Former DOJ Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jason Weinstein Joins Steptoe

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce that Jason Weinstein, former deputy assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division and a former federal prosecutor, has joined the firm as a partner.  He will be a member of both the firm's White-Collar Criminal Defense practice, which includes acclaimed trial attorney Reid Weingarten, and the firm's Privacy & Data Security practice, which includes Stewart Baker, a former assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security and a leading voice on cybersecurity.  Mr. Weinstein will be based in Steptoe's Washington office.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130506/PH07548 ) 

During his tenure in the DOJ's Criminal Division, Mr. Weinstein supervised the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Organized Crime and Gang Section, and the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.  In these positions, he oversaw the most significant cybercrime, data breach, and transnational organized crime investigations in the country.  Mr. Weinstein also regularly briefed Obama Administration officials and members of Congress on enforcement efforts and legislative and policy matters relating to cybercrime and intellectual property protection, and was heavily involved in the drafting of cybersecurity and data privacy legislation.  Mr. Weinstein worked extensively on compliance issues relating to United States law, helped oversee U.S. engagement with European Union authorities over the EU's data protection requirements, and worked to resolve issues faced by U.S. companies subject to restrictions on cross-border transfers of data.  Mr. Weinstein also testified six times before Senate and House committees on cybercrime, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, and intellectual property enforcement, and represented the Criminal Division on the Attorney General's Intellectual Property Task Force.

Prior to joining the Criminal Division, Mr. Weinstein served for seven years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, rising to chief of the Violent Crime Section.  Described in media accounts as a "relentless, innovative prosecutor" who prosecuted some of the office's most high-profile cases of the past decade, Mr. Weinstein investigated and litigated all aspects of criminal cases involving financial fraud, racketeering, national security, narcotics, money laundering, violent crime, and public corruption.  He developed and led Baltimore's EXILE program, a multi-agency strategy that has dramatically reduced violent crime in that city.  Mr. Weinstein's work to reduce violent crime in Baltimore has drawn praise from numerous public officials, including Congressman Elijah Cummings, who called Mr. Weinstein's work on violent crime "legendary."

Mr. Weinstein also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted numerous criminal cases involving financial fraud, cybercrime, racketeering, narcotics, violent crime, and immigration offenses.

"As a longtime federal prosecutor, Jason brings extensive experience leading investigations and trying complex cases.  He can provide clients with first-hand knowledge of the federal investigative process as well as special insight into the decision-making processes at the DOJ," said Steptoe Chair Roger E. Warin.  "With his experience leading cybercrime and data breach investigations, he is well-situated to help companies respond effectively to cyber incidents and any resulting enforcement proceedings.  In addition, as one of the administration's leading voices on cyber and intellectual property issues, Jason can help companies devise effective strategies for navigating the current legislative environment."

Brian Heberlig, head of Steptoe's White-Collar Criminal Defense practice, added:  "Having been on the front line for a number of years in the U.S. Attorney's Offices for Maryland and the Southern District of New York, Jason brings significant first-chair trial experience.  He also brings considerable managerial experience from his position in the Criminal Division that will be beneficial in conducting internal investigations on behalf of clients."

Steptoe's White-Collar Criminal Defense practice, named a "White Collar Group of the Year" in 2011 and 2012 by Law360, represents individuals and corporations in some of the most noteworthy cases in the country involving allegations of accounting and securities fraud, corporate misconduct, public corruption, money laundering, price fixing, government contracting fraud, healthcare fraud, environmental crimes and export control violations.  With Mr. Weinstein's arrival, the Steptoe white-collar litigation team includes eight former federal prosecutors with extensive trial experience and a host of lawyers with substantial experience in other government positions.

"Steptoe has one of the premier white-collar practices in the country as well as one of the best privacy and data security groups.  I am honored to be joining both of these outstanding teams, and in particular to be able to work with Reid Weingarten and Stewart Baker, who are both legends in their fields," said Mr. Weinstein.  "I am also looking forward to utilizing the experiences I gained in the Criminal Division and as a federal prosecutor to represent the firm's clients in internal investigations and litigation, and to advise companies on the increasingly difficult regulatory, compliance, and litigation environment relating to their network security and data privacy practices."

Mr. Weinstein has received numerous awards and honors including the Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods Award for building the nation's outstanding violent crime partnership, the District of Maryland Award for Prosecution of Public Corruption, and the Director's Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney for his work in the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Weinstein earned his law degree, with honors, from The George Washington University, where he served as the managing editor of The George Washington Law Review, and his A.B. from Princeton University.

The arrival of Mr. Weinstein continues the expansion of Steptoe's White-Collar Criminal Defense practice.  Last year, the firm welcomed Chris Niewoehner, an assistant U.S. attorney and former deputy chief in the Financial Crimes and Special Prosecution Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.  Mr. Niewoehner resides in the firm's Chicago office.  Also in 2012, Michelle Levin was elected to the partnership.  Ms. Levin, who is based in the firm's New York office, has worked on several high profile matters with Mr. Weingarten, including a recent insider trading jury trial in the Southern District of New York.

About Steptoe
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, successful representation of clients before governmental agencies, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions.  The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix and Washington.  For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.

SOURCE Steptoe & Johnson LLP