Top Lawyer for Intelligence Community Jason Klitenic Returns to Holland & Knight to Launch National Security, Defense and Intelligence Team
WASHINGTON (March 10, 2020) – Holland & Knight announced today that Jason Klitenic, most recently general counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), has rejoined the firm to launch its new National Security, Defense and Intelligence Team. The team will bring together several practices from across the firm that support clients with national security-related legal needs into a single coordinated and focused effort.
"Our National Security, Defense and Intelligence team will work in tandem with other experienced attorneys at the firm in a wide range of areas to focus on the matters that are most important to our clients, from government contracts and international procurement to FOCI concerns and security strategies," said Rich Gold, the leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group. "Jason's recent senior-level experience inside the intelligence community and many contacts within the relevant agencies will be a great asset as we continue to expand our capabilities in this area."
The National Security, Defense and Intelligence team will work with DOD and Congress to secure funding for a wide range of projects through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the appropriations defense subcommittees in both the House and the Senate. It also will provide experienced counsel on a breadth of statutes, regulations and policies administered by different government agencies, including export control regulations involving International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In addition, the team will advise on foreign policy sanctions and asset controls; foreign investment and foreign influence regulations, including the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) and Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI); classified information rules; and numerous other national security laws, as well as cybersecurity.
In addition to Mr. Klitenic, the team includes former senior officials of both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and two former members of Congress who have firsthand experience with the NDAA and appropriations process.
"No one understands the legal and policy framework in which national security issues arise and the government processes in which sensitive decisions are made better than Holland & Knight's lawyers and policy professionals," said Mr. Klitenic. "While I am proud of my government service, I am thrilled to be back at the firm and look forward to helping it launch this new group."
In his role as ODNI general counsel, a presidentially appointed Senate-confirmed post, Mr. Klitenic was responsible for overseeing the legal issues within the cabinet-level agency, as well as coordinating issues arising throughout the intelligence community and its 17 member agencies. Earlier in his career, he held senior government positions at DHS, where he was the agency's first deputy general counsel, and the DOJ, where he served as deputy associate attorney general.
"Our corporate attorneys regularly advise companies whose businesses support the federal government's defense and security efforts with respect to mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, securities offerings, corporate governance and other business matters, said José Sirven, the leader of Holland & Knight's Business Section. "Our new National Security, Defense and Intelligence team will help us provide more comprehensive service to these clients."
"Our litigators help companies navigate a wide range of national security-related issues, everything from FCPA compliance and False Claims Act defense to cybersecurity risk assessments and security clearance matters," added Christopher G. Kelly, head of Holland & Knight's Litigation Section. "Our clients will benefit greatly from the holistic approach the new team brings to addressing their most critical legal needs in this area."