Chris Bowen

About Chris Bowen

Peter Platzer, CEO of Spire Global, Inc, has compared being part of a start-up to riding a rocket. That certainly describes my time at Spire. For the start, I have handled complex negotiations for all aspects of our business, which provides of data through both customized and standardized low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. As the primary counsel for any agreements involving U.S. Federal government customers, I negotiate FAR, DFAR, and agency-specific terms, especially those related to data rights, ITAR/EAR compliance, and information security. Prior to coming to Spire, I was counsel with IBM Federal, I worked with business clients to successfully obtain, manage, and close-out complex government contracts. Specifically, I negotiated the trickier parts of prime contract and subcontracts agreements, as well as provided guidance to the business team on the requirements for compliance with FAR provisions. Additionally, I helped craft and implement our contracts for emerging areas, such as cloud and cognitive computing, as well as contracts for advanced analytics platforms and cybersecurity products. Further, I led IBM’s GDPR compliance effort for our U.S. Federal contracts. Finally, I have led our negotiations for numerous cloud engagements within Federal, both commercial and customized. Prior to coming to IBM, I was a trial attorney at the Department of Justice. As a trial attorney with the National Courts Section, I was the primary attorney on dozens of cases. I developed an expertise in bid protest jurisdiction, along with Fifth Amendment jurisprudence. Although my primary responsibility was Government contracts, I also handled appeals, and matters involving international trade. I argued before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on numerous appeals, including one that determined the fate of bid protest jurisdiction in the Court of Federal Claims. I successfully argued numerous motions to dismiss against represented parties, and succeeded in obtaining the dismissal of a class action. I was also the attorney responsible for obtaining the favorable disposition in Doe v United States, in which the Court of Federal Claims held that Judah and Nitol (the Trust Island cases) had been implicitly overturned.I also successfully prepared a case for trial, conducted and defended numerous lay and expert depositions, and concluded a favorable settlement. Included in this preparation was preparing witnesses for deposition and trial, and negotiating with opposing counsel.

Experience

1. Commercial Corporate Counsel - Public Sector

   Google

   Jan 2022 — Present · New York, NY, US

   At Google, I negotiate government contracts with Federal, state, and local agencies for the purchase Google Cloud Platform, Workspace, and Google Professional Services. This includes negotiation of the Cloud Master Agreement, the FAR and DFAR clauses, Business Associate Agreements, Data Protection Agreements, and security addenda, such as those related to FedRamp, StateRamp, NIST 800-171, and FIPS. I oversee the New York State Office of General Services Contract (OGS) as well as our partners sales through the GSA Schedule, SEWP, and other contract vehicles. I coordinate and partner with the sales team as well as compliance, CISO, and other teams to ensure that the contracts match the capabilities of Google. Finally, I conduct trainings, draft and implement policies, and oversee decisions on bid protests and claims.

Education

• Dartmouth College

  Bachelors, Economics

  1998 — 2002

• The George Washington University Law School

  JD, Law

  2002 — 2005

Skills

• Legal Advice
• Appeals
• Competition Law
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Dispute Resolution
• Trials
• Bankruptcy
• Editing
• Public Policy
• Administrative Law
• Privacy Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Class Actions
• Government Procurement
• Procurement
• Depositions
• Legal Research
• Constitutional Law
• Civil Litigation
• Courts
• Trade Secrets
• Government
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Motions