Dentons, the world's leading global law firm, today announced the launch of its Intelligence & Strategic Services practice. Karl V. Hopkins, partner and chief global security officer, chairs the practice, which includes a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers paired with intelligence and security professionals from around the world.
Companies today face multidimensional and evermore sophisticated security threats from external and internal forces, both intentionally and unintentionally, that require the same protections that three-letter agencies offer governments. The Dentons Intelligence & Strategic Service team provides executive advisory services that combine market intelligence, analytics and organizational resiliency counseling as an extension of the legal relationship.
"Our clients have long trusted Karl and this exceptionally talented group of colleagues for guidance on preventing and responding to business risks and security incidences," said Mike McNamara, US CEO of Dentons. "Formalizing our Intelligence & Strategic Services team brings together a leadership group that has experience navigating nearly every imaginable situation for our clients."
The Intelligence & Strategic Services practice offers a comprehensive security assessment and remediation exercise that analyses internal and external threats, potential vulnerabilities in a company's policies and processes, insurance coverage, regulatory regimes, cybersecurity readiness, and corporate governance best practices. Identifying insider threats and improving client processes in this area is a critical element of the review.
The threats to companies operating internationally today are akin to those faced by sovereign nations with serious adversaries, ranging from state-sponsored actors to rogue hackers, from negligent insiders to those seeking to perpetrate financial fraud, from geopolitical risks to global trade wars. "Yet one of the greatest risks to any organization," says Hopkins, "is failing to understand the threat environment in which it operates. Delivering clients a real-time understanding of their risks, together with the operational know-how to react swiftly, gives our elite team an advantage over others who are just lawyers or risk advisors."
In addition, the Intelligence & Strategic Services team assists clients in improving their incident response planning and situational awareness, supplementing their existing crisis management capabilities. The team includes seasoned law enforcement veterans from around the world to enable clients to liaise with government authorities and, if necessary, seek prosecution. Dentons Intelligence & Strategic Services group takes this counsel one step further than typical law firms by providing guidance on a wide range of vetted technology providers, with whom clients can partner to pair cutting edge technology implementations with improved policies and procedures.
"We've always provided these types of services, and through formalizing the creation of this group, we achieve a new level of client support," said Hopkins. "The more a business grows, whether it's geographically, in terms of workforce, outsourcing or even technology, the more potential vulnerabilities are created. Formalizing our global international capabilities has led to more efficient mobilization when our clients need us most and, more importantly, providing them with holistic protection to secure their people and assets worldwide."
Members of the Intelligence & Strategic Services team have represented clients on matters touching more than 50 countries. These matters have been undertaken on behalf of international financial institutions; high-net-worth individuals; oil companies, host country oil and gas producers, petroleum refiners, pipeline companies, oilfield service companies, security providers and investors; airlines and shipping companies; engineering, design and constructions companies and equipment manufacturers; and governments and state-owned entities.
About Dentons
Dentons is the world's largest law firm, delivering quality and value to clients around the globe. Dentons is a leader on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index, a BTI Client Service 30 Award winner and recognized by prominent business and legal publications for its innovations in client service, including founding Nextlaw Labs and the Nextlaw Global Referral Network. Dentons' polycentric approach and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client interests in the communities in which we live and work. www.dentons.com
