David Cohen combines a legal and government relations practice to navigate sophisticated oversight, regulatory and legal matters at the intersection of business and government. A former tech executive, senior agency official and congressional staffer, David now develops business-minded solutions to clients' pressing issues in highly regulated and politicized industries, including financial services, data privacy, cyber security, homeland security, and emerging technologies such as cryptocurrency and biometric security.
David leverages his business experience and understanding of Congress and each unique federal agency to gather the political intelligence his clients need most. He provides legislative and legal insight that informs smart corporate strategy and engages government stakeholders when an issue arises impacting a client’s bottom line. He has the legal prowess to advocate before consumer-focused regulators at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the political savviness to engage appointees at the Department of Homeland Security, and the legislative experience to propose sensible solutions to senior members and staff on the House Financial Services Committee.
Before returning to Brownstein, David served as chief administrative officer for CLEAR, a leading biometric technology company. Earlier, David served as chief of staff to three U.S. Customs Service Commissioners, was involved in the initial policy discussions surrounding the formation of DHS, and served as professional staff on the House Financial Services Committee. David also serves on the board of the Mizel Institute, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to promoting social justice and creating a safer and more inclusive world.