Freshfields Hires Brock Dahl from US National Security Agency

Cutting-edge data and cyber expertise vital to multinationals’ growth ambitions

WASHINGTON & MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP announced today that it has hired technology, data and cyber attorney Brock Dahl as a counsel in Washington, D.C. and Silicon Valley.

Mr. Dahl brings cutting-edge technology, cyber and data expertise to the firm after spending the past six years with the National Security Agency (NSA). In his most recent position of Deputy General Counsel, Operations, he advised the NSA’s leadership on how to achieve their mission objectives within the boundaries of state, federal, and international cyber, privacy, and national security laws. In this role, he gained a deep understanding of advanced technologies and the legal challenges they raise. Alongside his colleagues, he has been at the forefront of the government’s response to many of the most significant global cyber incidents of recent years.

Mr. Dahl’s arrival is driven by increasing demand from global businesses for cutting edge technology and data expertise across the world and represents the latest stage of Freshfields’ strategy to strengthen what is already one of the world’s foremost technology, data privacy and security practices. Mr. Dahl will advise Freshfields’ clients on a range of issues, including regulatory investigations, cyber crises and transactional risks, and will help them shape their technology and data strategies and investments. Freshfields adds Dahl’s capabilities against the backdrop of increasing regulatory scrutiny of the way businesses handle personal data.

“Cross-border data-transfer issues are front of mind for Freshfields’ clients in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Brock is designed for this practice. His time at Treasury and the NSA give him a rare perspective on fixing cyber problems and achieving trans-national cooperation,” said Boris Feldman, partner and head of Freshfields’ U.S. Technology practice. “I’ve been privileged to work with Brock since he was a young lawyer, and it’s been rewarding to see him rise to the top.”

Eric Bruce, head of Freshfields’ U.S. Disputes, Litigation and Arbitration, and Global Investigations practice, added, “Our team comprises attorneys with cutting-edge privacy, investigations and litigation experience across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Brock’s arrival adds further bench strength in the United States, where the world’s largest fines for data-related misconduct originate.”

“I am excited to join the outstanding Freshfields team, which is helping global clients navigate today's most complex data crises, regulatory investigations and data-related litigation. The firm’s work liaising with diverse authorities, its comprehensive view of overlapping regulatory demands, and its extensive on-the-ground experience gives clients a material advantage,” said Mr. Dahl.

Freshfields has a track record of handling the biggest and most complex data loss incidents in the world, including some of the handful that have occurred since the advent of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Mr. Dahl joins a growing group of attorneys and advisers with government backgrounds in Freshfields’ Washington, D.C. office. In recent years, the firm has hired senior officials from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the Department of Justice’s antitrust division, reflecting the increasing importance of sophisticated government experience to its clients’ global growth ambitions.

About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global elite law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on groundbreaking and business-critical mandates. Our 2,800-plus lawyers deliver results worldwide through our own offices and alongside leading local firms. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise, and business know-how means our clients rely on us when it matters most.

Freshfields is ranked by Chambers Global in Band 1 across the six areas of antitrust, corporate/M&A, litigation, international arbitration, tax, and public international law. For more information visit Freshfields.us.

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