Don L. Vieira

Leveraging extensive experience and deep connections in the public and private sectors, Mr. Vieira provides tailored guidance to clients in a variety of industries on complex, high-stakes litigation, investigations and regulatory enforcement involving AI and other cutting-edge technologies, foreign investments, national security, export controls, data security and privacy, cybersecurity and IP.

Mr. Vieira rejoined Skadden after serving as a partner, chief legal officer and chief policy officer at Sequoia Capital, a preeminent global venture capital firm. At Sequoia, Mr. Vieira founded the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and global policy function and managed a variety of high-profile matters at the cross section of technology, law and public policy. He also represented Sequoia on the board of the National Venture Capital Association.

Prior to joining Sequoia, Mr. Vieira was a partner at Skadden, advising numerous technology companies, venture capital firms, private equity firms, defense contractors and other clients on matters related to investment structures, regulatory enforcement, CFIUS, export controls, sanctions and cybersecurity.

Mr. Vieira also has extensive government experience, having previously served in senior positions in both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, including chief of staff of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) National Security Division (NSD) and counselor to the assistant attorney general for national security. At the DOJ, he supervised the department’s work on hundreds of CFIUS reviews and advised on issues related to cybersecurity, export controls, sanctions, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, telecommunications, information technology and electronic surveillance.

Mr. Vieira served as deputy chief counsel to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and staff director of its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, leading several classified committee investigations. He also successfully prosecuted espionage cases and export and economic sanctions enforcement matters as a federal prosecutor in the DOJ’s Counterespionage Section.

In addition, Mr. Vieira has experience as a corporate director, having served on the boards of Genuity Science and Hakluyt & Co.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Vieira has received numerous awards and honors. While at Sequoia, he was repeatedly honored by Washingtonian as one of Washington, D.C.’s Tech Titans and Most Influential People. In government, he received accolades from the DOJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Department of State and Congress. These honors included the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s Award for Community Excellence and the Attorney General Award for Exceptional Service.

In private practice, Mr. Vieira has been repeatedly recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Washingtonian and Lawdragon.