Eric Aaserud

A government contracts attorney with more than 20 years of experience, Eric Aaserud advises companies on federal, state, and local procurement strategy, contract performance, and compliance. He is known for business-focused counsel and thought leadership on GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts, FAR and DFARS compliance, False Claims Act risk mitigation, data rights, and high-stakes negotiations.

Eric’s practice includes GSA MAS compliance and pricing strategy, commercial item contracting, audit defense, and pricing disclosure compliance, as well as intellectual property protection under federal contracts, including data rights and Bayh-Dole issues. He also advises on mergers and acquisitions involving government contractors, subcontracting and teaming agreements, bid protests and contract claims, grants and OTAs, and export control and domestic preference requirements relating to domestic content and country-of-origin qualification, including BAA and TAA compliance considerations. He helps clients manage risk across transactions, investigations, disputes, and high-stakes negotiations.

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Education

Seattle University School of Law, J.D.

Western Washington University, B.A., Political Science

Admissions

District of Columbia

Washington

Idaho

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

• Represented a contractor in a high-stakes public procurement dispute arising from a pandemic-era termination by a state agency.
• Guided a manufacturing firm through a complex GSA OIG audit, reducing exposure to a nominal amount following a prior $12 million settlement and securing a five-year MAS extension on favorable terms.
• Advised a subcontractor on a USAID stop-work and termination, preparing cost submissions and supporting recovery negotiations with the prime contractor.
• Led a FAR compliance gap analysis for a public company, identifying material risk areas and recommending performance improvements in coordination with in-house compliance teams.
• Negotiated FAR flowdown terms for contractors, limiting clause acceptance to mandatory and necessary provisions, mitigating over-acceptance risk, and preventing future disputes.
• Responded to a $2.5 million OIG audit finding with a persuasive submission that resulted in full relief from liability and favorable MAS pricing terms for the next five-year contract period.
• Supported numerous M&A transactions involving government contractors, advising both acquirers and targets on FAR and DFARS compliance risk—including flowdowns, IP rights, and audit exposure—as well as novation and small business eligibility.
• Redesigned a client’s export control framework by integrating ITAR/EAR protocols, subcontractor compliance measures, and document controls into a cohesive plan.

Professional

• Member, American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section

Civic

• Member, Outdoor Writers Association of America