Former Department of Defense Special Counsel Joins Mayer Brown
By Lawdragon News | November 28, 2016 | Press Releases
Washington DC, 28 November 2016 – Mayer Brown announced today that David A. Simon has joined the firm’s Washington DC office as a partner in the global Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice. Mr. Simon will also contribute to the National Security and Government Contracts practices. He joins from Sidley Austin LLP.
“David is known for handling cutting-edge cybersecurity and national security matters throughout his time at the Department of Defense (DoD), as well as in the private sector, and is a terrific addition to our expanding global team,” said Raj De, leader of the firm’s global Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice and co-leader of the firm’s National Security practice.
Mr. Simon focuses his practice on complex and sensitive cybersecurity, defense, intelligence, and national security matters, with deep experience advising victims of state-sponsored cyber activity. He helps companies structure, negotiate, and protect their commercial and compliance relationships with key national security government agencies. Mr. Simon also counsels US and foreign clients regarding economic sanctions, asset controls, and transactions reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
From 2011-2015 Mr. Simon served as special counsel to the DoD general counsel. In this role he advised on matters involving cybersecurity policy, plans and operations, as well as social media, economic sanctions involving Ukraine and the Middle East, autonomous technologies, the use of force, counterterrorism, treaties and sensitive investigations. Mr. Simon is widely recognized for his experience regarding cybersecurity law and policy. Recently, he served as an independent legal expert to the United Nations in support of its Group of Governmental Experts on cybersecurity. Additionally, he is a member of the Center for Strategic International Studies Cyber Policy Task Force.
“I am excited to join Mayer Brown’s exceptional team of cybersecurity and national security lawyers, led by former National Security Agency (NSA) General Counsel Raj De,” said Mr. Simon. “I believe that Mayer Brown’s impressive global platform, full spectrum cybersecurity, national security and government contracts practices, as well as its expertise on the underlying technology, complement my existing practice. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to help clients navigate the global legal and policy implications of evolving cyber threats.”
A Rhodes Scholar and Truman Scholar, Mr. Simon earned his JD from Harvard Law School. Before attending law school, he received an MPhil in International Relations from Trinity College, Oxford and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Minnesota.
“Cybersecurity is one of the leading areas of concern to our clients and David further deepens our cross-office and cross-practice capabilities,” said Daniel Masur, partner-in-charge of Mayer Brown’s Washington DC office. “David’s addition also builds on the steady growth of our office in the nation’s capital, which has added more than two dozen high-ranking government officials and notable lateral partners in the past two years.”
Mr. Simon’s arrival continues the expansion of Mayer Brown’s full spectrum global Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice, which consists of more than 50 lawyers from the firm’s worldwide offices. In 2015 Mr. De returned to the firm after appointments in the White House, Department of Justice and as general counsel for the NSA. Additional recent laterals include Kendall Burman from the US Department of Commerce and Joshua Silverstein from the US Department of Justice.
