Tamara Droubi

Tamara Droubi represents companies, officers, and directors across industries in complex commercial litigation, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes government matters, including False Claims Act (FCA) and tariff enforcement and white collar defense.

She helps clients favorably resolve sensitive and high-pressure disputes with efficiency and discretion, navigate transactional and compliance challenges, and assess and manage operational and reputational risk. Clients describe Tamara as a fierce and dedicated advocate with an adaptive style who delivers business-focused solutions while minimizing cost and risk.

Tamara handles commercial and regulatory matters, including commercial and contract disputes, fraud and accounting irregularities, false statements and claims, bribery and corruption, export and import compliance, economic sanctions, foreign ownership, control and influence (FOCI) restrictions, and consumer- and employment-related claims. She conducts internal investigations and prepares clients to defend against potential whistleblowers, responds to subpoenas, negotiates pre-litigation settlements, and guides clients through enforcement actions and parallel investigations, voluntary and mandatory disclosures, administrative/suspension and debarment proceedings, and mediations, arbitrations and litigation in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. She also advises government contractors on federal procurement and grant compliance, including supply chain hygiene, small business requirements, kickbacks, conflicts of interest, misuse and misappropriate of funds, Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts, defective pricing (TINA), and data privacy and retention obligations.

With clients in aerospace and defense, technology, banking, cybersecurity, health care, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and the nonprofit sectors, Tamara provides practical and cost-effective solutions while accounting for short- and long-term risks and goals. Her pro bono work includes successfully assisting military veterans with discharge upgrades and helping an Afghan female service member and her family seek asylum in the United States.

Experience

• Defended a national bank in commercial lending dispute arising out of complex loan and subordination arrangements, obtaining full dismissals in parallel state and federal actions brought by a subordinate lender, including a unanimous, published decision by the Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit reinforcing credit agreement statute of frauds protections.
• Resolved multi-year False Claim Act investigation against engineering and logistics company concerning alleged misconduct by executives, settling the dispute at a fraction of the government’s 8-figure demand for damages and penalties, and without an admission of wrongdoing or any litigation. Worked with executives to improve controls and minimize future risks.
• Resolved False Claim Act allegations against aerospace and defense company concerning alleged misconduct by executives, quickly working with the government to narrow a broad-ranging Office of Inspector General subpoena to a single issue, and negotiating a settlement without an admission of wrongdoing or any litigation. Worked with CEO to remediate compliance gaps and improve controls, and resolved ineligibility to contract concerns with suspension and debarment officials, enabling the company to continue its operations without the constraints of an administrative agreement or other administrative actions.
• Assisted mid-size non-profit organization with multi-year Office of Inspector General inquiry into alleged misconduct by current and former executives and employees. Conducted cross-border investigation, assisted with demands for documents and witness testimony, and coordinated closely with General Counsel to assess and mitigate risk, improve compliance and controls, and submit voluntary disclosures, resulting in no government action against the company or any individuals.
• Obtained published decision affirming jury verdict in client’s favor and a related attorneys’ fee award in a case of first impression before the California Court of Appeals.
• Won summary judgment and attorneys’ fee award in Los Angeles County on behalf of a small business wrongly accused of misappropriating trade secrets by competitor seeking to limit competition.