Profile
Sydney counsels clients on cybersecurity public policy, legislation, and regulation, with over 20 years of experience practicing law in these areas. Sydney collaborates with government affairs, legal, cybersecurity, engineering, and technology teams to inform company specific, sectorial, and broader industry advocacy on cybersecurity.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Managed and negotiated eight cybersecurity bills enacted into law as House Homeland Security Cybersecurity Subcommittee counsel.
- Advised clients on cybersecurity legislative and policy developments and developing cybersecurity and privacy policy strategies.
- Counseled client on cybersecurity policy, regulatory and legislative priorities through analysis, collaboration with internal technical teams and engagement on technical and substantive issues with federal policy makers including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), U.S Department of Commerce (DOC), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), National Security Agency (NSA), and Congress.
- Collaborated with client cybersecurity and legislative teams, trade associations, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to deliver prevailing, clearly articulated and technically precise advocacy on software supply chain and critical infrastructure cybersecurity regulation amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
- Advised internal client teams and Communications Sector Coordinating Council (CSCC) Supply Chain Committee on the Biden Administration National Cyber Strategy, Supply Chain Executive Orders, U.S. Department of Commerce supply chain regulations, and national security restrictions on government contractors.
- Successfully guided Internet coalition’s policy priorities during in-person negotiations and built consensus among companies, industry groups, privacy and civil society groups, and academics on the NTIA Multistakeholder Mobile App Transparency Code of Conduct.
- Researched and drafted international cybersecurity information sharing report and recommendations on policies to adopt and problems to avoid for policy makers around the world, based on technical input from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), multi-sector Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), and top cybersecurity experts in telecommunications, technology, cloud services, energy, and financial services.
- Negotiated and built consensus among diverse industry stakeholders on privacy policy alternative that became the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Privacy Methodology.
Professional Experience
- Principal Analyst, T-Mobile (2022-2023)
- Vice President, Public Policy & Government Relations, Internet Security Alliance (2021)
- Counsel, House Committee on Homeland Security (2020-2021)
- Private law practice (2001-2018)
- Pro Bono Counsel, U.S. Army and U.S. M.C. Veterans (2010-2017)
- General Counsel, Taste of the South (2006-2010)
- Legislative Assistant, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (2000-2001)
- Law Clerk, U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (1998-2000)
- Summer Associate and Law Clerk, Private law practice (1997-1998)
- Legislative Assistant, Private law practice (1993-1996)
Affiliations
- Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA)
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
J.D., Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America
B.A., Emory University
Bar and Court Memberships
- District of Columbia Bar
Related News & Insights
- Blog PostAfter the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s Successful Run, What’s Left to Do?Wiley ConnectSydney M. WhiteOctober 1, 2024
- Blog PostAthletes, Arenas, and Cyberattacks: The Evolving Landscape of Cybersecurity in SportsWiley ConnectMegan L. Brown, Sydney M. White, Colin J. Cloherty, Stephanie RigizadehSeptember 20, 2024
- Blog PostPolicy Patches: An Update on Software Security RegulationWiley ConnectMegan L. Brown, Sydney M. White, Teresita Regelbrugge, Joshua K. WaldmanAugust 14, 2024
- Blog PostHow Bad Is It Out There? Our Thoughts on Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR)Wiley ConnectMegan L. Brown, Jacqueline F. "Lyn" Brown, Sydney M. WhiteJuly 12, 2024