Holland & Knight welcomes Ike Blanton, former deputy director at the Department of Defense, to leading National Security & Defense Industry Group. WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 23, 2026) - Ike Blanton, a distinguished former government official who served in senior roles within the U.S. Department of Defense (now referred to as the U.S. Department of War) and U.S. Department of State, has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in Washington, D.C. He will be a member of the Firm's leading National Security & Defense Industry Group and Federal Government Affairs Practice. Previously, he served as deputy director for global investment and economic security within the Office of the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S), as well as several high-level roles with the State Department as a foreign service officer. Mr. Blanton has more than 15 years of national security, economic security and government affairs experience through various roles as a lawyer, lobbyist, regulator and diplomat. At Holland & Knight, he will focus on advising defense industrial base companies and their supply chain partners, dual-use technology providers and companies working on hybrid warfare capabilities and economic security. "With a career that spans government service, law practice, diplomacy, finance and government affairs, Ike's exceptional skills and keen insider insights align perfectly with the Firm's targeted client focus," said Jason Klitenic, chair of Holland & Knight's National Security & Defense Industry Group. "Ike is a boon for Washington, D.C.'s leading defense industrial base and supply chain team, the singular team in this federal enclave that can shepherd through a client's federal marketplace objectives, whether those be policy, regulatory, business development and capture, government contracting or the like. We are ecstatic to call Ike our partner," added Nick Leibham, co-chair of the Firm's Emerging Technologies Law and Policy Team. During his time within A&S, Mr. Blanton oversaw the department's economic competition efforts, including the development of the 1260H List of Chinese Military Companies and built capacity and capabilities with allies and partners through projects such as the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR) and National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB). Mr. Blanton led various department reviews, security agreements, mitigation strategies and compliance monitoring efforts, including for Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), as well as national security reviews involving Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) and Team Telecom. Mr. Blanton also directed strategic initiatives and led cross-functional supply chain risk assessments across weapons platforms, including efforts connected to Golden Dome for America supply chains. Mr. Blanton also served as a foreign service officer in the State Department for nearly a decade. In this role, he served in consulates in Brazil and China and was detailed to the White House Situation Room. While in the Foreign Service, Mr. Blanton coordinated complex multi-agency initiatives, managed critical security assessments and analyzed geopolitical and economic matters across the globe. Before public service, he was in-house counsel at a bank and worked on finance, acquisitions, corporate strategy and secured transactions. "The intersection of national security and commercial activity is the defining opportunity and challenge for companies the world over. Having focused on these matters during my government career, my experience will benefit the Firm's clients as well as America's national security interests," Mr. Blanton said. "After years of facilitating national security agreements and shaping various defense frameworks from the government side, I believe that Holland & Knight is a perfect match for my practice and the ideal place to put my experience to work." Mr. Blanton earned his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, his MBA from the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business and his B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee. Not admitted to District of Columbia Bar; admitted to Tennessee Bar and Georgia Bar only and practicing under supervision of lawyers licensed to practice in District of Columbia. Related professional. Related practices. Related industries. Related Office. Media Contacts Sarah James

Holland & Knight Data Breach investigation. Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating the possible Holland & Knight Data Breach, impacting an undetermined number of individuals and their personal information. What happened? On September 2, 2026, dark web monitoring sites reported that Holland & Knight had been named as a victim of a data breach. Little information is available yet about the nature of the breach or the data that may have been involved, but the affected information is believed to include sensitive and personal data. Holland & Knight Data Breach. All of the information possibly stolen is likely valuable and dangerous to affected victims. As is likely to be the case with the Holland & Knight data breach, in previous cyberattacks, victims of data theft have noticed identity theft attempts ranging from fraudulent charges on bank accounts or credit cards, to unauthorized credit card applications, to medical services or government services ordered in their name, to their information being posted on the dark web, to a massive uptick in the number of spam text messages, calls and emails received. Are you concerned that you might be affected by the Holland & Knight data breach? If you have concerns that you have been affected by this data breach, and/or have experienced suspicious activity recently, Migliaccio & Rathod LLP would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send Migliaccio & Rathod LLP an email at [email protected], or give Migliaccio & Rathod LLP a call at (202) 470-3520. The following will ask for your contact information so that Migliaccio & Rathod LLP may reach you to talk about potential claims. This information is for its records only and will not be shared. By continuing, you consent to the collection of this information for these limited purposes. Did you receive a notification that you were affected by the data breach? Would you like to join its newsletter to receive notifications about other investigations Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is looking into, as well as updates on ongoing cases? By submitting this form, you consent to receive marketing, updates, and informative SMS messages from Migliaccio & Rathod LLP at the email and/or phone number provided. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or Reply HELP for help. Privacy Policy The lawyers at Migliaccio & Rathod LLP have years of experience in class action litigation against large corporations, including in cases involving data breaches such as this. More information about its current cases and investigations is available on its blog. To learn more about data breach litigation, you can listen here to the firm partners' explanation. Data Breach FAQ. I received a notice that my information may have been involved in a data breach. What should I do? Take the notification seriously and read it carefully. It should outline what specific information was affected (e.g., name, Social Security number, legal case data). Even if you believe your risk is minimal, it's best to take proactive steps to protect yourself. Some of these recommended steps can be found listed below. What immediate actions should I take? * Monitor your financial accounts - Regularly check your bank, credit card, and online accounts for unauthorized transactions. * Change your passwords - Update passwords for any accounts that may be connected to the breach. Avoid reusing old or similar passwords. Use a password manager if needed. * Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) - Enable 2FA on your email, banking, and other sensitive accounts to add an extra layer of protection. * Place a fraud alert or credit freeze - Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a fraud alert or freeze your credit report. This makes it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. What is credit monitoring, and how should I use it? Credit monitoring tracks your credit report for changes or suspicious activity. If the organization that was breached offers this service for free, it's highly recommended you enroll. These services can alert you quickly to potential fraud. How long do I need to stay vigilant? The effects of a data breach can surface months or even years later. Stay alert to signs of identity theft for at least 12-24 months. Keep an eye on your credit reports, mail, and any unfamiliar account activity. Who can I contact if I need help? You can use the contact details provided in the breach notification. You can also report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at www.identitytheft.gov for recovery resources. Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is here to be a resource to you. Fill out the contact form above to get in touch with Migliaccio & Rathod LLP.

Ransomware Group SilentRansomGroup hits: Holland and Knight. HookPhish team Summary. In the latest cybersecurity news, Holland & Knight - an organization based in US - has fallen victim to a ransomware attack conducted by the group SilentRansomGroup. This data breach, discovered on Sep 1, 2026, 21:22 UTC, underscores the increasing need for proactive cybersecurity defenses as HookPhish continue through 2026. Incident report. | Target Organization | Holland & Knight | | Threat Group | SilentRansomGroup | | Summary | Holland & Knight, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and established in 1968, is a law firm that offers... | | Date of Breach | Sep 1, 2026, 21:22 UTC | | Discovery Date | Sep 1, 2026, 21:22 UTC | | Region | US | | Business Sector | Professional Services | How to reduce your ransomware risk. Most ransomware intrusions start with a stolen password or a phishing email. A few proactive steps sharply cut your exposure: * data breach monitoring - close the gap attackers exploit. * phishing simulation - close the gap attackers exploit. Disclaimer. HookPhish does not engage in the exfiltration, downloading, taking, hosting, viewing, reposting, or disclosure of any stolen information. All breach data reported here is sourced from publicly available threat intelligence feeds for awareness purposes only.