Mindy B. Pava focuses her practice on advising recipients of federal funding as they navigate all facets of judicial review. Ms. Pava also represents federal grant recipients, including research institutions, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Head Start programs, and others, when litigation needs arise.
A seasoned litigator, Ms. Pava is well-versed in guiding clients through complex litigation matters in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agency tribunals. Ms. Pava has profound knowledge in defending clients who face potential liability under the False Claims Act and advises on how to best mitigate risk when encountering a government investigation or potential charges. Additionally, she advises clients on regulatory matters and enforcement risk and works with organizations to conduct detailed internal investigations. Ms. Pava has counseled organizations in higher education, healthcare, and other industries on how to achieve compliance with new federal grant terms and conditions as well as on strategy relating to grant termination appeals.
Ms. Pava has considerable experience speaking at research administration conferences, where she counsels attendees from institutions of higher education on topics ranging from research security compliance to ever-evolving enforcement priorities. She also regularly presents to federal grantees on grant law, compliance issues, and potential federal enforcement risks.
Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Pava gained complex litigation experience by serving as a senior associate at a large national law firm in its litigation, consumer class action and antitrust practice groups based out of the Firm’s Washington, DC office.
Before attending law school, Ms. Pava worked as a newspaper reporter, where she reported on education at the local and statewide level.
Representative Matters
- Successfully led federal court emergency briefing efforts by filing lawsuit on behalf of refugee resettlement organization who had its federal funding frozen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; achieved reimbursement for all outstanding funds and developed a consistent payment schedule.
- Assisted research institutions, universities, and other clients in filing appeals to challenge grant terminations with the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and other agencies.
- Served as part of the appellate litigation team representing a Head Start grantee in challenging the statutory and regulatory authority behind the Office of Head Start’s deficiency determinations.
- Assisted clients through federal and state agency audits and investigations, from coordinating large-scale audit responses to responding to threatened cost disallowances.
- Reviewed foreign disclosure obligations on behalf of an SBIR grant recipient client and successfully settled a Health and Human Services OIG investigation relating to the grant recipient’s research activities.
- Represented clients in federal and state courts in matters ranging from Medicaid and Medicare payment and reimbursement disputes to eligibility status for Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Honors/Awards
- Selected as an Associate Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2021-2023)
- Selected to the Washington, DC, Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list (2015-2022)
- Featured in D.C. Super Lawyers Magazine: Telling a Different Sort of Story (April 2020)
Education
- J.D., Emory University School of Law (2011)
- B.A., Northwestern University (2004)
Clerkships
- Law Clerk for the Honorable Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill, Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Bar/Court Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Professional Memberships / Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- DC Bar
