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Morrison Foerster Advised Blackstone on $500m Investment of Preferred Equity Financing of ShieldAI

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Morrison Foerster advised Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager, on its $500 million investment of preferred...

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Morrison Foerster advised Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager, on its $500 million investment of preferred equity financing of ShieldAI, a venture-backed deep-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Blackstone also committed an additional $250 million delayed draw facility to support future growth. This capital will allow ShieldAI to acquire Aechelon Technology, maker of flight simulation tech used to train U.S. military pilots.The MoFo team advising Blackstone was led by partners Damien Specht and Caitlin Crujido, with support from associates Liam Bowers and Ali Young McCann.

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Damien is a partner in the firm’s Government Contracts & Public Procurement practice. Damien represents clients in all facets of government contracts transactions, as well as regulatory counseling, subcontract and teaming agreement negotiations, contract disputes, size protests, and protests. Damien has been recognized as a leading Government Contracts lawyer by various publications. Chambers USA explains that he “is a strong choice for advising government contractors on M&A transactions,” with sources saying that he has “excellent knowledge of government contracts M&A” and that “his biggest strength is that he is very commercial, thinking about both the legal and business side of things.” National Law Journal named him a Trailblazer and found that federal lawmakers turn to him when they “need expert advice about small-business policy.”Damien has played a significant role in more than 200 government contracts transactions, representing industry leaders, private-equity firms and entrepreneurs. He also regularly serves as lead counsel in high-stakes litigation, including pre- and post-award protests at the GAO, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and state tribunals, as well as in size protests and appeals.The co-editor of books on small business litigation and government contracts transactions, Damien was a founding member of the ABA Public Contract Law Section Mergers and Acquisitions Committee and serves in the leadership of the American Bar Association Small Business & Other Socioeconomic Programs Committee. Damien has testified about procurement issues before the United States House of Representatives.<h4>GAO PUBLISHED DECISIONS</h4><ul><li>Dawson Solutions, LLC, B-418587, B-418587.2, Jun. 19, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 216</li><li>LATA-Atkins Technical Services, LLC, B-418602,B-418602.4, Jun. 10, 2020, 2020 WL 3265159</li><li>Inquiries, Inc., B-418486, B-418486.2, B-418486.3, May 27, 2020, 2020 WL 3034820</li><li>BEAT, LLC, B-418235, B-418235.2, Jan.30, 2020, 2020 CPD ¶ 64</li><li>Battelle Memorial Institute, B-416263.5, Jan. 23, 2020, 2020 WL 508726</li><li>ASRC Federal Data Network Technologies, LLC, B-418028; B-418028.2, Dec. 26, 2019, 2019 WL 7370424</li><li>IPKeys Technologies, LLC, B-416873.2, B-416873.3, Apr. 5, 2019, 2019 CPD ¶138</li><li>ActioNet, Inc., B-416557.4, February 27, 2019, 2019 CPD ¶ 97</li><li>Advanced Software Systems, Inc., B-414892.2, B-414892.3, B-414892.4, B-414892.5, B-414892.6, Jan. 7, 2019, 2019 CPD ¶ 