Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

The FBI Director’s Senior Cybersecurity Adviser Paul M. Tiao has joined Hunton & Williams LLP as a partner in the Privacy and Data Security practice group. Tiao served as Senior Counselor to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III on cybersecurity, electronic surveillance, intellectual property crimes, digital forensics, and other national security and criminal issues. He formulated cybersecurity policy positions, drafted legislative language, coordinated strategy on these issues; and represented the FBI in discussions within the Executive Branch, with Congress, and with industry leaders. Tiao will be based in the firm’s Washington office.

“With more than four years of experience as a close adviser to FBI Director Mueller, Paul brings the deep cybersecurity experience that will significantly benefit our clients,” said Lisa J. Sotto, head of the global Privacy and Data Security practice and New York office Managing Partner. “The need for cybersecurity solutions is greater than ever. Paul will help our clients address threats to their systems, personal data, trade secrets and other proprietary information. We welcome him to the team.”

Tiao previously served on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee as Counsel to Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard J. Durbin, and as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Maryland. An undergraduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he received a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University, with honors, and a law degree from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

“Cybercrime is a critical global problem,” said Tiao. “Hunton & Williams was among the first firms to recognize this issue and founded the practice more than 13 years ago. I think it has built the single best team of privacy and data security professionals that reaches across the United States, Europe and Asia.”