Close

People

Rick Vacura is a partner in King & Spalding’s Special Matters and Government Investigations team and head of the Government Contracts practice. He represents clients in a variety of governmental investigations and civil litigation matters that span across multiple industries. He has led numerous internal corporate investigations and has regularly served as primary counsel for government contracts and transactional matters.

Rick has represented clients in litigation involving major weapons and space systems, technology, telecommunications, prime and subcontract disputes, bid protests, injunction proceedings, procurement fraud, Freedom of Information Act actions and allegations under the Federal Tort Claims Act. He has conducted internal investigations on false claims and violations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and defended against suspension and debarment actions.

He has advised clients ranging from start-ups to large public companies on due diligence for foreign and domestic acquisitions, joint venture agreements, novation and assignment issues, technical data and nondisclosure agreements, export controls, anticorruption, national security and domestic and international solicitations and contract or subcontract terms and conditions.

Rick has held leadership positions on the Contract Claims and Disputes Resolution Committee and the International Procurement Committee of the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section.

As a recognized leader in government contracts, Rick has led seminars on federal procurement topics for eGov, Federal Publications, the Contract Services Association of America, the Council of Defense & Space Industry Associations, the National Contract Management Association and Department of Defense organizations.

Before joining private practice, he served as a major in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Department from 1982 to 1992. As an Air Force lawyer, he served as a trial attorney for the Pentagon’s Air Force Contract Litigation Division and as a procurement legal advisor for the Ballistic Missile Organization in California.

Full Bio

Credentials

LL.M., George Washington University Law School

J.D., William Mitchell College of Law

B.A., University of Texas, with honors

District of Columbia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Virginia

Top Government Contracts Lawyer


Washington Business Journal

BTI Client Service All-Star MVP


BTI Consulting Group

Recognized as Leading Lawyer for Government Contracts


Chambers USA

Leading Lawyer in Government Contracts


Legal 500 US

Recommended Leading Lawyer


Best Lawyers in America

Rated AV Preeminent


Martindale Hubbell

Close

Recognition

Top Government Contracts Lawyer


Washington Business Journal

BTI Client Service All-Star MVP


BTI Consulting Group

Recognized as Leading Lawyer for Government Contracts


Chambers USA

Leading Lawyer in Government Contracts


Legal 500 US

Recommended Leading Lawyer


Best Lawyers in America

Rated AV Preeminent


Martindale Hubbell

Matters

Represented Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in a "reverse" Freedom of Information Act case, seeking to enjoin NASA’s release of confidential commercial pricing information related to the James Webb Space Telescope contract. The Court rejected NASA's arguments and permanently enjoined NASA from releasing the information.

Represented Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in defeating Sierra Nevada Corp's bid protest filed at GAO challenging NASA's $2.6 billion contract award for the development of a new spacecraft capable of replacing the Space Shuttle and transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Represented DynCorp International in a successful post-award bid protest at GAO challenging the Department of State's improper discussions with offerors and subsequent award decision of a $131 million task order for life mission and support services in Afghanistan.

See more

Close

Matters

Represented Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in a "reverse" Freedom of Information Act case, seeking to enjoin NASA’s release of confidential commercial pricing information related to the James Webb Space Telescope contract. The Court rejected NASA's arguments and permanently enjoined NASA from releasing the information.

Represented Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in defeating Sierra Nevada Corp's bid protest filed at GAO challenging NASA's $2.6 billion contract award for the development of a new spacecraft capable of replacing the Space Shuttle and transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Represented DynCorp International in a successful post-award bid protest at GAO challenging the Department of State's improper discussions with offerors and subsequent award decision of a $131 million task order for life mission and support services in Afghanistan.

Represented SpaceX in defeating Blue Origin's challenge to the terms of a solicitation calling for leases of the LC-39A launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, thereby paving the way for the client to be awarded a multi-year lease of the facility.

Represented SpaceX in successfully prosecuting a multi-billion dollar bid protest at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims negotiating a favorable settlement resolving the U.S. Air Force's unlawful failure to conduct full and open competition for national security satellite launch services.

