Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is pleased to announce that Michael Bahar has joined the firm’s Litigation Practice Group as a partner in the Washington DC office. He will also serve as Leader of the US Cybersecurity and Privacy team. Prior to joining Eversheds Sutherland (US), Mr. Bahar served as Staff Director and General Counsel to the Minority Staff of the US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
With extensive interactions with the National Security Council, the US Department of Defense and the US Intelligence Community—including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA) and US Special Operations Command—Mr. Bahar advises clients on cybersecurity and data protection issues, international law, and national security.
“Some of the most serious legal issues confronting companies today relate to cybersecurity and national security law,” said Mark D. Wasserman, Eversheds Sutherland (US) Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland Ltd. “These issues affect the critical infrastructure supporting the US and global economies, and Michael will be of immediate value to clients as they face increasing pressure to have best practices and policies in place to protect customer and sensitive business information.”
As former Deputy Legal Advisor to the National Security Council at the White House, and as the former Minority Staff Director and General Counsel of the US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in which he served as lead drafter and negotiator for the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, the USA Freedom Act (which reformed certain key surveillance authorities) and four annual Intelligence Authorization Acts, Mr. Bahar offers clients a wealth of knowledge about data protection, information sharing, privacy, crisis management and establishing cybersecurity programs that not only accord with evolving laws and regulations, but that also find business opportunities.
“Michael’s government experience, especially his lead role in drafting the USA Freedom Act and the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, significantly strengthens our capabilities to provide counseling, audit and investigative services to our insurance, broker-dealer, energy, banking and high-tech clients in the growing areas of digital information sharing and cybersecurity preparedness,” said Stephen E. Roth, Partner and Leader of the US Financial Services Practice Group. “We are very excited to have him as our partner.”
Mr. Bahar’s in-depth knowledge and deep understanding of these topics—particularly in assessing the appropriate levels of cybersecurity investment based on litigation and regulatory risk analysis—allows Michael to effectively advise clients and has made him a sought-after speaker at industry and corporate conferences across the country.
Mr. Bahar’s previous experience includes serving nearly 10 years on Active Duty with the Navy’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, where he litigated felony court-martials, dealt with cutting-edge legal issues involving the laws of war, led the capture and investigation of the US Navy’s first set of captured pirates in generations, led a team of lawyers deployed to Afghanistan in support of a Special Operations Task Force, and completed two Pentagon tours. He has received two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals and one Navy Achievement Medal, in addition to earning his Navy Parachutist Wings.
“We are looking forward to working with Michael to further enhance our global cybersecurity capability,” said Paula Barrett, Partner and Head of Eversheds Sutherland (International)’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Law group. “Businesses across the world face a deepening challenge to respond to rising threat levels while dealing with an ever-expanding matrix of international privacy and cyber regulation, which does not respect traditional territorial boundaries. At the same time, by thinking creatively, there are also huge opportunities for clients that are working to create emerging technology and data solutions with global reach. Our global capability in privacy and cybersecurity enables us to support our clients in responding to both the challenges and the opportunities with a broader perspective.”
Eversheds Sutherland (US)’s addition of Mr. Bahar is the latest step in the firm’s expansion of its leading Cybersecurity and Privacy team, which helps clients manage the obligations and risks of gathering, maintaining, processing and transferring personal information. The team’s hands-on business experience in managing information technology risk allows them to provide practical, business-focused counsel on all aspects of information policy, security, data storage and management, regulatory compliance and other cybersecurity matters. Last month, the firm welcomed cybersecurity and insurance attorney Alexander F. L. Sand, resident in the firm’s New York office, from the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Source: us.eversheds-sutherland.com
