Michael J. Navarre

• mnavarre@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Michael J. Navarre is special counsel in the Washington office of Steptoe, where he is a member of the Litigation Department.  His practice focuses on government contracts and complex commercial litigation.

Government Contracts
Mr. Navarre’s prior cases have included successful multi-million dollar claims against the US government before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and disputes between prime contractors and their subcontractors.  He has also represented clients in bid protests before the Government Accountability Office, the FAA’s Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition (ODRA), and the Court of Federal Claims, including a protest of a multi-billion dollar contract award by the Department of Defense.  He has also represented institutional and individual clients in numerous administrative actions by federal agencies in matters relating to contract claims, security clearances, personnel actions, and the Freedom of Information Act.  He also advises clients regarding compliance with procurement statutes and regulations, including organizational conflicts of interest rules and contingency operations contract specific clauses.

Litigation
Mr. Navarre has represented clients in complex commercial contract disputes, professional malpractice cases, first-party property insurance claims, and multi-district antitrust cases.  Mr. Navarre was also co-counsel for two government contractor employees that sought writs of habeas corpus challenging the US military’s constitutional power to try them by court-martial.  Both cases ended with military officials abandoning court-martial efforts shortly after their petitions were filed. 

Internal Corporate and Government Investigations
In addition to his litigation experience, Mr. Navarre has represented clients in internal corporate investigations and responding to both state and federal grand jury and civil investigative demands.  These cases have included investigations of alleged government contractor personnel misconduct, government corruption, and tax fraud.

Mr. Navarre is also recognized in various aspects of military law and frequently speaks on topics in the area.  Prior to joining Steptoe, Mr. Navarre served as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps for five years.  During that time he served as a prosecutor, the sole attorney-advisor to the Commander of Regional Support Group, Norfolk, Virginia, and as an appellate criminal defense counsel.

Noteworthy

• Mr. Navarre co-chairs the ABA Section of Public Contract Law: Battle Space and Contingency Procurements Committee.  The committee’s mission includes all areas of federal procurements in the battle space and contingency contracting in the public sector.

Select News & Events

• Michael Navarre Appears on BBC News to Discuss WikiLeaks Case
• “Protections Against Trafficking In Persons In Federal Contracts,” Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council Meeting, March 5, 2013
• Washington Post Quotes Michael Navarre on Judge’s Ruling in WikiLeaks Case
• Associated Press Quotes Michael Navarre on Plea Offer in WikiLeaks Case
• McClatchy Cites Michael Navarre on WikiLeaks Case
• Steptoe’s Navarre Appears on ABC News to Discuss Trial of Accused 9/11 Conspirators
• "Why Businesses Traffick and How They Avoid Prosecution," Combating Labor Trafficking Conference, May 1, 2012
• McClatchy Quotes Steptoe’s Navarre on Civilian Court-Martial Case
• Battlespace and Contingency Contracting, Federal Publications Seminars, October 28, 2011
• "The Future of Contingency Contracting," Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association Annual Meeting Program, October 26, 2011
• Contingency Contracting Update 2011, June 23, 2011
• Mike Navarre to Speak at the American Conference Institute's National Legal Summit on Iraq and Afghanistan Contracting, February 16, 2011

Selected Publications

• New Human Trafficking Laws and US Government Initiatives Make Anti-Trafficking a Compliance Priority for Businesses in 2013
  February 14, 2013
• Compliance Issues Associated with Private Security Contracting in Support of the US Government
  November 2012, Briefing Papers
• FAR Council Issues Proposed Rule on Private Security Contractors Supporting US Government Programs Abroad
  August 14, 2012
• Testing Military Jurisdiction Over Contractor Employees
  November 30, 2011, Law360
• Government Contracts Advisory - Court to Consider Constitutionality of Military Jurisdiction Over Civilian Contractor Employee Misconduct
  November 23, 2011
• Government Contracts Advisory - OFPP Issues Final Inherently Governmental Functions Policy Letter
  September 21, 2011
• Government Contracts Advisory - Defense Department Final OCI Rule Narrows Coverage and Disclosure Obligations
  January 7, 2011
• Civilians With Stake in Airstrikes
  Counterterror Involvement May Bring Legal Risk
  August 2, 2010, Defense News

More Publications »

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law
• National Institute of Military Justice, Board of Advisors
• The American Membership of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War