Keith M. Wiener

Keith M. Wiener is an attorney and partner in Holland & Knight's Atlanta office and serves as the firmwide leader of both the State and Local Government Procurement Team and Government Representation Team. Mr. Wiener is also the leader of the Georgia Government Contracts and Procurement Team.

Mr. Wiener practices in the areas of government law, state and local government contracts and procurement, business interactions with government, public transportation, public-private partnerships (P3s), construction industry/negotiations/arbitration/mediation/litigation, transit, government relations, request for proposal (RFP)/request for quotation (RFQ)/invitation to bid (ITB or IFB) compliance, bid proposals, bid protests and disputes, affirmative action, Disparity Studies, minority-owned business enterprise (MBE), women-owned business enterprise (WBE), disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), airport concessions disadvantaged business enterprise (ACDBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Small Business Administration (SBA) and Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) programs, civil rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), due diligence for M&A regarding government contracts and MBE/WBE/DBEs, federal regulations located at 49 CFR Part 26, 49 CFR Part 23, public finance, administrative and regulatory law, public policy litigation and regulatory and federal litigation. 

Representation of Businesses in their Interaction With Governments. Mr. Wiener has more than 30 years of experience representing businesses that interact with state, local and federal governmental entities throughout the U.S. in the areas of RFPs, RFQs, ITBs, bid protests, bid proposals, government relations, public transportation projects, state and local government contracts and procurement, government contract negotiations and transactions, construction law involving government projects, contract compliance, public finance, developers, local, state and federal small business programs, and MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBE/SDB/SBA/SBE/DEI programs and compliance.

He also advises on U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulations, and commercial and government contract litigation.

Mr. Wiener represents businesses in connection with their local, state and federal governmental procurement and contracting activities, including bid and proposal preparation, responses to RFPs, RFQs and invitations to bid (ITBs) for government projects and contracts, bid disputes and protests, contract negotiations and contract disputes, developments, and P3s.

Representation of Businesses in Purchases, Sales, Mergers and Acquisitions focusing on MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBEs. Mr. Wiener also assists businesses in purchases, sales, mergers and acquisitions, focusing on due diligence concerning transactions that involve MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBEs relating to the sale, purchase or acquisition of businesses and government contractors and government contracts. He represents businesses involving MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBEs, including eligibility for and obtaining certifications and recertifications as MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBEs, advising businesses in their application to become certified or to maintain certification as MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBEs. He advises businesses with structuring sales and purchases transactions concerning MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBE eligibility and certifications. He also assists businesses with appeals and disputes with local, state and federal governments related to eligibility and certifications.

State and Local Government Representation. Mr. Wiener advises businesses and governments on contracts and procurement matters involving public transportation, Disparity Studies, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), affirmative action, MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE/SBA and social and economic-disadvantaged and justice programs, DOT, FTA, FAA and FHWA regulations, construction, project management, government finance, contract compliance, public bidding, planning and community development, purchasing, public works, public and open records compliance, land use and zoning, and regulatory and administrative law.

He engages in advice, investigations, negotiations, claims analysis, dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration and litigation concerning construction, administrative hearings, contracting and purchasing activities, bid preparation, bid disputes, bid protests, awards, ITBs, invitations for bid (IFBs) and RFPs.

Mr. Wiener's government representation includes extensive experience providing advice and representation for departments and divisions that are responsible for contracting and purchasing activities, construction and project management, transit and transportation, public finance, public works, public buildings, water and wastewater treatment plants, community development, civil rights, bid preparation and evaluation, and contract compliance. He served for more than 20 years as outside assistant and first assistant county attorney for the largest county (population greater than 1 million) in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs, Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Programs, Disparity Studies, Social and Economic-Disadvantaged Business Programs, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Mr. Wiener has extensive experience advising and representing businesses and state and local governments – including municipalities, counties, departments of transportation and other transportation authorities, commissions, airports, and colleges and universities – in the areas of Disparity Studies, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small and Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs, Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (ACDBE), Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE/WBE) programs, Small Business Enterprise Programs (SBE), race and gender neutral programs, and Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations, including compliance with local, state and federal laws, regulations and ordinances regarding DBE, ACDBE, SDB, MBE/WBE, DEI, SBE and SBA programs, and litigation relating to these programs.

Mr. Wiener has been the Lead Legal Consultant on teams conducting more than 100 Disparity Studies for numerous local and state governments nationwide and advising in the area of compliance with MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE/SBA, social and economic-disadvantaged business and justice and equal business opportunity programs, DEI, and the Federal DBE and ACDBE programs.

Government Law, Contracting and Purchasing. Mr. Wiener's representation includes advice, consultation, public meetings and hearings, negotiation and litigation concerning the contracting and purchasing activities of governmental entities. His experience involves representation in various areas of government law, including P3s, finance, contract compliance, state and local government procurement, environmental and community development, building authority, project management, purchasing, public works, administration, transportation, education, healthcare, land use and zoning, and intergovernmental affairs.

Legislation Preparation, Presentations and Thought Leadership. Mr. Wiener also has engaged in the preparation of legislation, including providing testimony concerning contract compliance, public works and purchasing bidding requirements, affirmative action and MBE/WBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE participation programs, equal business opportunity and small emerging business programs, race- and gender-neutral business programs, DEI programs, social and economic-disadvantaged business programs, equal employment opportunity (EEO) provisions and nondiscrimination provisions.

He has written articles, engaged in numerous speaking engagements and presentations and lectured at seminars, workshops and before various local, state and national organizations concerning the topics of government law, government contract compliance, Federal DBE and ACDBE programs, Disparity Studies, civil rights, affirmative action, local and state DBE/MBE/WBE programs, and open records and meetings law.