Conflict-Driven Cyber Risks: The GC’s Role, The Oath
May 2026Partners Vishnu Shankar, Gregory Parks, Ezra Church, and Heather Egan and associate Arriana Sajjad co-authored an article for The Oath examining the heightened cybersecurity risks arising from ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and the growing role of general counsel in managing operational, legal, and regulatory exposure.
The authors discuss recent warnings issued by US and UK government agencies regarding Iran-linked cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, transportation, logistics, financial services, telecommunications, and defense. They outline practical steps companies and general counsel should consider to strengthen cyber resilience, including hardening security controls, testing incident response protocols, reviewing cyber insurance coverage, evaluating privilege considerations in cross-border incidents, and monitoring evolving threat intelligence. The article emphasizes the importance of proactive preparedness for organizations with operations, investments, or supply chain exposure connected to the Middle East conflict.