Homeland Security

Holland & Knight's Homeland Security Team counsels clients in an array of regulatory, enforcement and procurement issues arising in the homeland security arena. Our attorneys leverage their significant experience and strong working relationships with leaders and professionals throughout the Executive Branch and Congress to help you effectively and efficiently achieve your business objectives.

Protecting Those Who Protect Us

Holland & Knight attorneys regularly represent clients before agencies with homeland security responsibilities, particularly the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Energy, Agriculture, Treasury and Defense. Our clients are engaged in a variety of industries, including information technology, transportation, defense and security, food service, mining and corrections, and either conduct business with the federal government or are subject to homeland security laws enforced by the federal government. In addition, our experience enables us to effectively advocate on behalf of clients before the Department of Homeland Security headquarters and its component agencies, including:

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• FEMA
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Secret Service
• Office of Intelligence and Analysis
• Science and Technology Directorate
• SAFETY Act Office
• Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
• Office of Health Affairs
• Transportation Security Administration
• Office of Cybersecurity and Communications
• Office Infrastructure Protection

Our Experience Works for You

Our team’s extensive knowledge of federal and state programs designed to counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats enables us to proactively advise you about opportunities to collaborate with government and develop public-private partnerships. Working in concert with our Government Contracts Group, we can also assist you with government procurement opportunities, grants and other government-funded projects. We have vast experience with the legal issues arising from federal and state homeland security initiatives, including:

• border security
• data privacy
• transportation and cargo security
• emergency preparedness and incident response
• bio-defense
• public health
• chemical security
• immigration
• export control
• customs enforcement
• food and agriculture security
• critical infrastructure and key resources protection

Homeland Security Representative Matters

Members of our firm's Homeland Security Team have represented clients in a wide variety of regulatory, enforcement and public policy matters, including:

Government Contracts and Enforcement Defense

• representing an information technology company in a government contracting dispute
• representing an international mining corporation in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement action
• representing a client in an immigration removal proceeding brought by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• representing a shipping company in a Transportation Security Administration enforcement action
• representing a correctional facility management corporation in litigation asserting constitutional claims arising out of a government contract
• representing a client in a Department of Justice and Food and Drug Administration investigation regarding food safety
• representing a defense contractor in an export control investigation involving the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State and Commerce
• representing a logistics services company in a Department of Homeland Security contracting matter
• counseling an information technology company on issues regarding a U.S. Coast Guard contract
• conducting a corporate internal investigation on behalf of a major food service company
• representing a company in negotiations and settlement of contract claims for a substantial TSA contract
• representing a contractor in defense of a coordinated Office of Inspector General and Department of Justice civil investigation
• representing a client in a U.S. Department of Justice fraud investigation
• defending air carriers and other transportation providers in major Transportation Security Administration enforcement cases

Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs

• counseling a leading systems integrator on contracting opportunities with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies with homeland security responsibilities
• providing strategic counseling to a private equity firm on investment opportunities in the homeland security sector
• representing a municipality in a FEMA regulatory matter
• advising a manufacturing company on Department of Homeland Security chemical security regulations
• representing an energy executive in an immigration matter before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Department of State
• counseling a biotechnology firm on issues relating to Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services public health initiatives
• advising an investment bank on legal and regulatory hurdles associated with foreign investment opportunities and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
• representing major airports on the deployment of threat detection equipment and screening protocols
• representing equipment manufacturers on federal appropriations matters before Congress
• conducting a review for a screening technology provider of procurement trends and obstacles at U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• briefing foreign air carriers (and their home governments) on changes to homeland security regulations
• handling disputes related to inspection fees and charges