This is a test of the global top alert box.

skip to main content
PilieroMazza PLLC.
  • People
  • Services
  • Insights
  • Join Us
  • Contact Us
PilieroMazza PLLC.
  • About Us
  • People
  • Services
  • Insights
  • News
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
PilieroMazza PLLC.

Antonio R. Franco

Senior Partner

Washington, DC

202.857.1000

afranco@pilieromazza.com

email icon
print icon
Download PDF
vcard
share icon

Bio

Toggle Button Open

Tony has over 30 years of experience representing government contractors and commercial businesses. His practice encompasses all aspects of federal government contracting. As Chair of PilieroMazza’s Government Contracts Group, he works closely with the firm’s Business & Corporate Group on corporate transactions and the Labor & Employment Group in the highly regulated market of government contracting.

Tony counsels clients on a wide range of complex legal and regulatory matters, including (i) protests and claims against the federal government; (ii) commercial and contractual disputes; (iii) investigations and compliance audits; (iv) suspension and debarment proceedings; and (v) entity formation, including joint ventures, operating agreements, and shareholder agreements.

Tony primarily represents government contractors interested in pursuing set-aside opportunities under SBA’s small business programs – the 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and All Small Mentor-Protégé programs. Tony advises firms on teaming, joint ventures, and positioning themselves to defend awards from size, status, and bid protests. His practice extends to assisting firms with compliance with the FAR and rules applicable to all small business contracting programs. Tony’s practice also encompasses the representation of Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and their government contracting subsidiaries.

Tony is fluent in Spanish.

Read More Read Less

Related Practice Areas

  • Government Contracts
  • False Claims Act
  • Native American Law & Tribal Advocacy

Representative Matters

Toggle Button Open

Representative Experience

  • Represents firms of all sizes looking to structure business and teaming arrangements, joint ventures, mentor protégé agreements and other contractual relations to compete on small business and related set-asides
  • Represents contractors in bid protests before the Court of Federal Claims, GAO and procuring agencies and size protests before the SBA
  • Represents clients in suspension and debarment proceedings and the development of compliance programs
  • Handles internal investigations and voluntary and mandatory disclosures
  • Assists in-house and outside counsel who need help representing their clients in navigating the complex, highly regulated government contracting market
  • Assists in the negotiation and preparation of shareholders agreements, operating agreements and partnership arrangements to qualify under different set-aside programs
  • Assists contractors with equitable adjustment claims, disputes, and appeals
  • Works closely with the firm’s Corporate Practice Group to structure transactions to facilitate the acquisition of government contractors from the due diligence stage through the contract novation process

Insights

Toggle Button Open

Articles

  • PilieroMazza Comments to RIN 3245-AG94, Proposed Rule on the Consolidation of Mentor Protégé Programs and Other Government Contracting Amendments, PilieroMazza Comments, 02.18.20
  • PilieroMazza Drafts Comments to RIN 3245-AG94, Proposed Rule on the Consolidation of Mentor Protégé Programs and Other Government Contracting Amendments, PilieroMazza Comments, 01.30.20
  • BLOG: Top Priorities from SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.20.20
  • BLOG: No More “Consent to Subcontract” for 8(a) Firms, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 12.03.19
  • Teaming Agreements: Are They Necessary or Not Worth the Effort?, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.10.19
  • SAM Registration Update: Notarized Letter Requirement Change and New Deadline Looming, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 06.13.18
  • The Risk of Certifying as Small Without Tax Returns, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 03.06.18
  • FAR’s Signature Requirements Strictly Enforced, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.17.17
  • DBE Contracting Opportunities under the Trump Administration, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.05.17
  • The SBA’s Two New Recertification Rules, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 08.25.16
  • The DOJ’s Enforcement of Small Business Regulations – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 06.10.16
  • The GAO’s Report on Contracting with ANC-Owned 8(a) Firms And Its Potential Impact on Tribally-Owned 8(a) Firms, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 04.27.16
  • The SBA’s Final Rule on the 8.73 Percent Inflationary Adjustment to the Monetary-based Size Standards can be Confusing, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 02.12.16
  • Timing Matters, Not Just Size When Protesting Long Term Contracts, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 12.03.15
  • Reporting Executive Compensation: What If You Don’t Report?, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 11.03.15
  • A Look At The Numbers: 2015 Government Contracting Annual Report, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 08.04.15
  • The Trade Agreements Act: An Unknown Compliance Issue for Small Businesses, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 05.15.15
  • Reporting Requirements and Diminishing Profits for Government Contractors, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 04.21.15
  • Claim Basics: Five Key Considerations for Government Contract Claims – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 01.23.15
  • Yet Another Recertification Rule, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.21.15
  • DOT’s New DBE Utilization Rules, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 12.12.14
  • Relying on an Affiliate for Past Performance to Win A Contract, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 10.07.14
  • What to Do When an Investigator Comes Knocking, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 08.05.14
  • The Government’s Good Faith and Fair Dealing Duty to Government Contractors – Antonio Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 03.21.14
  • Subcontracting to mentors: a growing risk? – Tony Franco, Alex Levine, Set-Aside Alert, PilieroMazza Client Alert, 06.28.13
  • Proposed Legislation Offers Potential Rewards to Small Businesses…Along With a Few Risks – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 10.26.12
  • Joint Venture Accounting – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 07.27.12
  • I Have to Do What? Hire My Competitor’s Employees? – Tony Franco, Nichole DeVries, Set-Aside Alert, 12.06.11
  • Government Contractors: Positioning for Growth in Trying Times – Tony Franco, Washington Smart CEO Magazine – White Paper, October 2011, 10.01.11

