Nicole Best Email and Phone Number

Associate attorney in the Office of the Assistant General Counsel (Research, Development & Acquisition)

Provide legal representation on complex government contracts litigation before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and provide legal and litigation support to the Department of Justice for government contract litigation proceeding before the United States Court of Federal ClaimsConduct legal research and provide legal analysis of all issues relevant to matters assigned, including issues relating to jurisdiction, discovery, the FAR, contract clauses, and contractor claims and defensesDraft pleadings, written discovery, declarations, deposition outlines, motions, briefs and other correspondence and documentation necessary to support litigationDevelop and implement litigation strategiesConduct factual investigations into matters at issue in cases by conducting interviews, reviewing documents, working with expert witnesses, and conducting focused discoveryAdvise clients regarding how to proceed in litigation, including providing litigation risk assessments and advising in negotiations and settlement discussions

Managed an active docket of government contract appeals through the pleadings and initial proceedings before the Board, including monitoring all filings of the parties for procedural and jurisdictional problemsConducted legal research and provided legal analysis in order to draft opinions for the Board's administrative judges on jurisdictional challenges, motions, post hearing decision, and Rule 11 decisions

Managed company's government contracting blog, including monitoring newly issued FAR and DFAR cases, BCA and GAO opinions, and proposed and final regulations and assessing the importOversaw complaiance and management of the company's GSA scheduleManaged training programs, including content in more that 40 government contracting topics

Conduct legal research relating to outstanding motions and draft preliminary drafts of motions and ordersReview exhibits submitted to the Board and provide legal analysis and opinions to the judge Assist the judge in managing the docket and docket priorities

Compared tort law doctrines across state jurisdictions and analyzed the potential for varying decisions in relation to the same fact pattern under the varying state standards

Provided advisory guidance concerning proposed Agency actions and statutory/regulatory analysis of Agency's authority and responsibilities, including Agency's ability to contract with entities to provide servicesProvided research and analysis of possible bases for dismissal of claims in preparation for Alternative Dispute Resolution and trial proceedings before the Civilian Board of Contract AppealsInitiated redrafting of agency regulations and provided initial proposal for new language

Interned in the Office of General Counsel, Department of Litigation. Drafted motions, internal memos and responses to interrogatories. Analyzed internal claims against the Agency. Participated in depositions, deposition preparation and drafting of deposition questions.Drafted internal analysis memos, denial of claim letters, responses to interrogatories, and motions on a range of subject matter including tort, employment law, and calculation of personal income of an owner of an S CorporationParticipated in depositions, deposition preparations, and client meetings and performed document reviewDrafted briefs, provided analysis of appeals of termination actions by the agency, and participated in settlement discussions for litigation actions before SBA Office of Hearing and Appeals

Led a team of seven in the processing of daily error report including researching invalid transactions, determining appropriate allocation of funds, and communicating problems to other departmentsAssisted in the development of computer logic statements to simplify the processing of the error reportAdapted procedures (inter and intra department) to technological advancements & trained staff