Education
- Southwestern School of Law (J.D., 1996)
- magna cum laude
- Southwestern Law Review, Special Projects Editor
- University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A., 1993)
- with distinction


Marisa Bavand helps contractors, developers, and government contractors navigate complex projects, procurement challenges, and high-stakes disputes to protect project outcomes and minimize risk.
From pre-project planning through trial, Marisa brings deep construction law and government contracts experience to clients navigating some of the most demanding projects and procurement environments in the country. Based in both Dorsey & Whitney's Seattle and Southern California office, Marisa represents contractors, developers, and engineers across the full lifecycle of construction projects — advising on alternative delivery methods, risk assessment, contract drafting, claim management and preservation, and litigating disputes when they arise.
Marisa's construction practice spans a wide range of project types, including heavy civil, light rail, highway, bridges and tunnels, public infrastructure, universities, production facilities, data centers, fire stations, and mixed-use commercial and vertical construction projects. She helps clients anticipate risk before a project begins and positions them to resolve disputes efficiently when they emerge.
Marisa also maintains a national government contracts practice, advising clients on Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) compliance, the Contract Disputes Act, procurement strategy, contract interpretation, training, audits, self-reporting and investigations. She develops requests for equitable adjustments and claims on behalf of clients and has litigated matters before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. Her government contracts work includes substantial experience with the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Marisa also defends clients in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations and False Claims Act litigation. She has managed extensive DOJ Civil Investigative Demands and achieved negotiated resolutions that avoided fraud-based liability for her clients.
Her practice further encompasses federal grant procurement and compliance under 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Small Business Act eligibility and compliance litigation, and government contracting, construction, and remediation matters for Alaska Native Corporations and tribal organizations.
Marisa is a Regional Director for the Pacific Northwest with the Society of Construction Law North America and a Fellow of the Construction Law Society of America.
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