Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A., a full service business law firm, today announced that attorneys Kevin E. O’Malley, Kiersten A. Murphy and Laura E. Antonuccio have formed the firm’s Public Bidding & Procurement practice group. The group will provide legal guidance at every stage of the procurement process, with a focus on helping businesses identify and pursue contracting opportunities, minimize risk, eliminate pitfalls, avoid or resolve disputes and defend awards.
Mr. O’Malley, Ms. Murphy and Ms. Antonuccio have amassed significant experience with public purchasing, including defending contract awards and working with government entities to ensure the integrity of state and local procurement processes. As a practice group, these attorneys will build on their collective experience to deliver comprehensive, cost-effective legal services to a currently underserved segment of the legal market.
Nearly every government entity has its own procurement opportunity notification system, process, timeline, rules and regulations. Billions of dollars are spent annually purchasing a wide variety of commodities and services from private businesses through “public bidding” or “procurement.” Without adequate legal guidance, it can be intimidating and cumbersome for businesses to identify these lucrative government contracting opportunities, let alone pursue them.
Mr. O’Malley is a shareholder, board member and head of Gallagher & Kennedy’s Litigation Department, which includes the newly formed Public Bidding & Procurement practice group. A seasoned trial lawyer, Mr. O’Malley has extensive experience before administrative and judicial tribunals, including decades of experience handling procurement disputes. Best Lawyers awarded Mr. O’Malley the “2013 Municipal Lawyer of the Year Award” for his comprehensive, successful work on the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Terminal 4 contract before the City of Phoenix. Valedictorian of his graduating class, Mr. O’Malley earned his J.D., magna cum laude, in 1980 from Arizona State University. He earned his B.S. in Government from Cornell University in 1975.
Ms. Murphy, shareholder, established litigator and advocate, has worked closely with Mr. O’Malley, providing comprehensive legal services on the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Terminal 4 case and a number of other high-profile procurement matters. Ms. Murphy earned her J.D., summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, in 2003 from Arizona State University, and received the highest score on the July 2003 Arizona State Bar Exam. In 2000, Ms. Murphy earned her B.S. in Business Administration and Finance, summa cum laude, from Northern Arizona University.
Ms. Antonuccio, associate, has significant commercial litigation experience, and has provided able assistance to Mr. O’Malley and Ms. Murphy on several procurement matters. Ms. Antonuccio earned her J.D., with distinction, in 2009 from the University of Nebraska, and was selected by the law college Alumni Council to receive the prestigious 2009 Woods & Aitken Outstanding Student Award for exemplifying the qualities of loyalty, service, and academic achievement. She earned her B.A. in Education, cum laude, from Cornell College in 2005.