Overview
Carissa is Counsel in the Business Department at McDonald Hopkins and is part of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Government Contracting and Procurement practice groups. She brings extensive knowledge of government contracts law, corporate law, and regulatory compliance, with a special focus on small business contracting programs such as SBA 8(a), HUBZone, women-owned, and veteran-owned small business programs. Carissa advises government contracting clients throughout the full lifecycle of their interests, including compliance counseling related to federal government regulations, transactions with government contracting implications, and litigation and administrative proceedings such as bid protests, size protests, and government investigations.
Carissa also provides guidance to clients navigating the facility security clearance process, ensuring they meet the requirements to perform classified federal government work. With over a decade of experience working with tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and small businesses, she is passionate about supporting diverse enterprises as they navigate complex regulatory landscapes. Her commitment to her clients is exemplified by her work on amicus briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court involving constitutional, Native American, Alaska Native, and procurement law matters.
Before joining McDonald Hopkins, she gained substantial experience in government affairs, corporate law, and general litigation. Earlier in her career, she served in the U.S. Intelligence Community, contributing to post-9/11 strategy development, investigating human rights violations, and mediating employment discrimination disputes. This dual perspective—working in both the public and private sectors—enables her to provide practical advice to business owners and executives, empowering them to make informed decisions.
With a national practice and clients through the U.S., Carissa works remotely from Missouri for the firm’s Baltimore office. She is also involved in her community. She serves as the Troop Leader for her daughters' Girl Scout Troops and is on the Board of the Affton Historical Society, a nonprofit that oversees the Oakland House Museum, a historic house and museum in St. Louis County. She also volunteers as a pro bono attorney for Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA).
She received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. She has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts from Marymount Manhattan College.
Credentials
Education
Georgetown University Law Center
University of Georgia
Marymount Manhattan College
Admissions – Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Supreme Court
Admissions – State
- District of Columbia
- Missouri
- Virginia