A former U.S. Marine Corps infantry captain and member of the Secretary of the Navy’s staff, Brian Kaveney brings unparalleled dedication and strategic insight to his legal practice. He is recognized for his “outstanding achievement and substantial contributions to the success of a company,” and serves clients both domestically and internationally. He is the founder and leader of the firm’s Industrial Security practice area and focuses his practice on the areas of industrial security, investigations, litigation, outside corporate counsel guidance and government contract challenges.

Brian’s proactive stance and training to anticipate problems and craft solutions that aim to meet business objectives and maximize company value significantly distinguish him from other legal professionals. He is a trusted advisor to general counsel, boards of directors and corporate counsel. His foresight and strategic approach make him an invaluable asset when crucial matters are at stake.

Industrial Security:Brian has earned a national reputation for providing trustworthy, efficient counsel to clients in industrial security issues. Focusing on matters involving Foreign Ownership Control or Influence (FOCI), he guides companies through the process with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Service (DCSA) to obtain and maintain a facility clearance (FCL). Clients rely on Brian and the industrial team to make informed decisions as they navigate the FCL process from start to finish including the mitigation of FOCI. Brian also provides guidance on FCL issues such as invalidation, personnel clearance (PCL) issues, SF 86 legal review, individual clearance cases, government contract disputes, and hearings before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA).

He employs a disciplined, practical approach advocating strong prevention solutions and collaboration with the U.S. Government to avoid disruptions such as costly delays or enhanced scrutiny from certain agencies of the Department of Defense (DoD), including DCSA. Brian also routinely assists contractors in developing and maintaining robust insider threat programs to comply with applicable regulations and protect organizational assets.

Investigations: Brian regularly conducts investigations for businesses, higher education institutions and government agencies to mitigate risk, identify key issues, maintain or restore compliance, and resolve regulatory disputes before charges are filed. He has conducted high-profile investigations as selected by the governors of Illinois and Missouri into conditions at veterans’ homes with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Litigation: An experienced trial attorney, Brian has conducted trials in federal and state courts, as well as arbitrations and administrative hearings across the U.S. His thoughtful, aggressive approach results in a succinct, clear theme that resonates with clients, juries and seasoned judges. When litigation cannot be avoided, Brian represents clients in a wide range of matters, including breach of contract, noncompete agreements, trade secrets, confidentiality and fiduciary duty matters, shareholder disputes and employment matters.

Outside Corporate Counsel: Brian serves as outside corporate counsel to companies across the country, including foreign companies who have established successful operations in the U.S. He advises companies about issues such as corporate governance, efficient processes to prevent disruption, and various hurdles such as dual citizenship and required visas. He also orchestrates joint ventures involving multinational entities and transactions.

Government Contract Challenges:Brian works to ensure clients anticipate changing policies and procedures within the U.S. Government, particularly the DoD. He guides privately held entities, foreign-owned entities and publicly traded companies in maintaining and adhering to the appropriate rules, regulations and unique procedures. He has coordinated several successful novations under significant time constraints that required coordination across multiple agencies.