Represented an information technology reseller in securing a non-prosecution agreement and favorable settlement in the face of potential criminal and civil False Claims Act liability.

Represented General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule contractor in investigating and defending against False Claims Act allegations by a relator in a qui tam action.

Represented a large multinational Fortune 500 company in an extensive internal investigation and in the DOD/DOJ Voluntary Disclosure Program related to contract noncompliance allegations and potentially involving False Claims Act violations and procurement fraud.

Represented a Japanese manufacturer of precision equipment in an internal investigation into allegations of violation of company rules and U.S. export rules and regulations by its Singapore subsidiary. Obtained a favorable result for the client with respect to sanctions imposed by a U.S. government agency.

Matters

Represented Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in a "reverse" Freedom of Information Act case, seeking to enjoin NASA’s release of confidential commercial pricing information related to the James Webb Space Telescope contract. The Court rejected NASA's arguments and permanently enjoined NASA from releasing the information.

Represented Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in defeating Sierra Nevada Corp's bid protest filed at GAO challenging NASA's $2.6 billion contract award for the development of a new spacecraft capable of replacing the Space Shuttle and transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Represented DynCorp International in a successful post-award bid protest at GAO challenging the Department of State's improper discussions with offerors and subsequent award decision of a $131 million task order for life mission and support services in Afghanistan.

See more

Close

Matters

Represented Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in a "reverse" Freedom of Information Act case, seeking to enjoin NASA’s release of confidential commercial pricing information related to the James Webb Space Telescope contract. The Court rejected NASA's arguments and permanently enjoined NASA from releasing the information.

Represented Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in defeating Sierra Nevada Corp's bid protest filed at GAO challenging NASA's $2.6 billion contract award for the development of a new spacecraft capable of replacing the Space Shuttle and transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Represented DynCorp International in a successful post-award bid protest at GAO challenging the Department of State's improper discussions with offerors and subsequent award decision of a $131 million task order for life mission and support services in Afghanistan.

Represented SpaceX in defeating Blue Origin's challenge to the terms of a solicitation calling for leases of the LC-39A launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, thereby paving the way for the client to be awarded a multi-year lease of the facility.

Represented SpaceX in successfully prosecuting a multi-billion dollar bid protest at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims negotiating a favorable settlement resolving the U.S. Air Force's unlawful failure to conduct full and open competition for national security satellite launch services.

Represented an information technology reseller in securing a non-prosecution agreement and favorable settlement in the face of potential criminal and civil False Claims Act liability.

Represented General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule contractor in investigating and defending against False Claims Act allegations by a relator in a qui tam action.

Represented a large multinational Fortune 500 company in an extensive internal investigation and in the DOD/DOJ Voluntary Disclosure Program related to contract noncompliance allegations and potentially involving False Claims Act violations and procurement fraud.

Represented a Japanese manufacturer of precision equipment in an internal investigation into allegations of violation of company rules and U.S. export rules and regulations by its Singapore subsidiary. Obtained a favorable result for the client with respect to sanctions imposed by a U.S. government agency.

Credentials

LL.M., George Washington University Law School

J.D., William Mitchell College of Law

B.A., University of Texas, with honors

District of Columbia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Virginia

Top Government Contracts Lawyer


Washington Business Journal

BTI Client Service All-Star MVP


BTI Consulting Group

Recognized as Leading Lawyer for Government Contracts


Chambers USA

Leading Lawyer in Government Contracts


Legal 500 US

Recommended Leading Lawyer


Best Lawyers in America

Rated AV Preeminent


Martindale Hubbell

Close

Recognition

Top Government Contracts Lawyer


Washington Business Journal

BTI Client Service All-Star MVP


BTI Consulting Group

Recognized as Leading Lawyer for Government Contracts


Chambers USA

Leading Lawyer in Government Contracts


Legal 500 US

Recommended Leading Lawyer


Best Lawyers in America

Rated AV Preeminent


Martindale Hubbell