DETROIT, Mich. – The Butzel Aerospace & Defense Industry Practice is evolving to meet growing client needs. In addition to Beth S. Gotthelf, the leadership team now includes Derek Mullins and Anthony J. Scalise.
Notably, Butzel has extensive experience with international aerospace companies across a variety of practice areas addressing a myriad of legal, business, and regulatory issues. Butzel has assisted both privately held and market-leading publicly held companies. In addition, the firm’s practice and resources are organized to provide cost-effective representation for multi-national and non-U.S. based companies, including special regulatory requirements related to the defense industry. Butzel offers deep international and cross-border experience on operational, strategic, and legal issues.
Butzel’s multi-disciplinary team approach allows the law firm to tap capabilities from any of its offices in Michigan, and Washington D.C. Butzel attorneys have specific experience in addressing challenges faced by non-U.S. based companies seeking to acquire businesses or provide goods and services to the U.S. government. Butzel’s work in the defense industry spans the critical areas necessary to navigate the specialized and often complex regulatory environment associated with this industry.
Butzel’s range of services include acquisitions, divestitures, litigation and contract work, labor and employment, employee benefits, administrative and criminal investigations, bid protests, and regulatory matters.
About Beth S. Gotthelf
Gotthelf also is Butzel’s Director of Innovation and External Relations and Co-Chair of the Energy & Sustainability Practice.
For more than a decade, Gotthelf has been active in the Aerospace and Defense industries, advising clients in the various legal issues including governmental contracting, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), bids and bid protests, and Foreign Military Sales, to name a few.
Gotthelf brings a pragmatic and holistic approach to clients’ issues, by understanding her clients’ goals and assisting in reaching them through a variety of tools. It is not unusual for her to assist in matchmaking clients’ needs, acting as an outside general counsel, or coming up with creative solutions.
Gotthelf is Chair of the Michigan Manufacturers Association Environmental Policy Committee and National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Directorship Certified.
About Derek Mullins
Derek Mullins has more than a decade of experience and focuses his practice on the aerospace and defense industry. Clients benefit from his deep knowledge in this sector and others in a wide variety of complex matters. In addition to his government contracts practice, he is a skilled litigator and has prevailed on behalf of clients in state and federal courts in Michigan and across the nation.
Mullins has extensive experience assisting companies of all sizes to navigate the numerous complex regulatory requirements relating to federal contracting that are inherent in the aerospace and defense industry and other areas of commerce. He routinely handles a wide range of federal procurement matters, including bid protests and post-contract claims, prime-sub disputes, False Claims Act and procurement fraud issues, Small Business Administration issues, data rights, obtaining and maintaining security clearances, and compliance and ethics. He also advises clients on export control issues, including internal investigations and reviews and voluntary disclosures under U.S. export control regulations.
About Anthony J. Scalise
For more than 20 years, Scalise has advised corporate entities in the aerospace and defense industry on defense industry mergers and acquisitions (M&A), government contracting matters related to combat tracked vehicle weapon systems programs, and complex commercial matters. His experience spans buy-side and sell-side acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic investments, and ongoing regulatory, contractual, and compliance issues associated with operating in highly regulated national security environments.
Scalise has a strong background in advising on U.S. Department of Defense and federal contracting matters. He helps clients with everything from developing strategies to win contracts, constructing proposals, negotiating terms, and managing contracts through to completion and compliance. His experience covers a wide range of Army and Dept. of Defense procurement programs, surge and sustainment planning, and building multi-level subcontracting teams that keep critical defense operations running smoothly.
About Butzel
Butzel is one of the leading law firms in Michigan and the United States. It was founded in Detroit in 1854 and has provided trusted client service for 172 years. Butzel’s full-service law offices are located in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Troy and Southwest, Mich.; and, Washington, D.C., as well as global alliance offices. Butzel is an active member of Lex Mundi, a global association of 150 independent law firms. Learn more by visiting www.butzel.com or follow Butzel on X: https://x.com/butzel_long.