About us

The Law Offices of Courtney M. Billups is based in the nation's capital of Washington, D.C. Since 1995, the firm has provided corporate counsel, commercial litigation and consulting services to small businesses and non-profit organizations that perform in a wide variety of industries and do business in both the public and the private sectors. Our firm also provides technical assistance and consulting services to federal government agencies, state and local governments, public entities and quasi-public entities across the country in the areas of program development, public policy initiatives, procurement, investigations, compliance reviews and assessments regarding federal, state and local laws and regulations. 

Our firm also assists in the development of proposals, requests for proposals, grant applications and assists in the acquisition of funding opportunities as well as conventional financing for our clients. Our firm continuously monitors public and private sector opportunities for small businesses throughout the country and tracks public policy that may have an impact on small businesses at the federal, state and local levels. 

We remain committed to small business development and utilization, sound public policy and emerging technology. We are vested in the success of our clients and believe that the relationships we have built over three decades, will continue to foster and enhance the legacy of public and private partnerships in creating and sustaining small business enterprises throughout the nation.

Our Team

Courtney M. Billups

Managing Principal

Corporate Counsel Commercial Litigation
Public Procurement
Small Business Consulting Legislative Affairs

Enrico A. McCleary, II

Counsel

Litigation

    J. Cobbie De Graft

      COUNSEL

      Federal Claims                             Administrative Law                    Construction Law
      Public Procurement                   Legislative Affairs

Courtney M. Billups, Esquire

Courtney Billups is the founder and managing principal of the Law Offices of Courtney M. Billups. Attorney Billups serves as corporate counsel to small businesses, trade associations, business organizations and non-profits performing commercial litigation, drafting and reviewing contracts and business transactional documents, government relations, corporate formations, corporate record-keeping, mergers and acquisitions, business development initiatives and commercial negotiations. Attorney Billups has distinguished himself in complex commercial transactions, high-level negotiations and as a commercial litigator.

Mr. Billups also serves as a consultant to federal, state and local public entities and quasi-public entities, trade associations and business organizations across the country in the areas of economic development, public procurement, small business utilization and clean energy/sustainability initiatives. Mr. Billups has worked in numerous state and local jurisdictions across the country assisting in the development of factual predicate studies, providing analysis, performing compliance reviews and developing the legislation needed to support state and local small, local and disadvantaged business enterprise programs. Mr. Billups has also worked to develop clean energy loan programs for the State of Maryland and Maryland counties and cities in order to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

Mr. Billups is a 1990 graduate of Morehouse College where he was a three-time, all-conference, student-athlete and graduated with honors receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.  He received his law degree in 1993 from the George Washington University Law School where he also served as President of the Black Law Students Association. Upon his graduation from law school, Mr. Billups began working for former Maryland Congressman and Chairman of the Small Business Committee, Parren J. Mitchell, where he worked closely with Congress, federal agencies, state and local governments, business organizations and trade associations advocating for and supporting small business utilization and development. In 1995, Attorney Billups was named "America's Best and Brightest" by Black Professional Magazine.

In November of 2006, Mr. Billups was elected County Commissioner for Queen Anne's County, Maryland, becoming the first African-American elected official in the three-hundred year history of the County, where he served as Vice President of the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Billups also chaired the Economic Development Committee of the Upper Shore Regional Council from 2006 to 2010 and served as the organization's Treasurer. In 2007, Mr. Billups was recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education as a Community Excellence Award winner for his work with young people, the community and public education.

Mr. Billups has served as the Director of the Office of Minority Business for the Maryland Department of Health and Chief of the Minority and Women's Business Opportunity Office for the City of Baltimore. Mr. Billups has also served as Chairman of the Board of the Housing Authority of Queen Anne's County, Maryland.  Attorney Billups has been a featured speaker for several government agencies, the National Bar Association, the George Washington University Law School, the Howard University School of Law, the Georgia State University School of Law, the National Association of Minority Contractors, the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association as well as for several other trade associations and business organizations.

Enrico A. McCleary II, Esquire

Attorney McCleary is a graduate of Coppin State University where he was a standout student-athelete helping lead the basketball team to an NCAA Tournament berth. Attorney McCleary is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University Dickenson School of Law. Attorney McCleary is a skilled litigator and supports the firm's commercial litigation practice. 

J. Cobbie De Graft, Esquire

Attorney De Graft began his legal career on Capitol Hill as General Counsel for the National Association of Minority Contractors. Attorney De Graft specializes in the fields of government contracts, construction law, administrative law and information technology law. 

Attorney De Graft  practices before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the General Accounting Office and the Federal Board of Contract Appeals. 

Attorney De Graft received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

State and Local Jurisdictions, Public and Quasi-Public Entities Where We Have Performed:
Public Procurement/Small Business Utilization
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority                                              Atlanta Public Schools
Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission                         Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
Clark County, Nevada (City of Las Vegas and 13 other public entities)         City of San Diego, California Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles                                    City of Phoenix, Arizona
New Mexico State Highway & Transportation Department                            City of Tucson, Arizona
Fort Worth Transportation Authority                                                                   City of Fort Worth, Texas 
Jackson Municipal Airport Authority                                                                   City of Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson Public School District                                                                            City of Albuquerque, New Mexico 
Hennipen and Ramsey County, Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul)              City of Plainfield, New Jersey

Clean Energy Initiatives
Montgomery County, Maryland
City of Annapolis, Maryland
City of Frederick, Maryland
Frederick County, Maryland