Joshua M. Snavely

Of Counsel, Industry Group Leader

Bio Menu
  • Overview
  • Honors & Involvement
Bio overview

Joshua Snavely is an attorney, Ivy League-trained cybersecurity and privacy expert, and homeland security policy analyst whose practice is devoted to advising clients across a broad range of industries with business and technology strategy, compliance and risk assessment, crisis management, and incident response. His work in these areas focus on business continuity, disaster recovery, and resilience planning, with a special focus on the impacts and risks associated with data protection and cybersecurity. Joshua’s experience includes proactively identifying and addressing internal and external threats to data, managing privacy and cybersecurity issues related to business transactions, and developing and implementing response plans for data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber-incidents. He currently co-leads the firm Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Group.

In the fast-paced and emerging fields of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, Joshua’s expertise includes technology assessment, compliance, and strategy.

Joshua’s career experience and extensive study in the fields of cybersecurity, privacy, and homeland security law have earned him a national reputation as a thought leader and made him a sought-after speaker and trainer at regional, national and global events, including RSA Conference (the world’s largest cybersecurity conference), American Bar Association’s Homeland Security Law Institute, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Conference, The National Summit on Homeland Security Law, the Oklahoma Small Business Development Network, and Roundtables at the Aspen Institute and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 

Prior to joining McAfee & Taft, Joshua served as the dean of the School of Business at Langston University, the western-most Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the United States, for five years. As dean and a senior administrator, Joshua also led the University’s crisis and emergency leadership team and recently directed all COVID-19 pandemic operations and response, including cybersecurity, physical security, technology management and operations. His career experience also includes service on the American Bar Association’s Cybersecurity Legal Task Force, the National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education Working Group, and the inaugural Oklahoma Justice Commission. Joshua served as assistant dean for external relations at Oklahoma City University School of Law, the inaugural executive director of the Judge Alfred P. Murrah Center for Homeland Security Law and Policy, and as a law clerk in the Government Appellate Division of the U.S. Army. Joshua has also now launched inaugural cybersecurity courses and programs at three Oklahoma universities, including as an adjunct professor of cybersecurity law at the University of Oklahoma.

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Experience, Honors, & Awards

Honors and Awards

  • Recognized with the Outstanding Service Award by the students at the Langston University School of Business (2018)
  • Selected by the New York University Center for Cybersecurity as a national finalist and presented with the CSAW Policy Competition Award for efforts in election security (2018)
  • Named to The Journal Record’s Achievers Under 40 list of outstanding young professionals (2014)
  • Eagle Scout

Professional Organizations and Memberships

  • Oklahoma Bar Association
  • American Bar Association (Member, Science & Technology Section; Former Member, Cybersecurity Legal Task Force; Former Co-Chair, Homeland Security & National Defense Committee; Former Co-Chair, Homeland Security Law Institute; Former Co-Chair, Homeland & National Security Committee, Young Lawyers Division)
  • Harvard Business Review Advisory Council (Member)
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Community Coordinating Council (Member)
  • Oklahoma Economics Club

Civic Involvement and Leadership

  • Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum (Former Member, Board of Trustees)

ATPs display in this column

At The Podium

We Don’t Negotiate! Navigating Ethics and Compliance with Ransomware

2022 Corporate Counsel Seminar
Oklahoma City, OK | December 8, 2022

We Don’t Negotiate! Navigating Ethics and Compliance with Ransomware

2022 Corporate Counsel Seminar
Tulsa, OK | December 7, 2022

Phight the Phish: A Program to Build Cyber Hygiene and Security Awareness

OMAG Informational Technology Expo
Oklahoma City, OK | July 28, 2022

Cybersecurity Threats

JR Now Webinar
Online | May 18, 2022

The Privacy Playbook: An Overview of the Legal & Regulatory Landscape

State Chamber of Oklahoma / The Legal Center CLE
Oklahoma City, OK | May 5, 2022

Healthcare and Cyber Attacks: Protecting PHI and Mitigating Risks

Annual Checkup: Healthcare Industry Seminar 2022
Oklahoma City, OK | April 27, 2022

