ZohraTejani
Partner
Government Contracts
ztejani@seyfarth.com
Zohra helps client companies bring cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to government customers.
More About Zohra
Zohra works with companies of all sizes, helping to close funding agreements and procurement contracts and counsel on risks inherent with transacting with public sector entities, including with US federal (e.g., US Space Force), state, and local governments; K-12; higher-ed; quasi-governmental entities (e.g., US Postal Service); international organizations (e.g., United Nations); and tribal nations. She has a passion for emerging technologies and especially enjoys working with companies in the spacetech, govtech, defense tech, civic tech, edtech, and smart city sectors.
Zohra’s practice is primarily focused on the following areas:
Counseling on Government Grants and Contracts, Intellectual Property, and Cybersecurity Law
Zohra counsels on a range of government funding and procurement and technology matters, including government contracts, cybersecurity, software vulnerabilities, and data protection; intellectual property issues such as copyrights in software, data rights, and trade secrets; and ethics and integrity issues, including procurement fraud.
Zohra regularly advises clients on the following issues:
- Grant eligibility (e.g., SBIR small business size eligibility)
- Strategies to protect intellectual property with any engagement with government
- Assertion of technical and data rights
- Information security and cyber security
- Post-award compliance with reporting and disclosures
- Strategic protesting
- Product compliance
- Ethics and compliance issues and programs
- Using government data to train AI
- FedRAMP and controlled unclassified information
- NISPOM rule and facilities clearance counseling
Technology Transactions with the Government
Zohra has extensive experience drafting, negotiating, and counseling on high-stakes government contracts, subcontracts, and RFX for commercial technology products and services. Zohra also helps emerging technology companies with their government funding and prototype agreements.
Specific agreements she assists with include:
- Public-private partnership agreements
- Memorandum of understandings
- Grants and funding agreements
- Proof of concept and prototype agreements
- Development agreements
- RFIs/RFPs, and related Nondisclosure and teaming agreements
- Procurement contracts and subcontracts
Zohra’s practice is primarily focused on the following areas:
Counseling on Government Grants and Contracts, Intellectual Property, and Cybersecurity Law
Zohra counsels on a range of government funding and procurement and technology matters, including government contracts, cybersecurity, software vulnerabilities, and data protection; intellectual property issues such as copyrights in software, data rights, and trade secrets; and ethics and integrity issues, including procurement fraud.
Zohra regularly advises clients on the following issues:
- Grant eligibility (e.g., SBIR small business size eligibility)
- Strategies to protect intellectual property with any engagement with government
- Assertion of technical and data rights
- Information security and cyber security
- Post-award compliance with reporting and disclosures
- Strategic protesting
- Product compliance
- Ethics and compliance issues and programs
- Using government data to train AI
- FedRAMP and controlled unclassified information
- NISPOM rule and facilities clearance counseling
Technology Transactions with the Government
Zohra has extensive experience drafting, negotiating, and counseling on high-stakes government contracts, subcontracts, and RFX for commercial technology products and services. Zohra also helps emerging technology companies with their government funding and prototype agreements.
Specific agreements she assists with include:
- Public-private partnership agreements
- Memorandum of understandings
- Grants and funding agreements
- Proof of concept and prototype agreements
- Development agreements
- RFIs/RFPs, and related Nondisclosure and teaming agreements
- Procurement contracts and subcontracts
- JD, Georgetown University Law Center
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Government Grants and Contracts Counseling
- Advised on the implications of a merger on the target company’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants.
- Strategically protested (pre-award), on behalf of a large tech company, unjustified technical specifications in a US Federal RFP that were unfairly limiting competition, resulting in the contracting officer amending the RFP, opening the client’s path to winning the award.
- Developed a tailored checklist for the legal team of a SaaS company to guide the FedRAMP Significant Change process when rolling out new features and services.
