Profilo
Neal Higgins represents clients before executive branch agencies and Congress on matters involving national security, cybersecurity, and digital innovation. He also advises clients on managing crises, developing compliance programs, handling sensitive and classified information, and navigating concerns around foreign ownership and control.
Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig Neal served in leadership roles in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the United States Senate, advising the nation’s most senior leaders on legal and political strategy, policy development, and crisis management.
Neal spent over a decade as a member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service, concluding with a two-year detail to the White House to stand up the Office of the National Cyber Director. As the first Deputy National Cyber Director for National Cybersecurity, he built a team to lead the integrated federal response to significant cyber incidents and to advance federal cybersecurity policies and programs. He also served on the Deputies Committee for matters involving cyber operations and cybersecurity.
Neal joined the CIA as Director of Congressional Affairs, advising two CIA Directors and leading all agency engagements with oversight and appropriations committees. He then served as Deputy Chief of the WikiLeaks Task Force, responding to one of the largest data breaches in agency history, and as Associate Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation, responsible for cyber operations, data management, global information systems, open source collection, and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. Neal received the CIA Director’s Award twice, from Director Brennan and Director Pompeo, and was awarded a Presidential Rank Award by President Trump.
Prior to joining the CIA, Neal spent eight years in senior staff positions on Capitol Hill. As Chief Counsel to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, he led oversight and investigations initiatives on behalf of the Senate Democratic leadership. As Legislative Director for Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, he led a 20-person staff supporting the senator’s work as a senior member of the Armed Services, Commerce, Finance, Foreign Relations, and Intelligence Committees. As a professional staff member with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, he led the committee’s oversight of the FBI and of intelligence operations in the Gulf region.
Earlier in his career Neal served as an assistant editor at Foreign Affairs, a member of the trial team prosecuting Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes, and an attorney at a leading Wall Street law firm. He maintains an active TS/SCI security clearance.
With his combination of legislative, executive branch, and cybersecurity experience, Neal advises clients on
- congressional, regulatory, and executive branch scrutiny of corporate efforts involving national security, cybersecurity, and data security;
- crisis management, particularly involving sensitive and politically charged matters;
- developing compliance programs to address national security concerns relating to data security, foreign and overseas investment, and the export of sensitive technologies;
- evolving policy and regulation relating to the development and application of AI and other advanced technologies; and
- interaction with the United States Intelligence Community and other elements of the national security community regarding classified and sensitive matters, including insider threats.
Concentrations
- National Security
- Crisis Management
- Cybersecurity
- Data Security
- Digital Innovation
- Congressional & Regulatory Advocacy
- Government & Intelligence Agencies
- Compliance Programs
- Policy Development
- International Law
Competenze
Esperienze Professionali - Attività Accademiche
- Represented a global digital infrastructure provider as it responded to congressional and Intelligence Community inquiries.°
- Counseled a leading digital services provider as it navigated DCSA concerns regarding foreign ownership and control. °
- Advised a Fortune 20 company on international regulatory response following a cybersecurity incident.°
- Advised an international aviation sector company on U.S. sanctions and export control compliance.°
- Counseled a major international hospitality company on novel cybersecurity and data privacy matters.°
- Advised Fortune 500 companies on market entry issues in the Gulf region, including compliance with data sovereignty and national security requirements.°
- Assisted a leading automotive supplier with designing and implementing measures to comply with Department of Commerce ICTS supply chain requirements.°
- Counseled clients in a range of industries on compliance with the Department of Justice Bulk Data Rule and Data Security Program.°
- Led an internal investigation for a major international nuclear company.°
- Served as a trusted counselor and adviser to United States Senators, CIA Directors, and senior White House officials.°
- Participated in the development and passage of both authorization and appropriations bills, including several Intelligence Authorization Acts and the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, which set the stage for today’s spaceflight activities.°
- Prepared senior officials for numerous congressional staff interviews, Member meetings, classified briefings, nomination proceedings, and public hearings.°
- Briefed Members of Congress and their staff on countless occasions, including testifying in public hearings before two House investigative committees.°
- Led and responded to congressional investigations into high-profile matters, including Iraq war contracting abuses, CIA’s detention program, the Benghazi attack, Secretary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server, and Russian election interference.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Higgins prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Deputy National Cyber Director for National Cybersecurity, Office of the National Cyber Director, The White House, 2021-2023
- Associate Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation, Central Intelligence Agency, 2017-2021
- Deputy Chief, WikiLeaks Task Force, Central Intelligence Agency, 2017
- Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, 2013-2017
- Professional Staff Member, U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 2011-2013
- Legislative Director, Office of Senator Bill Nelson, 2007-2011
- Chief Counsel, U.S. Senate Democratic Policy Committee, 2005-2007
- Junior Trial Attorney, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, 2001-2002
- Assistant Editor, Foreign Affairs Magazine, 1996-1997
- Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) Security Clearance
Riconoscimenti e Premi
- Recipient, “Presidential Rank Award,” 2017
- Recipient, CIA, “Director’s Award” (under former CIA Director John Brennan), 2017
- Recipient, CIA, “Director’s Award” (under former CIA Director Mike Pompeo), 2017
- Recipient, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, “Intelligence Community Legislative Liaison Officer of the Year,” 2017
- Chair, Advisory Council, Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations, 2018-Present
Formazione
- Laurea magistrale in Giurisprudenza, cum laude, Harvard Law School
- M.A., The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
- A.B., magna cum laude, Princeton University
- District of Columbia
- New York