Venable LLP is pleased to announce the expansion of its Cybersecurity Group with the addition of Davis Hake, senior director of cybersecurity services in the San Francisco office, and Adam Dobell, director of global security and technology strategy, in the Washington, DC office.
Ari Schwartz, managing director of Venable’s Cybersecurity Services, said, “Venable has established itself as a trusted advisor in the cybersecurity space. Adding Davis and Adam to our team allows us to offer our clients yet another layer of expertise in matters touching national security, international policy, and information technology. We are thrilled to welcome them to the team.”
Mr. Hake helps clients navigate the changing information technology (IT) risk landscape by advising them on cyber risk, technology policy, and go-to-market strategies. He is a key player in prominent artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity coalitions, with extensive experience developing products and strategy in the security and B2B SaaS markets.
Mr. Hake co-founded a successful cyber insurance startup with international operations spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. He grew the team, product, and brand to record-breaking sales, offering innovation in risk quantification, insurance automation, and cyber resilience. Prior to this, he managed cybersecurity product marketing for a prominent multinational cybersecurity company. As a business leader, Mr. Hake guided the go-to-market strategy, international messaging, and marketing campaigns, to align global sales and marketing teams on establishing a leading position in the cybersecurity platform space.
Mr. Hake gained transformative experience in cyber risk through several prominent government roles early in his career. He served as a director on the National Security Council, where he led cyber incident responses for both classified and unclassified federal IT networks. In his role within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, he gained crucial insight by managing cyber operations, interagency coordination, and policy for high-ranking government officials. He is also regarded as a leading author of early cybersecurity legislation in the U.S. Congress, helping establish the Office of the National Cyber Director and cyber intelligence sharing authorities to strengthen the public-private partnership on cyber defense.
Venable’s San Francisco partner-in-charge, Jim Nelson, noted, “We’re delighted to have such an experienced and esteemed professional with us as a member of our cybersecurity team. His arrival further cements Venable’s unique place on the West Coast as a firm with the expertise and experience needed to advise our local client base on all manner of government and regulatory matters.”
Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Hake said, "Venable has a national reputation for providing top-notch cybersecurity services across a range of different clients. I look forward to expanding the firm's presence in the technology and innovation space, and I am excited to join an impressive team that I’ve had the pleasure of serving with previously in the public sector.”
Mr. Dobell focuses his practice on matters of national security and international policy, specifically in the Indo-Pacific region. He assists clients with policy developments, understanding geopolitical context, executing successful advocacy campaigns, and building relationships with key policymakers in regions of interest.
Prior to joining Venable, he served as the first secretary for the Department of Home Affairs at the Embassy of Australia in Washington, DC, where he regularly engaged with White House officials, congressional stakeholders, and industry representatives to further Australia’s national security interests. He also represented the Australian government in multilateral groupings, including Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, the International Counter Ransomware Initiative, and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (The Quad).
During his tenure at the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Mr. Dobell provided guidance on policy issues at the nexus of homeland security, technology, and cybersecurity, including critical infrastructure protection, countering violent extremism, lawful access to encrypted data, and telecommunications security. He also advised senior department officials on international strategy as an executive officer.
Prior to his service at the Department of Home Affairs, Mr. Dobell worked for the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection as an assistant director for the Pacific and Transnational Issues Branch, managing engagement on national security and border security policy with governments in the Pacific.
With regard to joining Venable, Mr. Dobell said, "I had the pleasure of collaborating with Ari Schwartz and Alex Botting on their excellent coalition work. When it came time for me to move on from the Embassy, I knew Venable would be an excellent fit for both me and my work.”
Mr. Hake received his M.A. from the National Defense University and his B.A. in international relations from the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Dobell earned his B.A from the University of Canberra, with a focus in political science, national security, international relations, and communication.