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RALPH THOMAS JOINS GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS LAW FIRM
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 Washington, D.C., August 13, 2008/ -- DiversityBusiness.com /- The law firm of Barton, Baker, McMahon &Tolle, LLP announced today that Ralph C. Thomas III has joined the firm's office in McLean, Virginia as Partner. Thomas was most recently Counsel to the Government Contracts Practice Group of Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C. in Washington, D.C. (2005-2008) and, prior to that, served as the Associate Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at NASA Headquarters during 1992-2005. Under his direction, NASA's contract and subcontract award dollars to small, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses grew to record levels for all such groups.
"Our firm will allow Ralph to perform at his best," said John Tolle, Managing Partner of Barton, Baker, McMahon & Tolle. "Here, we specialize in government contracts law and corporate transactions. Ralph brings a very impressive book of clientele which will not only complement our firm’s overall practice, but will expand our client base to include a number of high tech small federal contractors from all over the country. When considering Ralph’s national reputation in the federal small business community and his contacts with government officials and major corporation representatives, Barton Baker is a natural platform for Ralph’s practice, and he is a perfect fit for us."
Thomas has been very successful in representing clients in size protests, federal agency disputes, small disadvantaged business recertification issues, matching small businesses with large firms on federal contracts, and counseling clients on the legal aspects of teaming arrangements, including joint ventures, prime-subcontractor agreements, and mentor-protégé relationships. Having focused his career on small business issues, Thomas is known internationally as a small business expert. In 2007 he was guest speaker at an international small business conference in Brasilia, Brazil, at the inauguration of that country’s Small Business Act. In 2008 he was the subject of a two-part article series by Vetrepreneur Magazine entitled, “Ask the Expert: Teaming Agreements 101.” Also during 2008, Ralph has been an invited speaker at national small business conferences of the Department of Energy, U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, National Center for American Indian Economic Development, Department of Veteran Affairs, and TRIAD, an organization consisting of the Small Business Liaison Officers to major aerospace and defense contractors. Ralph is a past recipient of the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive and the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive from Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President William Clinton, respectively. He was also named one of "Americas Top Advocates for Diversity" by DiversityBusiness.com. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and an “Honors” graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.
About Thomas
Before joining Barton, Baker, McMahon & Tolle, LLP, Thomas was Counsel to the Washington, D.C. office of a national law firm, where he practiced government contracts law with an emphasis on federal small business contracting. Prior to that, he was Associate Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Washington, D.C. Reporting directly to the head of NASA, he was a member of NASA's senior management team, serving as the senior advocate for small business utilization. As such, Thomas was responsible for promoting, facilitating and implementing programs and initiatives designed to integrate small businesses into the competitive base of contractors from which NASA regularly purchases goods and services. He also served as executive secretary for the agency's external advisory committee on small business matters. His program received more than 40 awards during his tenure from entities such as federal agencies, including NASA, small business organizations, industry, members of Congress, and international associations.
Previously, Thomas served as Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Contractors, where he advocated on behalf of minority-owned construction firms before lawmaking bodies, government entities and the media. He supervised and directed the administration of government-funded training program grants, and testified in Congress more than 20 times on issues relating to minority-owned construction firms. He was also an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Virginia, where he taught Government Contracts Law.
Prior to that, Thomas was a partner in a Washington, D.C.-based law firm, where he focused his practice on the legal representation of small, minority- and women-owned businesses in litigation and transactional work. In addition, he was a Clinical Law Instructor at George Washington University Law School. He began his legal career as an associate in a Washington, D.C.-based firm, where he concentrated on antitrust litigation.
Thomas is a member of the Federal Bar Association, where he is past chair of the Government Contracts Section and current chair of the Committee on Small Business and Socioeconomic Matters. He is also a past chair of the Federal Small Business Directors Interagency Council.
He received his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in and earned a B.A. degree from the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with honors. Thomas was a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force and served a year in Vietnam.
Thomas is admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the United States Court of Military Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He has written more than 60 published articles for magazines and journals and has testified in Congress on small business issues more than 30 times.
About Barton, Baker, McMahon & Tolle, LLP
Barton, Baker, McMahon & Tolle, L.L.P. is a small highly-focused law firm concentrating in the areas of Government contracts (all aspects including bid protests, disputes, claims, appeals and general assistance), high technology/computer law, corporate organization/re-organization, general business and transactional law, civil litigation, arbitration and practice before Federal administrative and regulatory agencies. Founded in 1984 by experienced attorneys from several large law firms, the members concentrate their practices in particular areas of expertise while at the same time providing personalized service to their clients. The firm's attorneys represent clients in complex bid protests before award and in Government contract disputes after award at Administrative Boards of Contract Appeals, the General Accounting Office and before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Members of the firm participate actively on a variety of Federal Bar Association and ABA committees as well as serving as outside directors and counsel for corporate clients, to assist in formulating strategies for all aspects of Federal procurement and business matters.
The firm's clients represent a diverse cross-section of American industry. Its Government Contracts clients include ship overhaul and new construction yards; automotive manufacturers; computer hardware manufacturers; contractors providing services for base maintenance; computer software development; database management; battle management; business and accounting consulting; logistics support; and flight training. In its business and corporate practice, Barton, Baker, McMahon, & Tolle represents both privately owned and publicly held corporations; limited and general partnerships; construction contractors and managers; subcontractors; and franchisees and licensees/licensors. Many of these clients are located outside the immediate Washington, D.C. area and depend upon the firm as their Washington representative in matters before the federal agencies, federal courts and the U.S. Congress.
SOURCE BARTON, BAKER, McMAHON & TOLLE, LLP
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