Michael Mendelson

Michael Mendelson is a Partner in the firm’s Government Contracts, International Trade, and Corporate practice groups.

A seasoned general counsel and board secretary, Michael brings more than two decades of experience advising multinational corporations, startups, and high-growth ventures across the technology, aerospace, defense, telecommunications, satellite, media, information technology, management consulting, and manufacturing sectors. Michael applies a grounded, business-first approach on behalf of his clients, honed through executive roles at industry leaders like Smiths Detection, Intelsat, and CPA Global, and sharpened through his early years at Jones Day.

Known for his pragmatic counsel on complex transactions, Michael’s work spans M&A, cross-border deals, early-stage financing, export controls, and strategic commercial contracting. He is also a recognized authority on government contracting, national security compliance, and international legal frameworks. 

Beyond his legal work, he’s been a voice in the commercial space industry, a contributor to international conferences, and a passionate advocate for public service, including volunteering with the Red Cross post-9/11 and his Masonic lodge’s local charitable foundation. Prior to his legal career, Michael worked as a foreign and defense policy analyst and in international business development sourcing opportunities in the Former Soviet Union.

Representative Experience

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING MATTERS

• Represent prime contractors and subcontractors in negotiating competitive bids before federal, state, local, and international government agencies and international government organizations such as DOD, DHS, NASA, State of Texas, Fairfax County, Virginia, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and the African Development Bank.
• Represented government contractors in federal agency bid protests, resulting in terminations of contract awards and successful re-bids of opportunities worth over $500M total.
• Provide strategic legal advice to government contractors on Buy American Act compliance, Trade Agreements Act compliance, and federal data rights under the FAR/DFARS in federal procurement opportunities.
• Counsel clients on Small Business Administration 8(a) certification applications and small business set-aside requirements.

EXPORT, SANCTIONS, AND NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS

• Develop, implement, and audit compliance programs and due diligence procedures for high technology companies and government contractors, including training of legal and non-legal client staff:
  • Export control (ITAR and EAR)
  • Sanctions (OFAC)
  • Antibribery (FCPA)
  • Anti-boycott (EAR)
  • National and industry security (FOCI and NISPOM)
• Advise clients on ITAR and EAR commodity jurisdiction, USML and EAR, export classification for hardware, software, and technology.
• Develop, implement, and audit antibribery and anti-boycott programs for client distributor, agent, and independent contractor due diligence and management.
• Represent clients before BIS and DDTC regarding voluntary-self disclosures in export transactions.

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS

• Structure and draft founder agreements, investment agreements, and foundational corporate documents for start-up enterprises.
• Negotiate equity and debt transactions for early-stage companies.
• Draft and negotiate all manner of sales, vendor, contract manufacturing, licensing, and supply chain agreements for clients across multiple industries.
• Negotiated the then-largest satellite communications capacity agreement in Intelsat history, worth over $620M (Intelsat “New Dawn”).
• Negotiate private M&A transactions (buy and sell side) in high technology, media, IT, and retail industries including, for example, acquisition of online media productions, acquisition of online retail merchandising, sale of a multinational biotechnology company.
• External general counsel to rapid growth SMEs, providing general legal and business strategy advice to optimize risk management.