Morrison Foerster

David Newman chairs the Firm’s interdisciplinary Government Strategies practice. A leader and co-founder of the National Security practice, he draws upon his deep experience in private practice and as a senior U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and White House official to represent clients in high stakes matters involving national security, geopolitical risk, emerging technology, and crisis management. David also leads the Firm’s Crisis Management practice. Over two decades, David served in national security positions at the highest levels of government and the private sector.

A former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security (PDAAG) and Associate Deputy Attorney General, David has extensive experience conducting internal and government-facing cross-border investigations. He regularly advises companies on cybersecurity incidents, sanctions and export control enforcement, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews, and Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) matters.

David launched the firm’s innovative Crisis Management practice nearly a decade ago, serving as a go-to resource for clients facing legal scrutiny by government agencies around the world. He understands how regulators and prosecutors think, enabling him to provide highly strategic counsel to clients across a broad range of industries. He has frequently served as a liaison between clients and government agencies and counseled on the regulation of new and emerging technologies.

Among other distinctions, David was selected to the Washingtonian’s 2026 list of the 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy. Earlier in his career, for his work advising companies on how to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, he was named a “Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal. His commentary and thought leadership on law and technology have appeared in and been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, and Wired Magazine, among other publications.

Columbia University, A.B.

Yale University, J.D.