Overview
(October 31, 2016, Washington, DC) — Steptoe partner Jason Weinstein has been named to The National Law Journal’s list of Trailblazers in Cybersecurity & Data Protection. The list was featured in a supplement in the October 31 issue of the legal publication.
At Steptoe, Mr. Weinstein works with clients from many different industries on managing cybersecurity risks and responding to cyberattacks. A former deputy assistant attorney general of the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division, Mr. Weinstein led the DOJ’s cybercrime enforcement and data breach response efforts. He also regularly briefed government officials and members of Congress on cybercrime and intellectual property issues and testified on a number of occasions before Senate and House committees on cybercrime, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, and intellectual property enforcement. Mr. Weinstein helped lead efforts at the DOJ to draft cybersecurity and data privacy legislation. Additionally, he worked extensively on compliance issues for US companies with the EU’s data protection requirements.
Since joining Steptoe’s Cybersecurity, Privacy and National Security team in 2013, Mr. Weinstein has become a key part of the group. He was instrumental in creating and launching the group’s Data Breach Toolkit, a soup-to-nuts resource that provides companies with critical information and guidance to protect themselves both before and after a data breach. His work includes pre-breach privacy and security assessments, to leading tabletop exercises and breach simulations, to coordinating crisis management and incident response, to advising on breach notification, to defending companies in litigation and regulatory proceedings.
Mr. Weinstein has also become nationally recognized for his command of the complex legal issues surrounding bitcoin and blockchain, which is critical for companies to understand in dealing with their cybersecurity risks. In 2015, Mr. Weinstein was invited to speak at the first-ever “Blockchain Summit” hosted by Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island.
Mr. Weinstein tells The National Law Journal that blockchain will be the second coming of the internet. “Any industry that uses data – which is every industry – should be thinking of how the blockchain can impact their industry. When it happens, you want to ride the wave and not be overtaken by it.”
In October 2015, Mr. Weinstein spearheaded the launch of the Blockchain Alliance, a public-private forum formed by the Bitcoin community to help combat criminal activity involving bitcoin and the blockchain. Founded by the Chamber of Digital Commerce and Coin Center, the Blockchain Alliance is comprised of a broad coalition of companies and law enforcement agencies that joined together to address public safety concerns about digital currencies and the blockchain, and to promote the growth of the industry at the same time. Steptoe serves as counsel to the alliance and Mr. Weinstein serves as its director.
Since it began work in late 2015, the alliance has grown from a membership of 15 companies/industry representatives, six law enforcement agencies, and all US federal agencies to more than 25 companies/industry representatives and 25 law enforcement and regulatory entities around the world, including Europol and Interpol. Among other activities, Mr. Weinstein and the alliance have conducted educational programs for more than 400 law enforcement officers and regulators from more than 15 countries.
Mr. Weinstein is on the advisory boards of Coin Center and the Chamber of Digital Commerce – one of only two people to serve on the advisory boards of both organizations. He also serves on the advisory board of BitFury.
In 2015, Mr. Weinstein was recognized in the Legal 500 US in the cyber crime category. He was also named to Washingtonian magazine’s list of “Best Lawyers” in cybersecurity.
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, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, Phoenix and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