View More View Less

Events

  • WEBINAR: The Value and Art of Negotiating Effective Teaming Agreements, 02.13.20
  • Top Legal Questions from Government Contractors, 11.21.19
  • WEBINAR: Teaming, Subcontracting, & Joint Ventures, 11.13.19
  • Tony Franco to present “Strategies for Growth After Graduation – The End of the Line?”, Webinar, 04.17.19
  • VIP Webinar – SBA Proposes Significant Changes to Its Small Business Regulations, Webinar, 02.21.19
  • WEBINAR: SBA Proposes Significant Changes to Small Business Procurement: Will You Be Impacted?, Webinar, 01.16.19
  • Contractor Teaming Agreements: Necessary or Not Worth it?, Webinar, 12.12.18
  • Webinar: Understanding OCI Mitigation Plans, Webinar, 11.07.18
  • Webinar: Strategies for Teaming Agreements, Webinar, 07.24.18
  • Taking Advantage of the DBE Program in Today’s Environment, Webinar, 05.24.17

View More View Less

News

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: Tony Franco Joins MCCC Board of Directors and Executive Committee as General Counsel, 06.16.20
  • PilieroMazza Adds Attorneys to List of Super Lawyers®, 05.07.20
  • PilieroMazza’s Response to the COVID-19 Crisis, 03.16.20
  • Antonio Franco Discusses JEDI Protest with Federal News Network, 08.13.19

Credentials

Toggle Button Open

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1986
  • Tulane University, B.A., 1983, cum laude
  • University of Madrid, Junior Year Abroad Honors Program, 1982

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

Honors

Toggle Button Open

Honors

MartinDale Hubble AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence 2018 Badge

AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating

Rated by Super Lawyers Antonio Franco SuperLawyers.com

District of Columbia Super Lawyer®, Government Contracts, 2018-Present

Bio Representative Matters Insights Credentials Honors

Tony has over 30 years of experience representing government contractors and commercial businesses. His practice encompasses all aspects of federal government contracting. As Chair of PilieroMazza’s Government Contracts Group, he works closely with the firm’s Business & Corporate Group on corporate transactions and the Labor & Employment Group in the highly regulated market of government contracting.

Tony counsels clients on a wide range of complex legal and regulatory matters, including (i) protests and claims against the federal government; (ii) commercial and contractual disputes; (iii) investigations and compliance audits; (iv) suspension and debarment proceedings; and (v) entity formation, including joint ventures, operating agreements, and shareholder agreements.

Tony primarily represents government contractors interested in pursuing set-aside opportunities under SBA’s small business programs – the 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and All Small Mentor-Protégé programs. Tony advises firms on teaming, joint ventures, and positioning themselves to defend awards from size, status, and bid protests. His practice extends to assisting firms with compliance with the FAR and rules applicable to all small business contracting programs. Tony’s practice also encompasses the representation of Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and their government contracting subsidiaries.

Tony is fluent in Spanish.

Read More Read Less

Related Practice Areas

  • Government Contracts
  • False Claims Act
  • Native American Law & Tribal Advocacy

Representative Experience

  • Represents firms of all sizes looking to structure business and teaming arrangements, joint ventures, mentor protégé agreements and other contractual relations to compete on small business and related set-asides
  • Represents contractors in bid protests before the Court of Federal Claims, GAO and procuring agencies and size protests before the SBA
  • Represents clients in suspension and debarment proceedings and the development of compliance programs
  • Handles internal investigations and voluntary and mandatory disclosures
  • Assists in-house and outside counsel who need help representing their clients in navigating the complex, highly regulated government contracting market
  • Assists in the negotiation and preparation of shareholders agreements, operating agreements and partnership arrangements to qualify under different set-aside programs
  • Assists contractors with equitable adjustment claims, disputes, and appeals
  • Works closely with the firm’s Corporate Practice Group to structure transactions to facilitate the acquisition of government contractors from the due diligence stage through the contract novation process

