McAleese & Associates, P.C. initially focused on the legal aspects of large-dollar programs-both classified and unclassified-within the defense and intelligence communities. We have since expanded into the handling of all aspects of U.S. government contracting, including but not limited to:

• Strategic Actions
• Legal/Contractual issues
• Defense and aerospace mergers and acquisitions
• Negotiating strategic ventures
• Brokering mid-tier mergers and acquisitions
• Government contracting
• Legal and business services related to government contracting

James McAleese founded the Government Contracts law firm of McAleese & Associates, P.C., in 1992. The Firm's initial focus was on legal aspects of large-dollar classified and unclassified programs within the defense and intelligence communities. From that foundation, the Firm expanded into all aspects of procurement within the Federal contracting community, including Foreign Military Sales and direct foreign sales, White Collar Criminal Law, and High Technology law in such areas as commercial space and aerospace. Mr. McAleese's directed focus on the capture of major programs and profit maximization has resulted in a practice centered on "cradle-to-grave" preemption and/or mitigation of legal conflicts during performance. Such early involvement is geared toward preclusion of illegitimate risk migration to clients. The most obvious benefit is to preserve entitlement to recoup cost overruns and schedule slippages triggered during performance by the Government and third parties, without loss of customer goodwill. Our expertise lies in:


Handling all aspects of U.S. government contracting, including both Strategic Actions and Legal/Contractual Issues (such as claims negotiation, restructuring of on-going programs, and negotiating "legacy" disputes/litigation via global settlements in the form of: (a) structured payments; (b) additional profitable work on sole-source basis; and (c) waiver of obsolete out-year requirements and other contingencies to "de-book" existing financial services to declare immediate earnings)

Crafting innovative business approaches to high-technology and government-contracts law that produce solid results through strategic planning, adroit tactical decision-making, and the harnessing of experienced legal assets

Creating "win/win" solutions for clients and their customers that emphasize a cradle-to-grave approach, often pre-empting costly downstream litigation

Providing (1) counseling that enables our clients to capture new business, perform in compliance with ever-changing law and regulation, and avoid disputes; and (2) successful resolution of disputes, whether through Alternative Dispute Resolution, when suitable, or via aggressive litigation to secure strategic contractor objectives

Meeting challenges and resolving problems in both classified and unclassified environments

Supporting (or advocating for the restructuring where necessary) defense and aerospace mergers & acquisitions through: (a) the entire pre-sale/acquisition strategy selection and negotiations process; and then (b) the full range of post-sale/acquisition regulatory processes (CFIUS, Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust, National Interest Determinations, export licensing, etc.) with key National Security "Stakeholder"

Negotiating Strategic Ventures, as well as brokering mid-tier mergers & acquisitions, including: (a) discreet acquisition of critical capability/assets for buyers without resorting to auctions; (b) pre-sale "packaging" of operations and customer-rebaselining of key programs for sellers; (c) due diligence, and actual negotiations for both buyers and sellers; and (d) post-acquisition restructuring of both operations and key programs for buyers

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