About Mr. Sgarlat

Mr. Sgarlat has successfully defended federal employees faced with disciplinary and adverse actions, and ensures they understand their rights throughout the entire process. He diligently works with clients to advocate their factual and legal defenses to allegations of wrongdoing. Mr. Sgarlat also assists clients contest government personnel actions through administrative grievances and before administrative tribunals, like the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.

Mr. Sgarlat counsels federal employees, management officials, and law enforcement officers subjected to administrative investigations. He is experienced at guiding clients through investigations conducted by Offices of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, and other governmental bodies. He thoroughly prepares clients for investigative interviews, and has effectively represented many clients against allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and personnel misconduct.

Mr. Sgarlat is also an accomplished advocate for federal employees and government contractors in security clearance denial and revocation proceedings. He advises and guides clients on their rights in such proceedings, including appeals before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals.

Mr. Sgarlat also authors a regular column for the firm’s FEDagent newsletter summarizing recent federal court opinions for a non-legal audience. His case law updates report on cases relevant to federal law enforcement.

The EEOC Training Institute has certified Mr. Sgarlat to conduct investigations inside federal agencies and to prepare reports of investigation regarding allegations of discrimination, harassment/hostile work environment, and retaliation for federal agency review. With that certification, Mr. Sgarlat is qualified to draft Final Agency Decisions for EEO complaints.  

Before he joined the law firm in 2015, Mr. Sgarlat worked at an employment law firm in Virginia where he represented private and federal employees in employment matters, such as workers’ compensation claims, U.S. Merit System Protection Board appeals, and Equal Employment Opportunity matters.

While in law school, Mr. Sgarlat clerked for the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, General Counsel’s Office, and assisted the office with employment and ethical issues involving its Assistant U.S. Attorneys. Mr. Sgarlat also served as a law clerk for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, where he worked on suspension and debarment cases involving government contractors who violated environmental statutes. In addition, Mr. Sgarlat was a Research Editor on George Mason’s National Security Law Journal, and a Writing Fellow in its Legal Research, Writing & Analysis program.