Alumni Spotlight - Denver Office
Erik Dullea
Describe your history with Husch Blackwell.
I joined Husch Blackwell in 2016 as a member of the Technology, Manufacturing, & Transportation (TMT) industry team and the Labor & Employment practice group. The firm supported my desire to transition my practice from Workplace Safety & Health to Cybersecurity, and I earned an MSL in Cybersecurity Law in 2018. In 2021 I approached TMT leadership about performing public service with the NSA. The firm supported the idea, and we all wanted to keep the door open to return.
What attracted you to your role in government, and how was your experience at Husch Blackwell useful in that role?
The government role allowed me to use my military background and my legal background together to provide guidance in the areas of compliance, operations, policy, and strategy. Being a partner at a nationally known law firm gave me a certain amount of credibility in the counsel I was offering to clients within the government.
Why did you decide to rejoin the firm?
When my wife and I decided that the Colorado–DC commute had become too much of a burden, I had been approached by friends and colleagues at other firms, but it made the most sense to return to Husch Blackwell.
Share any interesting and emerging trends that you’re seeing in your practice area - cybersecurity.
There are too many to count. At the macro level, I would say that the federal government’s decision to lean forward and challenge/coax/prod private industry to improve the defensive posture and resilience of private sector computer networks will change how our society views cybersecurity in the future.
What hobbies/activities do you enjoy outside the office?
Cycling (both road and mountain bike), kayaking, fishing, and watching competitive hockey.
Tell us about your typical weekend.
My wife is in the horse industry, so she is usually at the stables on Saturdays. I try to use that day for my hobbies, and then we enjoy the empty-nester lifestyle on Sundays.