afranco@pilieromazza.com
202 857 1000 tel
202 857 0200 fax

Tony Franco is a senior partner with PilieroMazza PLLC. Mr. Franco oversees the Government Contracts/Small Business Group. His practice includes all aspects of federal government contracting and administration. Mr. Franco has represented clients before government agencies, and federal and state courts, including the Court of Claims, Government Accountability Office, and Board of Contract Appeals.

Mr. Franco’s primary focus is in areas relating to commercial and government contracting with an emphasis on procurement programs, such as the small business, 8(a), HUBZone and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business programs of the Small Business Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He represents firms of all sizes looking to maximize their leverage and protect their interests when competing for work.

Mr. Franco helps firms’ structure teaming arrangements, joint ventures and other contractual and business relations to successfully bid on and defend contract awards from protest.  Mr. Franco also works with in-house and outside counsels who need assistance representing their clients in navigating the complex, highly regulated government contracting market.

Mr. Franco’s practice also encompasses transactional matters, such as the negotiation and preparation of joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements and operating agreements. In addition, Mr. Franco provides general corporate counseling and advises clients on short and long term business strategies and structures, and the effects of various legislative and regulatory proposals on their business plans. Mr. Franco has also represented trade associations and ad hoc coalitions in their government relations with policymakers and regulators.

• Appeals of adverse size determinations
   
• Negotiation and approval of joint venture agreements for 8(a) firms
   
• Approval of mentor protégé agreements under Small Business Administration, State Department, Department of Treasury, Homeland Security and Department of Energy programs
   
• Change of Ownerships requests for 8(a) firms
   
• Corporate restructuring to qualify as small business, 8(a), HUBZone and/or Service Disabled Veteran Owned SBC
   
• 8(a), SDB and HUBZone certification
   
• The buyout of minority shareholders who may preclude clients from participating in different government programs
   
• The negotiation of employment and shareholders agreement with key employees
   
• Size recertification for firms found to be large as a result of business and contractual relations that created an affiliation
   
• Development of Organizational Conflict of Interest Plans to successfully compete on government contracts
   
• Due diligence review for the acquisition of government contractors
   
• Negotiation of operating agreement among different members to start new business or joint ventures in pursuit of government contracts

Mr. Franco served on the Small Business Administration’s Advisory Board for the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area District Office. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County and the Community Ministry Micro-Enterprise, LLC. He was also a Commissioner on the Montgomery County Human Rights Commission.

Mr. Franco is a frequent speaker on various aspects of federal contracting issues. He is also a contributing author to trade journals and the firm’s newsletters.

Mr. Franco graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1986. He received his B.A., cum laude, from Tulane University. He is a member of the Bars of the District of Columbia and the States of Maryland and Florida.

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1987
• District of Columbia, 1988
• Maryland, 1999
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1987
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1992

Education

• Georgetown University Law School, J.D., 1986
• Tulane University, B.A., 1983
• University of Madrid, Junior Year Abroad