Greenberg Traurig expands Washington national security practice with three senior hires from government and private sector

New hires form a larger national-security push in Washington

Greenberg Traurig has added three senior national security professionals to its Washington, D.C., office, positioning the firm to advise corporate and institutional clients facing expanding U.S. scrutiny over cyber incidents, sanctions, export controls, investment screening, and sensitive supply-chain and technology matters.

The additions are E. Patrick Gilman, Neal Higgins, and Joshua W. Johnson. The firm said the hires strengthen its ability to handle national security-related investigations, compliance design, crisis response, and regulatory engagement, particularly where matters require coordination across multiple federal agencies and congressional oversight.

Who joined and what they will cover

• E. Patrick Gilman joined as chair of the firm’s National Security Group. His practice centers on national security and white-collar matters, including internal investigations and compliance programs involving sanctions, anti-money-laundering controls, export controls, and foreign-investment reviews. His background includes service as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army and national security work spanning cross-border investigations and sensitive federal-agency engagement.

• Neal Higgins joined as a shareholder after senior roles in the intelligence community and on Capitol Hill. His work focuses on advising clients on national security, cybersecurity, and digital innovation issues, including navigating executive-branch processes and congressional interactions, and managing sensitive information and foreign ownership-related concerns. His government experience included a leadership role in standing up the White House Office of the National Cyber Director and prior service in the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service.

• Joshua W. Johnson joined as of counsel, bringing experience spanning national security, cybersecurity, data privacy, and artificial intelligence governance. His prior roles included senior counsel work connected to U.S. Cyber Command and legal advising tied to cyber operations, incident response, and public-private collaboration. His practice is oriented toward regulatory and enforcement risk, including responses to cyber events and oversight inquiries with potential national-security implications.

Why these skill sets are in demand

The hires arrive as businesses face a convergence of legal risk across domains that were once treated separately: cybersecurity incidents can trigger national security reporting and regulatory action; trade controls can reshape technology strategy; and foreign investment reviews can affect deal timelines and governance structures.

In Washington, the center of gravity for these issues often involves simultaneous engagement with multiple entities—ranging from national security and law-enforcement components to regulators overseeing trade, telecom, technology, and defense-related contracting. Law firms have increasingly built integrated teams that combine government-facing experience with investigative and compliance capabilities.

Broader firm growth context in Washington

The moves also fit within a broader pattern of continued expansion by Greenberg Traurig in the Washington market, including additions in other regulatory practices in recent years. The firm describes its platform as spanning international trade controls, cybersecurity and data matters, government contracts, and investigations—areas that frequently intersect in high-stakes matters involving sensitive technologies and cross-border operations.

In national security work, legal strategy often turns on speed, classification-handling discipline, and the ability to navigate parallel processes across agencies and Congress.

The firm said the team will advise clients ranging from large multinational companies to emerging technology firms and investors, including on national security reviews, investigations, and compliance programs designed to reduce exposure to enforcement and operational disruption.