- Counseled the product team of an on-premises software company on its plans to launch a SaaS offering regarding FedRAMP and FedRAMP Plus (based on the DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide).
- Counseled a software company about product requirements regarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Controlled Defense Information (CDI), including guidance on NIST SP 800-171 rev 2.
- Counseled a SaaS company doing business with state governments on special addenda for protecting FBI Criminal Justice Information based on the CJIS Policy and Federal Tax Information in accordance with IRS Pub. 1075.
- Counseled a 3D Earth modeling, sensing, and scanning startup on protecting their intellectual property when submitting R&D proposals to a US federal government agency.
- Advised an autonomous transportation company analyze a potential organizational conflict of interest issue in the context of a DoD contract.
- Advised companies of various sizes with Section 889 (2019 NDAA) compliance.
Technology Transactions with the Government
- Represented a smart city startup (transportation domain) in a negotiation with a systems integrator for a complex multiyear, multimillion dollar contract to provide its AI-enabled system for local government entities.
- Served as the lead attorney for a global tech giant negotiating a historic consolidated enterprise license agreement with the US Department of Defense.
- Represented a $10 billion tech giant negotiating with an ITC-focused government agency responsible for a multibillion-plus annual spend for a multiyear, multimillion dollar cloud services contract.
- Advised leadership team of a smart city startup about the legal risks with a multimillion-dollar prime contract with a transportation agency.
- Recognized as a “Stand-Out Lawyer,” Thompson Reuters (2024)
- Named in inaugural “Wonderful Women” issue, Lawyers of Color (2023)
- American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section
Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity, Privacy, Emerging Technology Committee (2024-Present)
Vice Chair of the Cybersecurity, Privacy, Emerging Technology Committee (2023-2024)
- Author, “Protecting IP: Key Tips for Space Startups in US Government Contracts,” Daily Journal (September 3, 2024)
- Panelist, “AI at the Crossroads: Unlocking Potential While Safeguarding Sensitive Data,” Potomac Officers Club (POC) – 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit (March 2025)
- Panelist, “Hacked from Orbit: The New Frontier of Space Cybersecurity,” Space Beach Law Lab (March 2025)
- Speaker, "FARout: Everything You Need to Know About Government Contracts," Space Beach Law Lab (February 2024)
- Presenter, “Top Legal Issues When Contracting with Government Agencies for AI-based Solutions,” GovAI Summit (December 2023)
- Speaker, "The Future of AI Regulation: Informative Q&A on Biden's Executive Order" (November 2023)
- Moderator, "Balancing Innovation with National Security in Federal Procurement," ABA Annual Meeting (August 2023)
- Panelist, "Legal Perspective: Strategic IP and Funding Considerations for Innovative Companies," TechConnect World Program (June 2023)
- Panelist, “In-House and Outside Counsel Pairs Share Best Practices," Hispanic National Bar Association Corporate Counsel Conference (March 2022)
- Trainer, "Government Contract Compliance, Unit 3: Supply Chain Compliance with Emphasis on Cybersecurity," National Contract Management Association, National Education Seminar (December 2021)
- Panelist, "Government Contracts: Year in Review and Issues to Watch in 2020," Association of Corporate Counsel National Capital Region and Womble Bond Dickinson (January 2020)
- Panelist, "Identifying and Contracting with a Cloud Services Provider You Can Trust," Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting (October 2017)
- Panelist, “Overcoming Obstacles to Innovation in Defense Contracting,” Federal Circuit Bar Association Bench & Bar Conference (June 2017)
- Panelist, "A Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Hot Topics in Commercial Items Contracting," ABA Section of Public Contract Law Mid-Year Meeting (November 2015)
- Panelist, "Cloud Computing: How State and Local Governments Can Access its Benefits and Manage the Risks," ABA Section of Public Contract Law 10th Annual State & Local Procurement Symposium (April 2015)
- Panelist, "Government Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software" ABA Section of Public Contract Law Fall Educational Program, Government Contracting in a Tech-Savvy World (October 2014)
Zohra helps client companies bring cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to government customers.
