Overview
(April 22, 2015, Washington, DC) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce that Alan Cohn, who has served for nearly a decade in senior positions at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has joined the firm as of counsel. Mr. Cohn will be based in Steptoe’s Washington office where his practice will focus on matters involving national and homeland security, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), cybersecurity, and emerging technology issues.
At DHS, Mr. Cohn served as a senior strategy and policy executive in the Office of Policy, most recently as assistant secretary and second-in-charge of the office. In that position, and previously as a deputy assistant secretary, Mr. Cohn provided counsel and guidance, and managed strategy and policy reviews regarding a range of issues, including aviation security, port security, global supply chain security, border security, information-based screening and information sharing, and emergency management. In particular, he oversaw the department’s participation on the CFIUS, its review of telecommunications licenses issuance by the Federal Communications Commission, and related matters. He also was responsible for establishing and overseeing a cybersecurity policy office, including cybersecurity strategy and planning, policy development and coordination, and coordination of international engagement. Earlier in his tenure at DHS, Mr. Cohn served as the director of the department’s emergency preparedness and response policy.
Prior to joining DHS in 2006, Mr. Cohn spent nearly a decade in private practice, litigating cases in federal and state court and before administrative law judges. He also helped develop a national and homeland security practice following the September 11 attacks, and counseled clients and assisted with congressional and federal agency relations.
“Alan brings deep experience in CFIUS, cybersecurity, and incident management,” said Steptoe Chair Phil West. “In his leadership role at the DHS policy office, he has gained first-hand experience in navigating the CFIUS process as well as a range of cyber and emerging technology issues. His experience, coupled with his strong security credentials will be major assets to clients seeking guidance on compliance activities; transaction support and litigation or enforcement defense; and post-incident or transaction compliance monitoring and remediation.”
Mr. Cohn commented: “Steptoe’s national and homeland security practice is well-regarded, especially on matters involving national security reviews of foreign investment, cybersecurity, and emerging technology issues. I am looking forward to utilizing the experience I gained at DHS to advise clients on those matters, and others, and am also looking forward to again working with Stewart Baker, Stephen Heifetz, and Marc Frey, who were my colleagues in the Office of Policy.”
Steptoe’s National and Homeland Security Group includes former senior officials from the DHS, as well as the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The team advises clients on a broad range of compliance-related issues, including CFIUS review, cybersecurity, compliance and enforcement of export controls and economic sanctions, and aviation, maritime, and surface transportation security. It is led by Stewart Baker, who served as the first assistant secretary for policy at DHS.
Mr. Cohn received his B.A. from Columbia University and earned his law degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where he co-designed and now co-teaches a course on national security crisis law.
About Steptoe
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, successful representation of clients before governmental agencies, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, Phoenix and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
