Deborah A. Curtis

Deborah Curtis is one of the nation’s leading national security lawyers and strategic counselors. Hailed by Chambers & Partners as Band 1 in National Security, she advises on the most consequential issues facing clients across the full spectrum of national security matters — from intelligence community interface and semiconductor diversion risk to government inquiries and courtroom defense.

Deborah draws on two decades of senior government experience, 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 DOJ, to deliver counsel that is both strategically sophisticated and grounded in how government actually works. She has also personally led or overseen hundreds of federal investigations and tried nearly 50 cases to verdict as both prosecutor and defense attorney.

What distinguishes Deborah is the rarity and depth of her fluency across the national security enterprise. She does not simply defend enforcement actions—she helps clients avoid them entirely, creatively navigate any sensitive national security dimensions that emerge, and constructively engage government officials with the precision and credibility that only comes from having sat on the other side of the table at the highest levels. Whether the issue is a criminal investigation, a regulatory disclosure, an intelligence community relationship, or an insider threat, Deborah brings the judgment and relationships to move through difficult terrain.

Clients turn to Deborah when the stakes are high and demand absolute discretion and judgment beyond the ordinary. She is trusted by senior executives, general counsel, and high-net-worth individuals navigating scrutiny that cannot be mishandled.