Edwards, Samuel B.

Jeff H. Eckland focuses his practice on government contract and general commercial litigation. He has litigated cases in state and federal trial courts across the country, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and numerous state and federal appellate courts. Jeff successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court in Franconia Associates v. United States , 536 U.S. 129 (2002).

Jeff has litigated a wide variety of traditional government contract cases at the federal and state level, including bid protests, performance disputes, compliance proceedings, terminations for default and convenience, defective pricing, qui tam, and False Claims Act litigation. Among his achievements in this area, he has negotiated at the Pentagon stays of suspension and debarment proceedings, represented government contractors in civil and criminal environmental proceedings, and recovered increased costs for the construction of a Naval Brig at Miramar Naval Air Station (Top Gun). Jeff also counsels government contractors and their subcontractors on many transactional and compliance issues, including all phases of contract negotiation and administration, cost allowance, intellectual property, and technical data rights. Jeff also pursues claims against the state and federal governments, and their various agencies, for redress of grievances relating to government abuse of power and discretion under the U.S. and State Constitutions, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).

Jeff represents businesses and individuals in many other kinds of commercial disputes. On behalf of various plaintiff clients, he has obtained as lead trial lawyer six individual judgments in excess of $1 Million and aggregate judgment amounts in excess of $34 Million. Jeff has also obtained several judgments of $0 on behalf of defendants where the plaintiffs sought in excess of $3 Million. His practice includes jury and court trials, appeals, pre-judgment injunctions and other remedies, arbitrations and mediations, and administrative hearings. He has tried patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, Lanham Act, antitrust, securities, fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, employment discrimination, dealer termination, covenants not to compete, contract, takings, environmental, and other types of cases.

In addition to trying cases, Jeff enjoys obtaining quick court action on behalf of clients to protect their interests. He has an unbroken record of successfully obtaining emergency injunctive relief requested by his clients in over twenty civil actions. Prior to litigation, Jeff also counsels clients about the procedural, tactical, and strategic issues involved in commencing and defending civil actions. He counsels clients on ways to avoid litigation as well as to reduce liability should litigation occur, and advises clients about the risks, benefits, and costs of litigation.

Jeff graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1979, suma cum laude, and the University of Chicago Law School in 1982. He is a member of the Public Contract Law and Science and Technology Sections of the American Bar Association (ABA). Jeff currently serves as an active member of the State Law Database Committee, where he chairs the drafting of procurement law outlines for the States of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. He is also a Fellow of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), serves on the NCMA’s Board of Advisors, and served as President of the NCMA Twin Cities Chapter from 1995-1996. He is a long-standing member of the Planning Committee for the Annual National Seminars on Government Contracts sponsored by the University of Minnesota. Jeff writes and lectures on a variety of government contract topics.