Wiley Rein Hosts Cybersecurity Discussion with Key Government, Industry Officials

July 18, 2013

Wiley Rein hosted a cybersecurity briefing yesterday with key leaders from the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Commerce and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).  The government briefing was followed by a private-sector panel featuring representatives of the wireless and government services industries. R. Michael Senkowski, who chairs Wiley Rein’s Telecommunications Group, delivered opening and closing remarks.

The government speakers discussed their implementation of the Cybersecurity Executive Order issued by President Obama in February, which requires federal agencies to establish standards based on best practices that companies could adopt voluntarily. It also requires more information sharing between government agencies and the private sector, which owns and operates the majority of U.S critical infrastructure.

Megan L. Brown and Anna M. Gomez, partners in Wiley Rein’s preeminent Communications Practice, moderated the government briefing. The panel featured Jeanette Manfra, deputy director of the DHS Integrated Task Force charged with implementing the Executive Order, Adam Sedgewick, senior information technology policy advisor at Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Emile Monette, senior action officer for cybersecurity policy at the GSA.

The industry panel included Roger Jordan, vice president of government relations at the Professional Services Council, John Marinho, vice president of cybersecurity and technology at CTIA – The Wireless Association, and Kirk J. Nahra, chair of Wiley Rein’s Privacy Practice. The discussion was moderated by Jennifer S. Zucker, a partner in the firm’s Government Contracts Practice.

Wiley Rein closely tracks cybersecurity law and policy and engages Congress and the Administration in advising, interpreting and applying pertinent legislation and regulations. Our cybersecurity team, which consists of former senior level Executive branch appointees and congressional staffers, is exceptionally placed to provide guidance on the latest critical information and intelligence related to cybersecurity law and policy and stands ready to work with companies to understand applicable provisions and to comply with relevant law.