LL.B., Georgetown University Law Center, 1965
- B.B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1961
Admitted
- California
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Seminars and Presentations:
- Program Chairman of Western Briefing Conference last 13 years;
- Program Chairman on five occasions of National Education Conference of NCMA, held annually in Los Angeles.
Civic Activities:
- Member of Board of Directors, Los Angeles Council of Boy Scouts of America.
Professional Activities:
- American Bar Association (Public Contract Law Section)
- The District of Columbia Bar
- The Federal Bar Association
- National Contract Management Association (Fellow)
- State Bar of California