Theodore P. Watson, Esq., CEO and Founder

Admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States | U.S. Air Force Veteran (Retired)

Federal Government Relations Attorney | Business and White Collar Defense | Healthcare Fraud Defense

When your business faces federal investigation, when prosecutors target your company, when your career and family’s future hang in the balance—you need an attorney who has spent decades inside the federal system, understands exactly how government agencies operate, and possesses the leadership experience to coordinate the aggressive defense your situation demands.

When clients find that their business’s future, bottom line, career, or family is at risk, they come to Theodore for a solution and a game plan.

Theodore Watson brings the rare combination of insider government knowledge and battle-tested leadership that Fortune 500 executives and major corporations seek when federal enforcement threatens everything they’ve built. With over three decades navigating federal bureaucracy and twenty years of military command experience, Watson understands both the government’s playbook and the strategic thinking required to protect clients facing the full weight of federal power.

Government Insider Advantage

Federal System Experience

When federal agencies investigate your business, you need an attorney who doesn’t just understand the law you need someone who has worked within the system, managed federal programs worth millions of dollars, and observed how government decisions are actually made. Watson’s transition from a distinguished Air Force career to federal contracting executive provided him with the insider perspective that enables him to anticipate government strategies and identify vulnerabilities in their approach that other attorneys miss.

Operational Understanding

This isn’t theoretical knowledge gained from textbooks. Watson has sat in government conference rooms, participated in procurement decisions, and witnessed firsthand how federal agencies prioritize cases and allocate resources. When your business faces an investigation, this insider understanding becomes the foundation of your defense strategy.

Leadership Under Pressure

Military-Trained Crisis Management

Corporate executives and business owners facing federal investigation need more than legal expertise—they need leadership. Watson applies the same mission-focused approach that guided him through two decades of Air Force service, assembling and directing legal teams across the United States with each member selected for their specific expertise and proven ability to perform under extreme pressure.

Strategic Team Composition

Watson’s team includes former federal prosecutors, Department of Justice attorneys, and government investigators who understand the system from the inside. This composition provides you with a strategic advantage: your defense team knows how the opposition thinks, operates, and makes decisions because they used to be the opposition.

Coordinated Defense Strategy

When federal agencies target your business, Watson doesn’t just defend—he leads. He coordinates complex, multi-jurisdictional strategies while keeping you informed and involved in every critical decision. This approach reflects his military training: clear objectives, precise execution, and unwavering commitment to mission success.

Core Practice Areas

Federal Procurement Litigation

Watson’s practice centers on the areas where businesses face their greatest federal exposure: procurement litigation and white collar criminal defense. He represents Fortune 500 companies, major defense contractors, and emerging businesses in disputes that often involve hundreds of millions of dollars and determine whether organizations survive federal scrutiny.

White Collar Criminal Defense

Corporate executives facing white collar investigations find in Watson an attorney who grasps the stakes immediately. When the Department of Justice, FBI, SEC, or other federal agencies target business leaders, Watson brings both the legal expertise and leadership experience necessary to coordinate the comprehensive defense these situations require.

Healthcare Fraud Defense

In healthcare fraud defense, Watson protects medical professionals and healthcare organizations against allegations that can destroy careers and close institutions overnight. His approach combines aggressive advocacy with strategic patience—understanding when to engage directly and when to position for better outcomes.

Government Investigation Defense

Watson’s three decades in the federal space provide him with operational understanding of government agencies that extends far beyond legal theory. He has managed federal programs, observed agency decision-making processes, and understands the internal pressures that drive enforcement actions.

This experience proves invaluable when defending clients against investigations by the FBI, SEC, IRS, FTC, OIG, DEA, DOJ, DOD, and in FCPA enforcement matters. When clients face Civil Investigative Demands, subpoenas, or the prospect of criminal charges, Watson’s military-trained approach to crisis management becomes evident in comprehensive defense strategies that account for both immediate threats and long-term consequences.