Articles

  • PilieroMazza Comments to RIN 3245-AG94, Proposed Rule on the Consolidation of Mentor Protégé Programs and Other Government Contracting Amendments, PilieroMazza Comments, 02.18.20
  • PilieroMazza Drafts Comments to RIN 3245-AG94, Proposed Rule on the Consolidation of Mentor Protégé Programs and Other Government Contracting Amendments, PilieroMazza Comments, 01.30.20
  • BLOG: Top Priorities from SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.20.20
  • BLOG: No More “Consent to Subcontract” for 8(a) Firms, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 12.03.19
  • Teaming Agreements: Are They Necessary or Not Worth the Effort?, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.10.19
  • SAM Registration Update: Notarized Letter Requirement Change and New Deadline Looming, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 06.13.18
  • The Risk of Certifying as Small Without Tax Returns, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 03.06.18
  • FAR’s Signature Requirements Strictly Enforced, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.17.17
  • DBE Contracting Opportunities under the Trump Administration, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.05.17
  • The SBA’s Two New Recertification Rules, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 08.25.16
  • The DOJ’s Enforcement of Small Business Regulations – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 06.10.16
  • The GAO’s Report on Contracting with ANC-Owned 8(a) Firms And Its Potential Impact on Tribally-Owned 8(a) Firms, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 04.27.16
  • The SBA’s Final Rule on the 8.73 Percent Inflationary Adjustment to the Monetary-based Size Standards can be Confusing, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 02.12.16
  • Timing Matters, Not Just Size When Protesting Long Term Contracts, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 12.03.15
  • Reporting Executive Compensation: What If You Don’t Report?, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 11.03.15
  • A Look At The Numbers: 2015 Government Contracting Annual Report, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 08.04.15
  • The Trade Agreements Act: An Unknown Compliance Issue for Small Businesses, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 05.15.15
  • Reporting Requirements and Diminishing Profits for Government Contractors, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 04.21.15
  • Claim Basics: Five Key Considerations for Government Contract Claims – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 01.23.15
  • Yet Another Recertification Rule, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 01.21.15
  • DOT’s New DBE Utilization Rules, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 12.12.14
  • Relying on an Affiliate for Past Performance to Win A Contract, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 10.07.14
  • What to Do When an Investigator Comes Knocking, The PM Legal Minute Blog, 08.05.14
  • The Government’s Good Faith and Fair Dealing Duty to Government Contractors – Antonio Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 03.21.14
  • Subcontracting to mentors: a growing risk? – Tony Franco, Alex Levine, Set-Aside Alert, PilieroMazza Client Alert, 06.28.13
  • Proposed Legislation Offers Potential Rewards to Small Businesses…Along With a Few Risks – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 10.26.12
  • Joint Venture Accounting – Tony Franco, Set-Aside Alert, 07.27.12
  • I Have to Do What? Hire My Competitor’s Employees? – Tony Franco, Nichole DeVries, Set-Aside Alert, 12.06.11
  • Government Contractors: Positioning for Growth in Trying Times – Tony Franco, Washington Smart CEO Magazine – White Paper, October 2011, 10.01.11

View More View Less

Events

  • WEBINAR: The Value and Art of Negotiating Effective Teaming Agreements, 02.13.20
  • Top Legal Questions from Government Contractors, 11.21.19
  • WEBINAR: Teaming, Subcontracting, & Joint Ventures, 11.13.19
  • Tony Franco to present “Strategies for Growth After Graduation – The End of the Line?”, Webinar, 04.17.19
  • VIP Webinar – SBA Proposes Significant Changes to Its Small Business Regulations, Webinar, 02.21.19
  • WEBINAR: SBA Proposes Significant Changes to Small Business Procurement: Will You Be Impacted?, Webinar, 01.16.19
  • Contractor Teaming Agreements: Necessary or Not Worth it?, Webinar, 12.12.18
  • Webinar: Understanding OCI Mitigation Plans, Webinar, 11.07.18
  • Webinar: Strategies for Teaming Agreements, Webinar, 07.24.18
  • Taking Advantage of the DBE Program in Today’s Environment, Webinar, 05.24.17

View More View Less

News

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: Tony Franco Joins MCCC Board of Directors and Executive Committee as General Counsel, 06.16.20
  • PilieroMazza Adds Attorneys to List of Super Lawyers®, 05.07.20
  • PilieroMazza’s Response to the COVID-19 Crisis, 03.16.20
  • Antonio Franco Discusses JEDI Protest with Federal News Network, 08.13.19

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1986
  • Tulane University, B.A., 1983, cum laude
  • University of Madrid, Junior Year Abroad Honors Program, 1982

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

Honors

MartinDale Hubble AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence 2018 Badge

AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating

Rated by Super Lawyers Antonio Franco SuperLawyers.com

District of Columbia Super Lawyer®, Government Contracts, 2018-Present

  • About Us
  • People
  • Services
  • Insights
  • News
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

Washington, DC
888 17th Street NW
11th Floor
Washington, DC 20006

202.857.1000

Boulder, CO
1881 9th Street
Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80302

303.501.1300

Annapolis, MD
1910 Towne Centre Boulevard
Suite 250
Annapolis, MD 21401

410.500.5551

Sign up for Alerts

© 2021 PilieroMazza PLLC. All rights reserved.

  • Privacy Notice
  • Disclaimer | Attorney Advertising

Design by Herrmann Advertising