More About Zohra
Zohra works with companies of all sizes, helping to close funding agreements and procurement contracts and counsel on risks inherent with transacting with public sector entities, including with US federal (e.g., US Space Force), state, and local governments; K-12; higher-ed; quasi-governmental entities (e.g., US Postal Service); international organizations (e.g., United Nations); and tribal nations. She has a passion for emerging technologies and especially enjoys working with companies in the spacetech, govtech, defense tech, civic tech, edtech, and smart city sectors.
Zohra’s practice is primarily focused on the following areas:
Counseling on Government Grants and Contracts, Intellectual Property, and Cybersecurity Law
Zohra counsels on a range of government funding and procurement and technology matters, including government contracts, cybersecurity, software vulnerabilities, and data protection; intellectual property issues such as copyrights in software, data rights, and trade secrets; and ethics and integrity issues, including procurement fraud.
Zohra regularly advises clients on the following issues:
- Grant eligibility (e.g., SBIR small business size eligibility)
- Strategies to protect intellectual property with any engagement with government
- Assertion of technical and data rights
- Information security and cyber security
- Post-award compliance with reporting and disclosures
- Strategic protesting
- Product compliance
- Ethics and compliance issues and programs
- Using government data to train AI
- FedRAMP and controlled unclassified information
- NISPOM rule and facilities clearance counseling
Technology Transactions with the Government
Zohra has extensive experience drafting, negotiating, and counseling on high-stakes government contracts, subcontracts, and RFX for commercial technology products and services. Zohra also helps emerging technology companies with their government funding and prototype agreements.
Specific agreements she assists with include:
- Public-private partnership agreements
- Memorandum of understandings
- Grants and funding agreements
- Proof of concept and prototype agreements
- Development agreements
- RFIs/RFPs, and related Nondisclosure and teaming agreements
- Procurement contracts and subcontracts
Zohra’s practice is primarily focused on the following areas:
Counseling on Government Grants and Contracts, Intellectual Property, and Cybersecurity Law
Zohra counsels on a range of government funding and procurement and technology matters, including government contracts, cybersecurity, software vulnerabilities, and data protection; intellectual property issues such as copyrights in software, data rights, and trade secrets; and ethics and integrity issues, including procurement fraud.
Zohra regularly advises clients on the following issues:
- Grant eligibility (e.g., SBIR small business size eligibility)
- Strategies to protect intellectual property with any engagement with government
- Assertion of technical and data rights
- Information security and cyber security
- Post-award compliance with reporting and disclosures
- Strategic protesting
- Product compliance
- Ethics and compliance issues and programs
- Using government data to train AI
- FedRAMP and controlled unclassified information
- NISPOM rule and facilities clearance counseling
Technology Transactions with the Government
Zohra has extensive experience drafting, negotiating, and counseling on high-stakes government contracts, subcontracts, and RFX for commercial technology products and services. Zohra also helps emerging technology companies with their government funding and prototype agreements.
Specific agreements she assists with include:
- Public-private partnership agreements
- Memorandum of understandings
- Grants and funding agreements
- Proof of concept and prototype agreements
- Development agreements
- RFIs/RFPs, and related Nondisclosure and teaming agreements
- Procurement contracts and subcontracts
- JD, Georgetown University Law Center
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Government Grants and Contracts Counseling
- Advised on the implications of a merger on the target company’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants.
- Strategically protested (pre-award), on behalf of a large tech company, unjustified technical specifications in a US Federal RFP that were unfairly limiting competition, resulting in the contracting officer amending the RFP, opening the client’s path to winning the award.
- Developed a tailored checklist for the legal team of a SaaS company to guide the FedRAMP Significant Change process when rolling out new features and services.
- Counseled the product team of an on-premises software company on its plans to launch a SaaS offering regarding FedRAMP and FedRAMP Plus (based on the DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide).