Practice Approach

Selective Client Engagement

Watson doesn’t accept every case. He applies the same careful evaluation process that military leaders use when assessing missions: Can this objective be achieved with available resources? Does the client understand what success requires? Is there a realistic path to a favorable outcome?

This selective approach means that when Watson takes your case, you know you have an attorney who believes in your position and has committed his team’s full resources to your defense. It also means that opposing counsel understand they are facing an adversary who has chosen this battle carefully and prepared accordingly.

Client Base

• Fortune 500 corporations and major DOD contractors
• Small and mid-size government contractors
• Healthcare agencies and providers
• International companies with U.S. government contracts
• Corporate Businesses nationwide facing federal investigations and civil/criminal exposure.

Strategic Case Management

Clients who engage Watson’s services find an attorney who approaches their problems with the systematic thinking that guided his military career. Every case begins with a thorough situation assessment, resource identification, and strategy development designed to achieve your objectives while minimizing risk.

Client Communication

Watson keeps clients informed and involved throughout the process, understanding that business leaders and executives need to make informed decisions about their futures. He provides honest assessments of both opportunities and challenges, ensuring you understand your options and the likely consequences of different approaches.

National and International Scope

Watson has established a practice that attracts clients nationwide through results achieved in federal courts and administrative proceedings. His previous work before the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has established judicial practice tips that benefit the firm’s clients and the entire federal contracting community.

The firm’s reputation extends internationally, with Watson representing clients in contingency contracting matters across Afghanistan, Dubai, and other locations where specialized expertise in war zone procurement is essential. This international practice reflects both his military background and his understanding of how federal contracting operates in the most complex, high-risk environments.

Education

Legal Education

Watson earned his Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from Michigan State College of Law (2001), demonstrating academic excellence in legal studies. His undergraduate education includes a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College (1996), providing foundational knowledge in law enforcement and criminal justice systems.

Watson also holds multiple degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, including an AAS in Training and Education Management (1998) and an AAS in Engineering Management (1997), demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Theodore started out at a young age in the “English” education system by attending the prestigious “Combermere” secondary school in Barbados, West Indies.

Professional Certifications

His Government Contracts Level II Certification (2002) reflects specialized expertise in federal procurement law and regulations. 

Academic Contributions

Beyond his practice, Watson serves as an adjunct professor, teaching business law, criminal law, and constitutional law. This academic involvement keeps him current with legal developments while allowing him to share practical insights gained through decades of federal practice.

Chambers of commerce across the nation regularly invite Watson to address federal procurement issues and legislative impacts affecting defense contractors, reflecting the respect he has earned within the business community and his reputation as someone who understands both the legal and practical aspects of federal contracting.

Bar Admissions

Federal Courts

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

U.S. District Court Colorado

Administrative Boards

Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA)

Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA)

SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals (SBA OHA)

State Courts

Colorado State Bar

Colorado Supreme Court

Colorado Federal District Court

Contact Information:
Watson & Associates, LLC
Denver: 720.941.7200 | Washington D.C.: 202.827.9750
Toll Free: 1-866-601-5518
Email: 

See Avvo Ratings

See Other Customer Comments

In addition to practicing government contract law throughout the United States, Theodore also serves as a U.S. government contractor lawyer for clients in St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Barbados, the West Indies, Dubai, UAE, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,

When Federal Power Threatens Your Future

Theodore Watson represents clients when federal actions threaten not only their businesses but also their personal freedom and family security. In these moments, you need more than legal expertise—you need leadership, strategic thinking, and the confidence that comes from working with someone who has faced high-stakes situations throughout his career and understands exactly what victory requires.

When you face federal investigation or enforcement action, you need an attorney who combines legal expertise with leadership experience, insider government knowledge with aggressive advocacy, and strategic thinking with unwavering commitment to your defense. Contact Theodore Here.