51</li><li>Chenega Healthcare Services, LLC, B-416158, Jun. 4, 2018, 2018 CPD ¶ 200</li><li>Federal Acquisition Services Alliant JV, LLC, B-415406.2, B-415406.3, April 11, 2018, 2018 CPD ¶ 139</li><li>VT Halter Marine, Inc., B-415510.2, B-415510.3, B-415510.4, Jan. 24, 2018, 2018 CPD ¶ 62</li><li>OBXtek, Inc., B-415258, Dec. 12, 2017, 2017 CPD ¶ 381</li><li>Katmai Health Services, LLC, B-413816.3, Jul. 12, 2017, 2017 CPD¶ 220</li><li>Verdi Consulting, Inc., B-414103.2, B-414103.3, B-414103.4, Apr. 26, 2017, 2017 CPD ¶ 136</li><li>Threat Management Group, LLC, B-413729, Dec. 21, 2016, 2017 CPD ¶ 9</li><li>Analytic Strategies LLC; Gemini Industries, Inc.; B-413758.2, B-413758.3, Nov. 28, 2016, 2016 CPD ¶ 340</li><li>Kollsman, Inc., B-413485, B-413485.2, B-413485.3, Nov. 8, 2016, 2016 CPD ¶ 326</li><li>The Boeing Company, B-412441, Feb. 16, 2016, 2016 CPD ¶ 269</li><li>Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., B-411359; B-411359.2, Jun. 16, 2015, 2015 CPD¶ 219</li><li>IAP World Services, Inc.; EMCOR Government Services, B-407917.2, B-407917.3, B-407917.4, B-407917.5, B-407917.6, B-407917.7, 2013 CPD ¶ 171</li><li>AT&T Government Solutions, Inc. , B-406926, B-406926.2, B-406926.3, B-406926.4, B-406926.5, B-406926.6, 2013 CPD ¶ 88</li><li>Weibel Equipment, Inc., B-406888, B-406888.2, 2012 CPD ¶ 279</li><li>O'Gara Training and Services, LLC, B-404901.2, 2011 CPD ¶ 171</li><li>Harrington, Moran, Barksdale, Inc., B-401934.2, B-401934.3, 2010 CPD ¶ 231</li><li>CIGNA Government Services, LLC, B-401068.4, B-401068.5, 2010 CPD ¶ 230</li><li>ITT Corporation, Systems Division, B-310102.6, B-310102.7, B-310102.8, B-310102.9, 2010 CPD ¶ 12</li><li>FedSys, Inc., B-401453, 2009 CPD ¶ 181</li><li>Academy Facilities Management, B-401094.3, 2009 CPD ¶ 139</li><li>Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc., B-400771; B-400771.2, 2009 CPD ¶ 49</li><li>TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, LLC, B-310801.6, B-310801.7, B-310801.10, 2013 CPD ¶ 204</li><li>Evans Security Solutions, Inc. , B-311035, 2008 CPD ¶ 58</li><li>DRS C3 Systems, LLC, B-310825; B-310825.2, 2008 CPD ¶ 103 </li></ul><h4>COFC PUBLISHED DECISIONS</h4><ul><li>AccelGov, LLC v. United States, 170 Fed. Cl. 508 (2024)</li></ul><ul><li>Acuity Edge, Inc. v. United States, 174 Fed. Cl. 46 (2024)</li></ul><ul><li>Alpine Cos., Inc. v. United States, 156 Fed. Cl. 681 (2021)</li></ul><ul><li>Navarro Rsch. & Eng’g, Inc. v. United States, 151 Fed. Cl. 184 (2020)</li></ul><ul><li>Next Phase Sols. & Servs., Inc. v. United States, 164 Fed. Cl. 15 (2023)</li></ul><ul><li>Noble Supply & Logistics LLC v. United States, 168 Fed. Cl. 439 (2023)</li></ul><ul><li>Quanterion Sols, Inc. v. United States, 157 Fed. Cl. 22 (2021)</li></ul><ul><li>HomeSource Real Estate Asset Servs. v. United States, No. 10-416 C, 94 Fed. Cl. 466 (Fed. Cl. 2010)</li><li>ACTA, LLC v. United States, No. 20-356C</li><li>Chenega Healthcare Servs., LLC v. United States, No. 18-861C, 141 Fed. Cl. 254 (Fed. Cl. 2019)</li><li>Trans Digital Techs., LLC v. United States, No. 18-121C, 138 Fed. Cl. 34 (Fed. Cl. 2018)</li><li>Precise Sys. v. United States, No. 14-1174C, 122 Fed. Cl. 263 (Fed. Cl. 2015)</li><li>Palladian Partners, Inc. v. United States, No. 14-317C, 119 Fed. Cl. 417 (Fed. Cl. 2014)</li><li>Pyramid Real Estate Servs., LLC v. United States, No. 10-599 C, 95 Fed. Cl. 613 (Fed. Cl. 2010)</li><li>Acad. Facilities Mgmt. v. United States, No. 09-302C, 87 Fed. Cl. 441 (Fed. Cl. 2009)</li><li>L-3 Communs. EOTech, Inc. v. United States, No. 08-515 C, 83 Fed. Cl. 643 (Fed. Cl. 2008)</li></ul>

