Brian A. Darst - a Reston, Virginia (VA) Government Contracts Lawyer

Reston Government Contracts Lawyer

Updated: 03/02/2026

Areas of Practice

Government Contracts

Attorney Information

Overview

Brian Darst focuses his practice on legal matters involving government and commercial contracts law. He has experience handling bid protests, size and eligibility protests, Requests for equitable Adjustment/claim preparation and litigation, internal investigations, procurement fraud investigations, Civil False Claims Act defenses, and various formation, contract administration, compliance and Mergers & Acquisition issues related to federal service, supply and construction prime contracts and subcontracts.

Brian has successfully represented numerous small, medium and large businesses before the United States Government Accountability Office, the Armed Services and Civilian Boards of Contract Appeals, the Small Business Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition, District Courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and other administrative bodies. He is a frequent lecturer on government contracting issues and has conducted public and private seminars at various locations throughout the United States, as well as for private companies in Australia and Brazil and the U.S. Department of Defense in Japan. Prior to entering private practice in 1991, Brian served as an attorney with the United States Navy's Office of General Counsel and represented the Navy in matters involving the acquisition and administration of service and supply contracts for the Naval Sea Systems Command.

Awards and Honors

Honors

AV Preeminent® Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™

Education

Legal Education
- West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1987
  J.D.
  Honors: Manuscript Editor, West Virginia Law Review
  Honors: Order of the Coif (top 10 percent)
  Law Review: West Virginia University Law Review
Non Legal Education
- Marshall University, 1984
  B.A.
  Honors: summa cum laude

Current Employment Position(s)

```
Of Counsel
```

Past Positions

United States Navy’s Office of General Counsel, Attorney

Classes and Seminars

Fundamentals and Basics of Government Contracting under the FAR and DFARS
Administration of Government Contracts
Changes, Equitable Adjustments & Claims
Contracting for Services
The Service Contract Act
Introduction to Government Construction Contracting
Design-Build Construction Contracting
The Davis Bacon Act
Changes, Delays & Accelerations In Government Construction Contracts
Domestic Product and Service Preferences in Federally Funded Procurements & Grants
Commercial Item Acquisitions in Government Contracting
Types of Contracts Under The FAR
Preparing Effective Proposals
Technical Data Rights Under the FAR & DFARS
Licensing Software Products To The Government
Managing Subcontracts
Federal Government Subcontracts, Bridging the Gap Between Commercial & Government Contracting Practices
Teaming Agreements & Joint Ventures Under SBA’s Joint Venture & Mentor Protégé Rules
Principles of Federal Appropriations Law
Perfecting Assignments of Claims Under Government Contracts
Organizational & Personal Conflicts Of Interest
Government Contracts Ethics & Compliance
Mandatory Disclosure Requirements Under the FAR
The Basics of Commercial Contracting

Published Works

Articles

Exclusivity Agreements—Uses And Limitations Under FAR 52.203-6, “Restrictions On Subcontractor Sales To The Government”, 24-4 Briefing Papers (March 2024)
Understanding Uses of and Limitations on Liquidated Damages for Delays in Federal Government Contracts, 19-9 Briefing Papers (August 2019) Contracting for Services Course Manual (Federal Publications Seminars, 2014)
Contracting for Services Course Manual (Federal Publications Seminars, 2014)
Picking Up The Pieces After The Government Shutdown: Understanding Your Contractual Rights To Relief For Delay & Disruptions Cause By The Lack of Current Appropriations, 54-11, Guam Contractors’ Ass’n Construction News Bulletin (November 2013)
The Christian Doctrine at 50: Unraveling The Federal Procurement System’s Gordian Knot, 13-11 Briefing Papers (October 2013)
Government Contract Types-Practical Implications of the Government’s Use of Different Contact Vehicles, National Contract Management Ass’n, Contract Management (December 2010)
Fundamentals of Government Contracting Course Manual (Federal Publications Seminars, 2006)
Commercial Item Acquisitions Course Manual (Federal Publications Seminars, 2006 )
Sales Commissions & Contingent Fees in Government Contracts, 05-10 Briefing Papers (September 2005)
Subcontract Incorporation-By-Reference and Flowdown Clauses Under Federal Government Construction, 05-07 Briefing Papers (June 2005 ) & 2005-3 Construction Briefings (March 2005)
Managing Intellectual Property Course Manual (Federal Publications Seminars, 2005)
Feature Comment Foundations of Government Construction Contracting: Regulatory And Statutory Framework, Parts I through VI, 28-8 through 28-13 Construction Contracts Law Report (April 16-June 25, 2004)
Terminations In Federal Construction Contracting: Parts I & II, 2004-3 and 2004-4 Construction Briefings (March-April 2004)
EPC/Design-Build Construction Course Manual (Federal Publications Seminars, 2004)
Introduction To Government Construction Contracting Course Manual (Federal Publications Seminars, 2003)
Concentrated Course in Government Contracting (Federal Publications Seminars, 2003)

Bar Admissions

Virginia
District of Columbia
West Virginia
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Be the first to write a review!

There are currently no reviews for Brian A. Darst. Be the first to share your experience.

Write a Review

Contact

Reston, VA

1775 Wiehle Avenue
Suite 400
Reston, VA 20190

Directions

Phone: (703) 218-2140

Email: Send a message

Websites:

Credit Cards Accepted

Disclaimer

Your Profile? Update Now

When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.

How do I choose a lawyer?

Consider the following:

Comfort Level – Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
Credentials – How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
Cost – How are the lawyer's fees structured — hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
City – Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?

Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?

Here are a few to get you started:

How long have you been in practice?
How many cases like mine have you handled?
How often do you settle cases out of court?
What are your fees and costs?
What are the next steps?

Want to check lawyer discipline?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:

Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.

Brian A. Darst - Reston, VA