By Anthony I. Shin, Esq. | Federal Contracting & Compliance Law Attorney | Shin Law Office
Trust is fundamental in the federal contracting arena.
After all, whether you are the Prime or the Sub, contracts are your lifeblood.
They are the terms of engagement between you and your customers.
They set the expectations, including the performance criteria, delivery schedule, payment terms, and scope of responsibilities.
But what do you do when the other side doesn’t keep up their end of the bargain?
Frankly, this is more than just frustrating… It’s hazardous.
In Loudoun and Fairfax County, where the federal contractors are competing for work in some of the most competitive defense and aerospace markets in the nation, a broken contract can be devastating to all that you have built.
Delays, financial losses, damaged reputations, and lost opportunities can all follow.
This is why federal contractors need more than just a good contract.
You need the proper legal counsel, prepared to enforce it when things go off the rails.
The Reality of Contract Breach in Federal Work
Perhaps the Prime won the award and then excluded you.
Maybe your Sub didn’t deliver the technical requirements, blew past deadlines, or ignored compliance protocols.
Maybe you’re still waiting on payment long after you’ve fulfilled your part of the deal.
These aren’t hypothetical scenarios—I’ve seen them all firsthand.
And I’ve stepped in to protect my clients, recover what they’re owed, and make sure they’re not the ones holding the liability bag.
Breach of Contract: What It Really Means
In government contracting, breach of contract isn’t always about complete failure. It can be:
- Non-payment or underpayment after deliverables are met
- Failure to assign the agreed workshare after contract award
- Delays that cost you future task orders or agency trust
- Unjust termination based on vague performance claims
- Failure to comply with FAR clauses or flow-down obligations
Here’s the truth: federal contracts operate under strict rules.
The government expects performance, and so should you.
When another party drops the ball, you need legal firepower to respond quickly and strategically.
Why General Business Lawyers Aren’t Enough
Breach of contract in a federal setting is not your typical commercial dispute.
You’re dealing with layered compliance issues, FAR requirements, teaming agreements, subcontracting policies, and sometimes even agency oversight.
If your lawyer doesn’t know what a flow-down clause is—or hasn’t reviewed a Teaming Agreement alongside FAR Part 44—they’re not equipped for this arena.
I work with defense, aerospace, IT, and logistics contractors daily.
I don’t just draft airtight agreements—I enforce them. I understand the contract language and the battlefield you operate in.
What I Do When Things Go Sideways
When clients contact me about a contract breach, I respond promptly. Here’s what I bring to the table:
- Immediate contract analysis to pinpoint to the violation and quantify damages
- Preservation of evidence and internal communications to strengthen your claim
- Demand letters backed by contract language and legal leverage
- Litigation or arbitration strategy when enforcement becomes necessary
- Reputation protection to keep your agency relationships intact while resolving the issue
And if your future business is on the line? I make sure that this breach doesn’t follow you into your next bid.
Don’t Let the Breach Define the Outcome
Here’s what I tell every federal contractor I work with: Contracts don’t protect you unless you enforce them.
And enforcement starts with counsel who knows the landscape, the regulations, and how to go toe-to-toe with the other side, without jeopardizing your standing in the federal ecosystem.
If your Prime or Sub has breached the agreement, don’t wait. Don’t guess. And don’t rely on legal advice that wasn’t built for this environment.
Let’s take back control.
If you’ve been wronged under a federal contract, I’ll help you build your case, protect your interests, and pursue what you’re owed with precision, speed, and confidence.
Anthony I. Shin, Esq.
Federal Contracting & Compliance Law Attorney
