Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Justin was Executive Deputy Superintendent of the Cybersecurity Division at the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). At NYDFS, he served as the first leader of the agency’s Cybersecurity Division, itself a first-of-its-kind unit at a financial services regulator. NYDFS issued the nation’s first cybersecurity regulation for financial services, which has since become a model for other regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and dozens of state banking and insurance regulators. Under Justin’s leadership, NYDFS’ Cybersecurity Division became a go-to source for guidance on novel and emerging cyber challenges. Among the influential regulation developed during his tenure was the nation’s first cybersecurity regulation for financial services, and others adopted by the Federal Trade Commission and dozens of state banking and insurance regulators.
Clients can leverage Justin’s extensive experience with crypto and other innovation issues such as artificial intelligence. For instance, at NYDFS, Justin served on the Virtual Currency Licensing Committee, which approved all licenses granted to crypto companies. The Cybersecurity Division was also responsible for the cybersecurity and IT reviews for all license applications and examinations.
Prior to NYDFS, Justin served as the inaugural chief of the Cybercrimes Unit at the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, where he led several of the most consequential cyber prosecutions, including the first major insider trading and hacking cases (Newswire & SEC EDGAR Hacks) as well as the prosecution of the first ransomware ring focused on corporate extortion (Samsam). He served for nine years as an Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey and in the District of Maryland. In addition to complex cybercrimes prosecutions, Justin prosecuted financial crimes such as securities fraud and tax evasion. He draws on his extensive courtroom experience when serving clients and has tried seven cases to verdict.
Justin served on the New York Governor’s Cybersecurity Advisory Board from 2019 to 2022, where he developed guidance and solutions related to election security, critical infrastructure protection and pandemic benefits fraud.
Earlier in his career, Justin clerked for Chief Judge Danny J. Boggs of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Application for admission pending in New York.
