Eckland and Blando LLP

Mark Blando has dedicated his career to pursuing all forms of litigation against the federal government. He acted as counsel in two of the most prominent pieces of litigation in the country involving attempts by the 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). Government contract attorney Mark Blando also has litigated a wide variety of traditional government contract cases at the federal and state level, including bid protests, performance disputes, termination actions, and False Claims Act litigation. 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.

Government contract attorney Mark Blando has also pursued numerous other types of government claims, including Fifth Amendment takings claims, Federal Tort Claims Act cases, and actions under the Administrative Procedures Act. Mark writes and lectures frequently on a variety of government contract topics.

Education

• B.A., English, magna cum laude, Boston College (1992)
• J.D., with honors, George Washington University (1995)

Employment History

• Eckland & Blando LLP, Minneapolis, MN, 2004-present
• Faegre & Benson LLP, Minneapolis, MN, 1999-2004
• Spriggs & Hollingsworth, Washington, D.C., 1995-1999
• U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 1994
• District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1994

Affiliations

• Mediator, Harvard Mediation Project, Harvard Law School (1991)
• National Contract Management Association, Twin Cities Chapter:
  • National Director (2003-2004)
  • Chapter President (2002-2003)
  • V.P., Education (2001-2002, 2006-2007)
  • Board Member (2001- 2007)
  • Member (1999-Present)
• American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law
• Association of the United States Army

Bar Admissions

• Maryland (1995)
• Washington, D.C. (1996; inactive)
• Minnesota (2000)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1999)
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims (1999)
• U.S. Supreme Court (2002)