Troutman Sanders LLP is pleased to announce that government contracts and commercial litigation lawyers Ryan C. Berry and Lesley Whitcomb Fierst have joined the firm as partners in its Tysons Corner, Virginia office.
Both Berry and Fierst come to Troutman Sanders from Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP.
“We are very pleased to be welcoming this dynamic pair of lawyers to our office,” said Richard Pollak, Managing Partner of Troutman Sanders’ Tysons Corner office. “Their diverse commercial litigation practices, including their substantial experience representing clients in the government contracts space, complements and expands our existing capabilities. They are a great fit for our regional and national litigation, lending and commercial practices, as well as our government contracts practice, which represents both national and international clients. Their experience in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Pacific Rim enhance the firm’s ability to support government contractor clients who are currently operating in those regions.”
Berry’s litigation practice is focused primarily on the representation of defense contractors in contract disputes, employment related issues and foreign national disputes. He has litigated matters involving the application of foreign substantive laws in the United States, with particular experience in the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as local state courts. His experience includes advising defense and intelligence contractors on expansions, internal investigations, cross-border litigation involving alien tort claims, and providing critical incident response services. Berry has developed anti-corruption programs for defense contractors and multinational employers. A West Point graduate and former Air Force officer, he provides clients with a valuable combination of military and substantive knowledge and experience.
“Troutman Sanders offers a great platform for my practice because of the firm’s substantial and diverse litigation practice, including handling government investigations, and because of its strong capabilities in the government contracts, intellectual property and corporate areas,” said Berry. “In addition, the fact that the firm has offices in markets with major defense installations, including Norfolk and San Diego, as well as in Asia, where a growing number of defense contractors are conducting business, is of great strategic value.”
Fierst represents corporate and individual clients in business and financial services litigation, as well as white collar criminal matters. She has handled SEC investigations and enforcement actions, internal investigations, and criminal investigations and prosecutions. She also has represented government contractors, particularly in the defense space, in litigation and arbitration proceedings. With regard to financial institutions, her experience includes matters involving claims of fraud, conspiracy and violations of RESPA, FDCPA, FCRA, ILSA and other state and federal law claims. Earlier in her career, Fierst served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Maryland and a judicial clerk for the Honorable Stephen Glickman in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
“I am looking forward to working with Troutman Sanders’ Business Litigation, White Collar and Financial Services Litigation practices,” said Fierst. “With the increased enforcement activity in the financial services industry, as well as in other sectors, such as government contracts, the opportunity to collaborate with firm lawyers who bring significant investigation, compliance and litigation experience to complex client matters will be of great benefit.”
Berry earned a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy. Fierst earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A from Williams College, where she graduated cum laude.
