Bieber, Meredith A.

Brent Bickley is a counsel in the firm's Litigation/Controversy Department, and a member of the Business Trial Group. He joined the firm in 2004.

Practice

Mr. Bickley has represented a wide variety of clients before state and federal courts and provides ongoing advice concerning legislative and litigation developments related to their business practices. Mr. Bickley also provides confidential advice to clients with public profiles on policy issues and litigation strategy. He has successfully represented a broad array of corporate clients in class actions, government litigation, False Claims Act lawsuits and other commercial matters with serious financial implications. Mr. Bickley has significant expertise in the False Claims Act, having successfully defended corporations and individuals facing False Claims Act allegations. Mr. Bickley also has an active pro bono practice.

Recent Highlights

False Claims Act

• Obtaining dismissal of a False Claims Act action in federal district court in Orlando, Florida against a vacation resort company arising out of a contract with the United States Postal Service, and defending the decision on appeal
• Obtaining dismissal of a False Claims Act lawsuit in federal district court in Atlanta, Georgia against a non-bank lender arising out of Small Business Administration loans and successfully defending the decision on appeal
• Defending a major financial institution in a False Claims Act lawsuit in federal district court in San Diego, California arising out of the federal government's assistance during the 2008 financial crisis
• Defending a telecommunications company in a False Claims Act lawsuit in federal district court in Washington DC

Commercial Litigation

• Prosecuting a dispute in New York Supreme Court on behalf of the largest credit union in the United States against a lending service provider and insurer arising out of defaulted mortgages
• Obtaining a favorable settlement in federal court litigation in Orlando, Florida for a defense contractor in a contract dispute
• Representing global financial institutions in connection with litigation and congressional investigations into the 2008 financial crisis

Consumer Class Actions

• Defending a membership association comprised of schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations in a putative class action pending in Minnesota federal district court arising out of a scanning problem on a college entrance exam
• Defending a leading standardized testing company in multidistrict litigation consolidated in New Orleans federal district court arising out of a scoring anomaly on a teacher certification exam
• Defending a leading standardized testing company in a putative class action in New Jersey state court relating to a scoring issue on a business school entrance exam

Pro Bono

• Defending the constitutionality of provisions of the McCain-Feingold Act and state campaign finance laws

Reported decisions

U.S. ex rel. Brown v. Walt Disney World Co., 361 Fed. Appx. 66 (11th Cir. 2010); Ross v. Walton, 668 F. Supp.2d 32 (D.D.C. 2009); Brickman v. Business Loan Express LLC, 310 Fed. Appx. 322 (11th Cir. 2009); U.S. ex rel. Brown v. Walt Disney World Co., 2008 WL 2561975 (M.D. Fla. 2008); U.S. ex rel. Brickman v. Business Loan Express, LLC, 2007 WL 4553474 (N.D.Ga. Dec 18, 2007); Arnold v. Educational Testing Service, 2007 WL 1051500 (N.J. Super. App. Div. 2007); Russo v. NCS Pearson, Inc., et. al, 462 F. Supp.2d 981 (D. Minn. 2006); In re Educational Testing Service Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 Litigation, 2007 WL 1557337 (E.D. La. 2007); 447 F. Supp.2d 612 (E.D. La. 2006)

Professional Activities

Mr. Bickley is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the District of Columbia Bar Association.