Chris Lockwood is a partner in the firm’s Huntsville office and focuses his practice on government contracts and business litigation. He represents government contractors in litigation matters and provides general counsel in all aspects of procurement law, including bid protests, data rights, contract disputes, and regulatory matters.
Chris frequently handles bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and U.S. Court of Federal Claims, as well as size protests before the Small Business Administration and its Office of Hearings and Appeals. He counsels clients on regulatory matters, including corporate issues, compliance with small business regulations, joint ventures, novations, mentor/protégé issues, teaming agreements, subcontracts, and employment issues. Chris frequently advises clients on intellectual property matters, technical data, and software rights under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).
Chris has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (BL Rankings) in Government Contract and selected to the Mid-South Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) since 2015. He is admitted in Alabama and Tennessee, as well as various federal courts, including all U.S. District Courts in Alabama and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh and Federal Circuits. He also frequently handles litigation cases in Madison County Circuit Court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
In addition to his government contracts practice, Chris advises clients on intellectual property matters, including federal and state trademark registrations, trade secrets, licensing, and general business law.
Chris earned his undergraduate degree at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2009.
“Your team's expertise and dedication were instrumental in helping us navigate this unfamiliar legal landscape of government contracts and regulations. Your timely advice, meticulous research, and strategic guidance were pivotal to our ability to challenge the federal agency’s decision and to protect our rights as a government contractor. Thank you for the immense effort and hours your team invested in this case. We are truly impressed by the professionalism and commitment throughout the process.”
-Government Contracts Client
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
Selected Cases
- Piedmont Propulsion Sys., LLC v. United States, No. 23-330 C, 2023 WL 5341505 (Fed. Cl. July 31, 2023): Lead counsel on sustained protest regarding unduly restrictive solicitation and organizational conflict of interest (OCI).
- CVE Protest of: Reliable Vets, LLC Re: Am. Access Inc., SBA No. CVE-226 (2022): Successful defense of SDVOSB protest.
- Ashlin Mgmt. Grp., B-419472.3 (2021): Sustained protest regarding unavailability of key personnel.
- WaveLink, Inc. v. United States, 154 Fed. Cl. 245 (2021): Lead counsel on sustained protest of OASIS SB awards.
- Digiflight, Inc., B-419590 (2021): Sustained protest regarding disparate treatment in evaluation.
- Sigmatech, Inc. v. United States, 141 Fed. Cl. 284 (2018): Lead counsel on successful defense of AMCOM EXPRESS award.)
- Engineered Arresting Sys. Corp. v. Atech, Inc., 451 F. Supp. 3d 1241 (N.D. Ala. 2020): Summary judgment on claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition concerning award of USAF contract for aircraft arresting systems.
- Sigmatech, Inc. v. United States Dep’t of Def., 365 F. Supp. 3d 1202 (N.D. Ala. 2019): Lead counsel on successful motion to dismiss competitor’s challenge to AMCOM EXPRESS task order awards.
- Orbis Sibro, Inc., B-415714 (2018): Sustained protest of cost realism analysis for U.S. Navy contract.
- Straughan Env’t, Inc. v. United States, 135 Fed. Cl. 360 (2017): Successful defense of NASA Kennedy Environmental and Medical Contract.
- Cright v. Navigator Intl., LLC, No. 1:21-CV-00807-RAH, 2023 WL 4673256 (M.D. Ala. July 20, 2023): Summary judgment on claim of employment discrimination in favor of U.S. Army contractor at Fort Novosel.
- Atech Inc., ASBCA No. 62764, 23-1 B.C.A. (CCH) ¶ 38289 (A.S.B.C.A. Oct. 13, 2022): Successful claim concerning termination for convenience of U.S. Air Force contract.
- Marathon Const. and Demolition, LLC v. King Metal Recycling and Processing Corp., 129 So. 3d 272 (Ala. 2013): Successful appeal of preliminary injunction ruling to the Supreme Court of Alabama.
- Vaughn v. FedEx Freight, Inc., 824 Fed. Appx. 797, 799 (11th Cir. 2020): Summary judgment and successful defense against claim of employment discrimination.
Professional & Civic Engagement
- North Alabama Federal Bar Association
- President (2023); Vice President (2022)
- National Contract Management Association, Huntsville Chapter
- Executive Vice President of Programs (2020 – 2022)
- Alabama State Bar
- Future of the Profession Task Force, Vice Chair (2017 – 2018)
- Huntsville Committee of 100, Young Professionals Program (2017 – Present), BizPAC Committee (2023)
- Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association
- Greater Huntsville Humane Society, Board of Directors
- Huntsville Hospital Foundation Development Council
Honors & Awards
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (BL Rankings), Government Contracts (2024)
- Selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2015 – Present
- AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, 2015 – Present
Thought Leadership
Publications
- Co-Author, “A Contractor’s Guide to Government Shutdowns,” Briefing Papers 19-13, Dec. 2019
- Co-Author, “Playing Your Cards at Interpreting Federal Government Contracts,” 80 Ala. Law. 364, 2019
- Co-Author, “Organizational Conflicts of Interest: Read FAR Subpart 9.5 at Your Own Peril!,” NCMA Contract Management Magazine, Dec.1, 2017
- Author, “Biotechnology Industry Organization v. District of Columbia: A Preemptive Strike Against State Price Restrictions on Prescription Pharmaceuticals,” 19 ALB. L.J. SCI. &; TECH. 143, 2009
Speaking Engagements
- “SDVOSB and WOSB Contractors: Don’t Lose Your Next Federal Contract Because You Didn’t Know the Rules!” SDBC PTAC Webinar, 2022
- “Intellectual Property in Government Contracting,” SBDC PTAC Webinar, 2021
- “Intellectual Property 101,” North Alabama Public Relations Council of Alabama, 2018
- “Playing Your Cards in Contract Interpretation,” NAFBA Annual Government Acquisition Symposium, 2018
- “Organizational Conflicts of Interest: Read FAR Subpart 9.5 at Your Own Peril!” National Contract Management Association, Huntsville Chapter, 2018
