Emerging Technologies Law and Policy

Holland & Knight's Emerging Technologies Law and Policy Team combines the expansive resources of a full-service firm with the deep knowledge and experience of the best boutiques to help clients deploy next-generation innovations.

With a commitment to innovation, our lawyers and advisors provide the full suite of legal, policy and regulatory services to aid private and federal clients in achieving their mission objectives, including funding research and development (R&D), developing investment strategies, and influencing laws and policies that impact a range of issues such as internet infrastructure, supply chains, data security and privacy, and other emerging technology challenges.

Backed by Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group – consistently recognized among the top 10 federal lobbying and law firms in Washington, D.C. – our team aligns with industry leaders to advocate for legislation, policies and regulations that create pathways toward the seamless integration of future technologies.

We also leverage our long-standing relationships on both sides of the aisle to help clients secure sustainable funding streams to bridge emerging technologies from conception to deployment.

Our multidisciplinary team represents early-stage startups and global conglomerates in developing and deploying industry-shaping technologies in both the commercial and national security sectors, including products relating to:

• artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
• commercial airlines
• communications
• consumer electronics and equipment
• cryptography
• cybersecurity
• data and network security
• digital health solutions
• electronic warfare
• hypersonic flight
• internet infrastructure
• quantum science and computing
• renewable and clean energy
• reusable rockets
• satellite communication
• semiconductor fabrications
• spaceflight and space-based robotics
• subsea robotics
• supply chain equipment
• unmanned systems

Our lawyers and policy advisors have a thorough understanding of where communications, technology and national security issues can arise in the legal and policy framework, as well as the government processes through which sensitive decisions are made. Our team features a former general counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and former senior officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), including former U.S. attorneys and the former deputy general counsel of DHS. We also count among our lawyers three former members of Congress and a former House Armed Services Committee minority staff director, all of whom have firsthand experience with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and other appropriations processes.

Members of our team also have held various influential positions on Capitol Hill, including with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees telecommunications, energy and healthcare; and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which oversees NASA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Weather Service (NWS).

Our team also includes the founder of a coalition of quantum computing, communications and cryptography companies working to advance U.S. quantum leadership – an increasingly critical sector of emerging technologies.

Law and Policy Development

As policy counsel to major corporations, startup companies and leading trade associations, Holland & Knight's Emerging Technologies Law and Policy Team helps craft policy with an eye toward meeting clients' evolving needs, while also fostering U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.

Our bipartisan team has worked with clients to shape legislation with major implications for myriad industries ranging from aerospace and defense to internet, telecommunications, renewable energy and healthcare.

Our experience includes work related both to the campaign to pass the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act and the U.S. government's implementation of the legislation, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, the NASA Authorization Act of 2022 and annual updates to the NDAA.

We develop and implement strategic policy solutions on a broad range of issues impacting the internet ecosystem, including telecommunications and international technology, data security and privacy policy. 

We leverage Holland & Knight's broad resources and deep legislative experience to adeptly anticipate and overcome roadblocks and regulatory hurdles that clients might face in deploying emerging technologies. Our procedural experience enables us to effectively communicate the benefits and meaningful application of these technologies to agency leaders and incumbents while mitigating opposition and building support among members of Congress, coalitions, think tanks, government entities and other stakeholders.

Experienced Regulatory Counsel

As our clients prepare to deploy next-generation technologies, they call on us to help them navigate – and, where appropriate, influence – the ever-shifting regulatory landscape.

As counsel to early-stage technology companies, we develop frameworks for compliance with current regulations. But because innovation vastly outpaces the regulatory process, existing rules often constrain or stifle technological advancement.

To overcome this challenge, our team collaborates regularly with government agencies to update existing rules and regulations to account for new innovations. For decades, Holland & Knight has represented technology companies before government agencies and international regulators, including:

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• NASA
• NOAA
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Space Commerce
• U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• DHS
• NIST
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• U.S. Department of State Office of Space Affairs
• A&S Defense Production Act Investments Office
• A&S Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS)
• Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Research & Engineering, Trusted & Assured Microelectronics
• DOD Microelectronics Commons
• U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research and Army Research Laboratory
• U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
• Defense Innovation Unit
• Department of Commerce CHIPS Program Office
• Strategic Radiation-Hardened Electronics Council
• Defense Microelectronics Activity

Our attorneys and advisors take pride in being at the forefront of discussions with agency leaders to keep them apprised of our clients' emerging technologies and assist in crafting new regulations that streamline the future integration of those innovations while strengthening safety and security.

Federal Appropriations Advocacy

Holland & Knight's Emerging Technologies Law and Policy Team understands our clients' challenges to compete for sustainable funding as Congress allocates resources through federal appropriations bills. Our success in gaining congressional support for new innovations rests on our deep procedural experience and insider government knowledge.

We leverage our long-standing relationships with members of Congress and staff of House and Senate appropriations committees to identify key policymakers interested in advancing particular innovations.

Our attorneys and policy advisors help clients develop persuasive project proposals that demonstrate the distinct capabilities of their technologies and detail how federal R&D funding would advance the goals of relevant U.S. government agencies or allies. We then partner with our clients to engage stakeholders, generate support and work to obtain earmarked funding for their projects.

Our group includes members of Holland & Knight's Federal Budget and Appropriations Team, which has secured billions of dollars from the DOD, DOE, DHS and other agencies under a variety of legislation, including:

• Defense Appropriations Act
• Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bills
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act
• State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act
• NDAA
• Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act