Damien C. Specht

Partner

Caitlin Crujido is a partner in the Government Contracts practice in Morrison Foerster’s Washington, D.C. office.Caitlin represents government contractors in a full range of contract matters, including bid protests, contract claims and disputes, mergers and acquisitions, and internal and external investigations.In her litigation practice, Caitlin is often involved with the full life cycle of claims, from preparing requests for equitable adjustment to litigating claims disputes at the Boards of Contract Appeals and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). She also regularly represents clients in pre- and post-award bid protests before procuring agencies, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and COFC. In addition, Caitlin has worked on a number of False Claims Act (FCA) investigations and qui tam actions. In her transactional practice, Caitlin’s experience includes advising on mergers and acquisitions involving both the purchase and sale of government contracting concerns or related assets. Beyond performing due diligence, negotiating purchase agreements, and assisting with post-transaction related filings, Caitlin takes a holistic view to these transactions, working with clients to navigate various strategic and legal considerations. Her practice also includes counseling clients on various compliance and regulatory issues, particularly in the areas of contract and subcontract management.Prior to joining the firm, Caitlin served as a law clerk for the U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.Caitlin graduated from the University of Arizona in 2012, receiving her B.A. in Political Science. In 2017, she earned her J.D. cum laude, from the American University Washington College of Law, where she was an articles editor for the American University Law Review. While in law school, Caitlin clerked at a large Washington, D.C. law firm in its government contracts practice group and interned with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Tort Claims Act Section and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Caitlin Crujido

Liam Bowers is an associate in the Government Contracts practice in Morrison Foerster’s New York office.Liam received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School with high honors and a concentration in Government Procurement Law. He served as a member of the Public Contract Law Journal and was the recipient of the 2022 Murray J. Schooner Scholarship for Government Procurement Law. While in law school, he served as judicial intern to Judge Thompson Michael Dietz in the United States Court of Federal Claims and as a summer law clerk in the Department of the Navy, Office of General Counsel. Before joining the firm, he worked as a transactional associate at a leading law firm in New York.Liam received a B.A. in political science with a minor in environmental systems from the University of California, San Diego.

Liam Bowers

Associate

Ali Young is an associate in the Government Contracts practice in Morrison Foerster’s Washington, D.C. office.Ali’s practice focuses on a full range of government contract litigation and compliance matters including bid protests, contract claims and disputes, small business compliance and disputes, and mergers and acquisitions. She has represented clients in both pre- and post-award bid protests before the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Court of Federal Claims (COFC). She has also assisted clients draft requests for equitable adjustments and certified claims and has litigated claims disputes at the COFC and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA).Ali’s practice additionally includes counseling clients on a variety of regulatory and contractual compliance issues, particularly in small business matters such as and size determination and appeals at the SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals, mentor protégé joint venture agreements, and socioeconomic status eligibility.She has worked on a number of mergers and acquisitions involving the purchase of government contracting concerns or related assets, including performing due diligence, negotiating purchase agreements, and counseling on post-transaction structures.Ali has taught several seminars on various small business matters and organizational conflicts of interest.Ali graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2013, receiving her B.A., magna cum laude, in Political Science and History. In 2017, she earned her J.D. with honors from the George Washington University Law School, where she received the Patricia A. Tobin Government Procurement Law Award for excellence in the area of government contracts law and served as the editor-in-chief for the International Law in Domestic Courts Journal. Ali was also a Thurgood Marshall Scholar.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Ali practiced government contracts law at a mid-sized law firm. While attending law school, Ali clerked at a large Washington, D.C. law firm in the government contracts group, and interned at various international human rights non-profit organizations.Ali is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.

Alissandra McCann

Government Contracts + Public Procurement