Michael Vernick

Practice Areas

Mike Vernick leads the firm's education and government contracts groups, focusing on higher education, defense, and life sciences sectors. His False Claims Act (FCA) experience extends into all aspects of higher education, government contracting, and research funding, including cost allowability, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) compliance, General Services Administration (GSA) contracts, and bid rigging.

Mike has represented multiple preeminent academic institutions on research security and global engagement, resolving the first reported FCA case involving undisclosed researcher ties to a foreign government. He also advises many of the nation's leading research institutions and service organizations on conducting international sponsored projects and capacity building.

Mike works with research institutions on Uniform Guidance enforcement and compliance matters, addressing financial, administrative, and scientific management of grants and cooperative agreements, including financial conflicts of interest and research involving human subjects. He has vetted the integrity of the scholarship of candidates for leadership positions at some of the Nation’s highest profile academic institutions.

Professional Memberships

District of Columbia Bar, Maryland Bar

Personal

J.D., George Mason University School of Law, with high honors, 1997

B.A., Tufts University, cum laude, 1991