James Fontana

James C. Fontana has over 35 years of experience as an attorney specializing in government and commercial contracts and related litigation, as well as ethics compliance and corporate governance issues.  He also specializes in mergers and acquisitions in both the government technology and commercial sectors.   In 2006, the Association of Corporate Counsel named Mr. Fontana Outstanding Chief Legal Officer in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.  In both 2005 and 2006, the Washington Business Journal named Mr. Fontana a Top Attorney in the Washington, DC area in the General Counsel category.  In 2014 Mr. Fontana received the Power Players Award from Washington SmartCEO in recognition of his “leadership, accomplishments, innovation and success” as a Washington, DC-area attorney.

Mr. Fontana is formerly Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Apptis Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of IT solutions and services for government and industry.  In this position he was responsible for all of the legal affairs of Apptis and its subsidiaries.  Prior to joining Apptis, Mr. Fontana served as general counsel to a number of other public and private companies, including Alion Science and Technology Corp., Wang Government Services, and BDM International (through its Vinnell Corp. subsidiary).  He also has substantial private practice experience with well-known law firms, such as Reed Smith and Kominers Fort.

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Meet Jim Fontana, Of Counsel

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  • In 2006, the Association of Corporate Counsel named Mr. Fontana Outstanding Chief Legal Officer in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.
  • In 2005 and 2006, the Washington Business Journal named Mr. Fontana a Top Attorney in the Washington, DC area in the General Counsel category.
  • In 2014, Mr. Fontana received the Power Players Award from Washington SmartCEO in recognition of his “leadership, accomplishments, innovation and success” as a Washington, DC-area attorney.
  • Mr. Fontana testified before Congress to include the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee on issues related to the federal government procurement process.
  • Mr. Fontana has been interviewed by Federal News Radio and was prominently featured on the WJLA news television program Government Matters.  He has also been interviewed by and featured in the Legal Times, Washington Technology, Federal Computer Week, the Washington Business Journal, and the General Counsel Weekly, among other publications.

Mr. Fontana is a frequent seminar speaker and author on issues relating to government contracts, ethics compliance, international law and technology-related issues.  He had previously been a regular contributor to Washington Technology’s Infotech and the Law column and a frequent Commentary contributor, and has published articles in numerous other publications, including the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Journal, the National Contract Management Journal, BNA Bloomberg, the National Defense Industrial Association and Federal Publications.

Mr. Fontana has conducted lectures at Temple University School of Law, Georgetown University School of Law, Southern Methodist University School of Law, the Judge Advocate General’s School at the University of Virginia, George Mason University, the American Bar Association, National Institute of Federal Procurement, National Contract Management Association, Professional Services Council, Northern Virginia Technology Council, Association for Corporate Growth and American Conference Institute, in addition to other industry associations.

Bar Admissions:

District of Columbia
Virginia

Court Admissions:

Mr. Fontana is also admitted before the U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia, the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the District of Columbia and the Fourth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Fontana is a graduate of Temple University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and Moot Court Board, and the recipient of the International Trial Lawyer Association Award.  He received his undergraduate degree from American University, where he majored in economics.
  • Mr. Fontana is a former adjunct professor of law at George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia, and was an adjunct professor in the University’s MBA Program.  He is currently a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the George Mason School of Business and a member of the Board of Advisors to the Business School’s Government Contract Initiative.  He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Innovative Solutions Consortium, a coalition of top-level industry executives from the government and commercial sectors.
  • Mr. Fontana served a three-year term as Chairman of the Board of Easter Seals for the Greater Washington-Baltimore Region, a charitable organization long known for its service to children and adults with disabilities, and previously served as that organization’s Treasurer.  In 2007, Mr. Fontana was presented with the Clarence F. Donohoe Award for outstanding contributions to Easter Seals.  He continues to be a member of the Easter Seals Board.
  • Mr. Fontana is a member of the American Bar Association (Public Contract Law Section).  In addition, he is a member and former board member of the Professional Services Council, the principal national trade association representing the federal government’s professional and technical services industry