The Cybersecurity and Privacy Playbook: A strategic guide for business

2021 Corporate Counsel Seminar
Oklahoma City, OK | December 2, 2021

The Cybersecurity and Privacy Playbook: A strategic guide for business

2021 Corporate Counsel Seminar
Tulsa, OK | December 1, 2021

Cyber Hygiene: An Apple (or PC) Defended a Day Keeps the Hacker Away

University Faculty Institute
Langston, OK | August 2021

First-Skill, Reskill, Upskill

National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education
Oklahoma City, OK | May 2021

A Playbook for Cyber Resilience: Basics & Best Practices

William J. Holloway American Inn of Court
Oklahoma City, OK | March 2021

Decrypting Diversity: The Secret Key to Cybersecurity

Providence, RI | February 2021

Cyber Resiliency Planning: The Basics & Best Practices for Business

Oklahoma Small Business Development Network
Oklahoma City, OK | October 2020

Cybersecurity Playbook: Fundamentals & Strategies for Business

Oklahoma Small Business Development Network
Oklahoma City, OK | October 2020

The Cyber Range – A Guide

National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education
Oklahoma City, OK | June 2020

#CyberDiversity – New Decade, New Rules

RSA Conference 2020
San Francisco, CA | February 2020

The Intersection of Cybersecurity & the Fourth Estate

Aspen Institute
Washington, DC | September 2018

Sleepless in Cyberspace: Navigating the Threat Landscape

American Bar Association Cyber Legal Task Force
Washington, DC | September 2018

Fundamentals of Cybersecurity Law & Policy

Washington, DC | September 2017

Security vs. Security – A Conversation with Facebook

American Bar Association’s Homeland Security Law Institute
Washington, DC | September 2017

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act: An Overview and Update

American Bar Association’s Homeland Security Law Institute
Oklahoma City, OK | April 2017

An ‘Apple’ a Day Keeps the Hacker … or the Government … Away?

Rotary Club of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK | April 2016

A Deep Dive on Cyber & Incident Response Plans

The National Summit on Homeland Security Law: The State of Cyber
Oklahoma City, OK | April 2016

The Rule of Law – Security vs. Liberty

The National Summit on Homeland Security Law
Oklahoma City, OK | April 2015

Homeland and National Security – The Evolution of Domestic Extremism

American Bar Association Midyear Meeting
Houston, TX | February 2015

Practical Considerations in Advising and Representing Clients in Anti-Terrorism & Homeland Security

Investigations and the Realm of National Security Law
Oklahoma City, OK | June 2014
Attorney Articles

Articles

Image of businessman on laptop with cybersecurity graphics overlayed and the Securities and Exchange Commission logo seal

SEC on offense for cyber defense: New rules for companies

The Journal Record |
Securities and Exchange Commission building

SEC adopts new cybersecurity rules for public companies

McAfee & Taft Cybersecurity Alert |
Data privacy text on a computer keyboard glowing blue
Lock sitting on a laptop keyboard

The Electronic Recording of Custodial Interrogations: Who Gets to Hold the Remote? A Separation of Powers Battle

Oklahoma City University Law Review |

United States v. Mendez: Evidence – What is it good for?

Oklahoma City University Law Review |
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Admissions

  • Oklahoma, 2010
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Education

  • Executive Master in Cybersecurity, Brown University, 2019
  • LL.M. (National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations), The George Washington University, 2013
  • J.D., cum laude, Oklahoma City University, 2010
    • Order of the Barristers; Phi Delta Phi; Executive Editor, Oklahoma City University Law Review; President, Student Bar Association; National Finalist and Regional Champion, American College of Trial Lawyers’ National Trial Team
  • M.B.A., Oklahoma City University, 2010
  • B.B.A. (Business Management), University of Central Oklahoma, 2007
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