Deborah A. Curtis

Deborah Curtis advises clients on national security matters that involve government scrutiny, sensitive information and cross-border risk. Co-chair of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, she works with Fortune 500 companies, cleared government contractors, financial institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and global technology and artificial intelligence firms. Her work includes cross-border internal investigations involving AI chip diversion and insider threats, government raids, enforcement actions and courtroom advocacy. Chambers & Partners has recognized her in both National Security and White Collar Crime and Government Investigations.

Deborah’s counsel draws on two decades of senior government experience across the intelligence, export-control and criminal enforcement communities. She served as Deputy General Counsel for Litigation and Investigations at the CIA, Chief Counsel for Industry and Security at the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and a supervisory federal prosecutor at the Department of Justice. She has personally led or overseen hundreds of federal investigations and tried nearly 50 cases to verdict as a prosecutor and defense attorney.

That background informs her approach to the national security dimensions of client matters, whether they arise in a criminal investigation, a regulatory disclosure, an intelligence community relationship or an insider threat. Deborah helps clients address potential enforcement concerns before they become actions, respond when investigations arise and engage constructively with government officials. Senior executives, general counsel and high-net-worth individuals also turn to her for counsel on matters requiring particular discretion and judgment.

• Arrow Electronics. Achieved removal of foreign subsidiaries from the BIS Entity List, a rare and exceptionally difficult outcome that few practitioners have secured.
• Sitting U.S. Senator. Counseled a sitting U.S. Senator through significant litigation where an understanding of military law was essential.
• Tax Exempt Organizations, Corporations and Trade Associations. Advised on legal exposure and strategic positioning arising from the Administration's new enforcement priorities — from refocused FARA scrutiny and foreign influence investigations to an expanding counterterrorism landscape, including domestic applications under NSPM-7 — counseling clients on risk assessment and compliance structuring before investigation risk materializes.
• Former Intelligence Community officials. Counseled senior IC officials in high-stakes engagements with active intelligence community counterparts to resolve sensitive operational and legal problems where the margin for error was zero.
• Leading cloud technology company entering classified government contracts. Provided strategic counsel and key intelligence community engagement on behalf of a major technology company to ensure uninterrupted operations and readiness as the company stood up new contract work with U.S. government agencies.

• Major U.S. government contractors. Advised on complex insider threat and "ghost employee" concerns, providing both legal counsel and direct engagement with law enforcement to resolve sensitive questions while preserving critical government relationships.
• Major U.S. semiconductor company. Advised on engagement strategy with U.S. government stakeholders and disclosure posture to optimize outcomes, protect the company's regulatory standing, and avoid the critical pitfalls that can permanently damage government relationships.
• Military avionics company. Won declination of criminal charges and an administrative warning letter following grand jury investigation into allegations of willful export control violations.
• Global critical digital infrastructure provider. Secured a warning letter after voluntary self-disclosure of export control violations.
• Binance. Worked behind the scenes, including direct engagement with foreign government officials and representatives, to help secure the release of an employee of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange from Nigerian government custody.

• J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1994, cum laude, Alan J. Goldstein Memorial Award
• B.S., University of Southern California, 1991, cum laude, Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society, Dean's List

• District of Columbia
• California

• Deputy General Counsel for Litigation and Investigations, Central Intelligence Agency (2020-2023)
• Chief Counsel for Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce (2019-2020)
• Deputy Chief for National Security; Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice (2015-2019)
• Deputy Chief for Export Control and Sanctions and Trial Attorney, Counterespionage Section, U.S. Department of Justice (2007-2015)
• Associate Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Department of the Air Force (2005-2007)
• Judge Advocate, U.S. Department of the Air Force (1997-2005)
• Assistant U.S. Attorney (adjunct), U.S. Department of Justice (1995-1997)

• Member, Law360’s 2025 Aerospace & Defense Editorial Advisory Board
• Adjunct Professor, Strategic Intelligence & Public Policy, Georgetown Law (2024-present)
• Leadership Council Member, Leadership Council for Women in National Security (2024-present)
• Senior Lecturer (Public Policy), University of Virginia, "National Security in the Age of New Technology"
• Blue Center Senior Research Fellow, Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs