Moore & Van Allen Opens Washington, D.C. Office, Adds Partner Erica Bakies to Growing Government Contracts and National Security Bench

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) has entered into a lease for new office space in Washington, D.C., establishing the firm’s fifth office and expanding its presence in one of the nation’s most important regulatory and business centers. This marks the firm’s second office outside the Carolinas, following the recent opening of its Atlanta office. The D.C. office opening coincides with the arrival of partner Erica Bakies, whose national security practice expands the firm’s growing government contracts capabilities.

“In the past year, we have expanded our physical footprint to address growing client demand. We announced a lease for space in a new building in Charlotte, opened our first office outside the Carolinas in Atlanta and are set to open Washington, D.C., this fall,” said Thomas L. Mitchell, Chair and Managing Partner of Moore & Van Allen. “We have served clients in D.C. for years, and establishing a dedicated office allows us to be even closer to our clients, the agencies and stakeholders they interact with, and the opportunities emerging in this market.”

Bakies joins Tara Hopkins, who came to the firm in April to head the Government Contracts practice. Together, they expand the firm’s ability to advise clients on increasingly interconnected regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters, with complementary experience across government contracts and national security concerns. Hopkins, Bakies, and their D.C.-based team will work closely with attorneys across the firm to provide seamless, interdisciplinary guidance to clients doing business with the government.

“Government contracts considerations are often implicated across transactions, disputes, and day-to-day operations for a wide variety of our clients,” said Rob Rust, co-head of the firm’s Corporate group. “With Tara and Erica joining the MVA platform and establishing a permanent physical presence in the D.C. market, our clients have access to an integrated team that can directly service government contracting matters alongside our broader corporate, transactional, and regulatory capabilities.”

“Opening an office in the District gives us an exciting opportunity to build upon the firm’s strategy to grow in response to the way our clients’ businesses are evolving,” said Hopkins. “Government contracts increasingly intersect with national security, trade, and regulatory issues, and bringing Erica on board allows us to continue expanding our capabilities while creating a strong foundation for future growth.”

Bakies’ practice includes representing clients in high-stakes transactions that involve review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and foreign ownership, control, or influence mitigation enforced by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). She also regularly advises clients on complex compliance matters and conducts internal investigations in the areas of government contracts, export controls, and economic sanctions.

“Moore & Van Allen’s strategic investment in government contracts and national security underscores its dedication to collaboration and client service,” said Bakies. “I am excited to be part of the firm’s foothold in D.C. with Tara and build this practice alongside colleagues who share a commitment to delivering integrated and business-minded solutions to our clients.”

MVA expects to move into the new space, located at 900 17^th Street, NW, near Farragut Square, on or after October 1, 2026. The space is designed to accommodate future growth as the firm continues to expand its bench in key practices in the D.C. market.

About Moore & Van Allen

In 1950, Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA)’s founding partners were the first to establish a law firm office in Uptown Charlotte to be closer to the business community. Now 76 years later, MVA is the largest law firm headquartered in North Carolina and one of the most prominent law firms in the region. It is an Am Law 200 firm comprised of 400+ attorneys and professionals with wide-ranging backgrounds and experience serving clients in 90+ areas. Its foundational financial services practice remains a core practice in addition to MVA’s award-winning corporate, private equity and investments, litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and commercial real estate capabilities. Over time, the firm has expanded its practices in response to the needs of clients and the community, including trust and estate planning, zoning and land use, economic development, white-collar defense, financial regulatory, and human trafficking prevention and compliance.