WilmerHale is pleased to announce the arrival of Douglas P. Larsen who will join the firm’s Washington, DC office as counsel in the Defense, National Security, and Government Contracts Practice Group and Regulatory and Government Affairs Department. Mr. Larsen joins WilmerHale from the Department of Defense (DoD) where he served since 1999 as the Department’s Deputy General Counsel for Acquisition and Logistics.

With more than 25 years of experience at the Department of Defense, Mr. Larsen became the Pentagon’s most senior attorney for business and commercial matters. He provided legal advice concerning DoD acquisitions, research and development, government contract law, the resolution of contract disputes, and defense logistics and business activities. Mr. Larsen also played a significant role in the DoD review of corporate mergers and acquisitions, including the Department’s legal position in the matters before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

“In addition to unsurpassed federal procurement expertise, Doug brings the broad perspective, agency experience and industry knowledge that today’s multifaceted national security environment demands,” said Jamie Gorelick, co-chair of WilmerHale’s Defense, National Security, and Government Contracts Practice Group.

In addition to counseling the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr. Larsen advised the full range of officials with acquisition and technology responsibilities, including the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration, and the Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy.

“We are thrilled to welcome Doug to the firm,” said Robert Novick, chair of WilmerHale’s Regulatory and Government Affairs Department. “His intimate knowledge of how the government functions will provide invaluable insight and understanding enabling us to better serve our clients’ needs.”

WilmerHale’s Regulatory and Government Affairs Department is comprised of approximately 150 lawyers and other professionals whose practices focus on advising clients and litigating matters where governmental regulation, public policy and business intersect.

“It was my privilege to work on some of the most complex and difficult business matters relating to national defense while in government service. The prospect of handling similar challenges at WilmerHale is exciting, and I am honored to join such a talented and committed group of people,” said Mr. Larsen.

Mr. Larsen has been an active member of the State Bar of California since 1973. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States Tax Court, United States Court of Federal Claims, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, United States Court of International Trade, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and Supreme Court of California. He received his J.D. from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA.