Mark Blando has dedicated his career to pursuing all forms of litigation against government entities, with a focus on contract claims against the federal government. He had the singular opportunity to act as counsel in both of only two U.S. Supreme Court cases in modern times involving attempts by the federal government to avoid its contractual obligations through legislation, having represented subsidized housing owners in Franconia Associates v. United States, 536 U.S. 129 (2002), both before the Supreme Court and at trial, and thrift institutions in United States v. Winstar Corp., 518 U.S. 839 (1996). The Franconia case alone has yielded recoveries of more than $800 million for Mark’s clients.
Mark also has litigated a wide variety of traditional government contract cases at the federal and state level, including False Claims Act litigation, bid protests, performance disputes, and termination challenges. He also advises contractors and subcontractors on a wide range of transactional matters, including Federal Supply Schedules, asset purchases, intellectual property issues, and internal compliance investigations. Mark also has pursued numerous other types of government claims, including Fifth Amendment takings claims, Federal Tort Claims Act cases, and actions under the Administrative Procedures Act. He has substantial litigation experience in a number of other areas, including construction, subsidized housing, real estate, educational testing, manufacturing, and general commercial litigation.
Mark graduated from Boston College (magna cum laude) in 1992, and from the George Washington University Law School (with honors) in 1995. As an undergraduate, Mark had the unique opportunity to serve as a mediator through the Harvard Mediation Program. While in law school, he served as Managing Editor of the Environmental Lawyer. Mark is now admitted to practice in Minnesota, Washington, D.C., Maryland, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Public Contracts Law Section, and the National Contract Management Association, where he served as the President and National Director of the Twin Cities Chapter. He also writes and lectures frequently on a variety of government contract topics. In service to the community, Mark supports numerous arts and educational organizations, including by sitting on the Boards of Directors for Open Window Theatre and Unity Catholic High School.
U.S. Supreme Court
Appellate Courts
Trial Courts
Unpublished