- Counseled a software company about product requirements regarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Controlled Defense Information (CDI), including guidance on NIST SP 800-171 rev 2.
- Counseled a SaaS company doing business with state governments on special addenda for protecting FBI Criminal Justice Information based on the CJIS Policy and Federal Tax Information in accordance with IRS Pub. 1075.
- Counseled a 3D Earth modeling, sensing, and scanning startup on protecting their intellectual property when submitting R&D proposals to a US federal government agency.
- Advised an autonomous transportation company analyze a potential organizational conflict of interest issue in the context of a DoD contract.
- Advised companies of various sizes with Section 889 (2019 NDAA) compliance.
Technology Transactions with the Government
- Represented a smart city startup (transportation domain) in a negotiation with a systems integrator for a complex multiyear, multimillion dollar contract to provide its AI-enabled system for local government entities.
- Served as the lead attorney for a global tech giant negotiating a historic consolidated enterprise license agreement with the US Department of Defense.
- Represented a $10 billion tech giant negotiating with an ITC-focused government agency responsible for a multibillion-plus annual spend for a multiyear, multimillion dollar cloud services contract.
- Advised leadership team of a smart city startup about the legal risks with a multimillion-dollar prime contract with a transportation agency.
- Recognized as a “Stand-Out Lawyer,” Thompson Reuters (2024)
- Named in inaugural “Wonderful Women” issue, Lawyers of Color (2023)
- American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section
Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity, Privacy, Emerging Technology Committee (2024-Present)
Vice Chair of the Cybersecurity, Privacy, Emerging Technology Committee (2023-2024)
- Author, “Protecting IP: Key Tips for Space Startups in US Government Contracts,” Daily Journal (September 3, 2024)
- Panelist, “AI at the Crossroads: Unlocking Potential While Safeguarding Sensitive Data,” Potomac Officers Club (POC) – 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit (March 2025)
- Panelist, “Hacked from Orbit: The New Frontier of Space Cybersecurity,” Space Beach Law Lab (March 2025)
- Speaker, "FARout: Everything You Need to Know About Government Contracts," Space Beach Law Lab (February 2024)
- Presenter, “Top Legal Issues When Contracting with Government Agencies for AI-based Solutions,” GovAI Summit (December 2023)
- Speaker, "The Future of AI Regulation: Informative Q&A on Biden's Executive Order" (November 2023)
- Moderator, "Balancing Innovation with National Security in Federal Procurement," ABA Annual Meeting (August 2023)
- Panelist, "Legal Perspective: Strategic IP and Funding Considerations for Innovative Companies," TechConnect World Program (June 2023)
- Panelist, “In-House and Outside Counsel Pairs Share Best Practices," Hispanic National Bar Association Corporate Counsel Conference (March 2022)
- Trainer, "Government Contract Compliance, Unit 3: Supply Chain Compliance with Emphasis on Cybersecurity," National Contract Management Association, National Education Seminar (December 2021)
- Panelist, "Government Contracts: Year in Review and Issues to Watch in 2020," Association of Corporate Counsel National Capital Region and Womble Bond Dickinson (January 2020)
- Panelist, "Identifying and Contracting with a Cloud Services Provider You Can Trust," Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting (October 2017)
- Panelist, “Overcoming Obstacles to Innovation in Defense Contracting,” Federal Circuit Bar Association Bench & Bar Conference (June 2017)
- Panelist, "A Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Hot Topics in Commercial Items Contracting," ABA Section of Public Contract Law Mid-Year Meeting (November 2015)
- Panelist, "Cloud Computing: How State and Local Governments Can Access its Benefits and Manage the Risks," ABA Section of Public Contract Law 10th Annual State & Local Procurement Symposium (April 2015)
- Panelist, "Government Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software" ABA Section of Public Contract Law Fall Educational Program, Government Contracting in a Tech-Savvy World (October 2014)