Ariel Debin Collinsworth is an associate in the Governmental Practice in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. She is a member of the Practice’s Supply Chain Management, Commercial Products and Services, and False Claims Act teams, and the Firm’s Organizational Integrity Group.
Areas of Practice
Ariel’s practice focuses primarily on assisting traditional and non-traditional government contractors of all sizes and across all industries – including aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and retail – understand risks and obligations when taking money from the Federal Government; whether through traditional procurement mechanisms or through Federal grant and assistance programs. Ariel specializes in various government investigation, litigation, and counseling matters, including those involving:
False Claims Act litigation before the U.S. district courts and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims;
Country of origin requirements, including under the Buy American Act, the Trade Agreements Act, Build America, Buy America (“BABA”) requirements, and domestic content tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”);
Supply chain related issues, including subcontract and reseller management, and prohibited sources;
Internal investigations;
Mandatory disclosures to the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General;
Civil and criminal subpoena responses to both federal and state enforcement agencies, including representing clients in Department of Justice (DOJ) and inspector general investigations;
Compliance programs, including drafting policies and assisting in implementing compliance programs;
Audits;
Contract Dispute Act (CDA) claims and litigation before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims;
Small business issues under the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) regulations, including issues of size status and affiliation;
Bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims;
Suspension and debarment proceedings; and
Bribery, gratuities and kickbacks.
Ariel also advises clients on issues relating to federal grant law, including counseling clients on applicability of, and compliance with, requirements under the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance, 2 C.F.R. part 200), related Agency regulations, and program-specific statutory and regulatory conditions imposed by Federal grant programs.
Ariel is a member of Sheppard Mullin’s Pro Bono Committee, committed to promoting opportunities and encouraging pro bono participation within the Washington, D.C. office and across the Firm.
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