About 77 Meridian
National security counsel and strategic advisory, led by DJ Rosenthal from Washington, D.C.
About the Founder
DJ Rosenthal served in senior positions at the National Security Council, the U.S. Department of Justice National Security Division, and the U.S. Intelligence Community. DJ has sat in the Situation Room, argued before federal courts, and navigated many of the most consequential national security matters the U.S. government faces.
In the private sector, DJ worked at the international law firm WilmerHale, and at Kroll, where he founded the National Security Practice. These experiences, spanning government service at the highest levels and private sector practice at leading institutions, gave DJ a rare vantage point on the challenges companies face when operating at the intersection of national security, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements.
DJ founded 77 Meridian to deliver the kind of senior-level, embedded counsel that these companies need. As the firm's sole principal, DJ leads every engagement personally, bringing the same rigor and discretion to each client that defined his government and private sector career.
- Bar Memberships: Maryland; District of Columbia; U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Fellow, National Security Institute, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
- Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland Honors College
- Published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, The Atlantic, CNN, Foreign Policy, Just Security, Lawfare, and elsewhere
- Connect: LinkedIn
Why 77 Meridian
What Sets Us Apart
Direct Principal Access
Every client works directly with DJ, the same counsel who has held senior positions at the National Security Council, the DOJ National Security Division, and the Intelligence Community. There are no associates, no junior staff, and no handoffs. This isn’t a matter of firm policy. It’s the structure of the practice itself. The person advising on your most sensitive matters is the same person who has navigated those matters at the highest levels of the U.S. government.
Truly Independent
77 Meridian’s boutique structure is a deliberate strategic advantage. DJ doesn’t compete with referring law firms for their other work, a critical trust factor in the referral-driven D.C. national security bar. This independence also means that DJ’s advice is never shaped by institutional conflicts, cross-selling incentives, or the priorities of a larger firm. Clients get counsel focused entirely on their situation.
Embedded, Not Transactional
DJ operates as a Fractional General Counsel, an extension of the client’s leadership team, not a vendor called when something breaks. The difference is proactive, forward-looking counsel versus reactive firefighting. This embedded model means DJ understands the client’s business, their regulatory exposure, their government relationships, and their strategic priorities. Advice is grounded in context, not delivered in isolation. The result: better guidance, faster decisions, and fewer surprises.
Fixed Retainer Model
Engagements are structured as fixed monthly retainers. Clients know exactly what they’re paying, and they never hesitate to call because of hourly billing pressure. This structure encourages the kind of open, ongoing communication that produces the best outcomes. Clients raise questions early, before they become problems. DJ can provide proactive counsel, not just respond to incoming crises, because the relationship is built on access, not billable hours.
Discreet
National security matters demand sound judgment and genuine discretion. Many of the matters DJ handles involve classified programs, sensitive transactions, government inquiries, and situations where a misstep carries real consequences. 77 Meridian is built for this kind of work. The firm’s structure, its client relationships, and its approach to communication all reflect the standards of discretion that these matters demand.
The 77 Meridian Story
The 77th meridian west longitude runs through Washington, D.C., the center of gravity for U.S. national security policy, defense contracting, and the regulatory landscape that shapes how companies operate in these sectors. The name 77 Meridian reflects what the firm does: helping clients navigate this complex terrain with precision and clear direction.
DJ Rosenthal built 77 Meridian on more than twenty years of senior national security experience, from the National Security Council and the Department of Justice to the private sector at WilmerHale and Kroll. Along the way, he saw a gap: companies operating at the intersection of national security, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements needed more than transactional outside counsel. They needed an embedded legal partner who understood the policy environment, the threat landscape, and the practical realities of operating in this space.
77 Meridian was founded to fill that gap. The firm provides senior-level legal counsel and strategic advisory to companies that face these challenges, with the depth and discretion that the work demands.
Global Challenges. Clear Direction.
Our Approach
Our Approach
Discovery
Every engagement begins with a thorough understanding of the client’s operational landscape. DJ maps regulatory exposure, government touchpoints, the relevant threat environment, and the client’s strategic priorities. The goal is a clear picture of where the client stands, not assumptions based on industry generalizations, but a specific assessment grounded in the client’s actual situation.
Assessment
With the landscape mapped, DJ conducts a clear-eyed evaluation of risk, regulatory obligations, and strategic opportunities. This assessment draws on DJ’s experience across government and the private sector, identifying exposure that generalist counsel might miss, and opportunities that only emerge when you understand how the national security policy environment actually works.
Embedded Counsel
DJ integrates into the client’s operations as a Fractional General Counsel. This means ongoing legal guidance across the full range of matters that arise, regulatory compliance, government engagement, contract review, risk management, and strategic decision-making. Clients get a senior counsel who understands their business deeply enough to provide the kind of context-rich advice that improves decisions.
Ongoing Partnership
National security is not a one-time engagement. The regulatory landscape shifts, new threats emerge, and government priorities evolve. DJ provides proactive, continuous counsel, monitoring changes that affect the client’s operations, identifying risks before they mature, and ensuring the client stays ahead of the curve rather than responding to surprises.
Representative Experience
A selection of anonymized matters, representative of the counsel and strategic advisory 77 Meridian provides. Details are generalized to protect client confidentiality.
Advised a defense-technology startup through a voluntary CFIUS filing, obtaining clearance and preserving a critical foreign investment round.
Served as embedded national security counsel to a critical-minerals company negotiating supply agreements with the Department of Defense.
Conducted CFIUS due diligence and built a risk-mitigation strategy for a U.S. manufacturer facing acquisition by a foreign bidder.
Served as independent third-party compliance monitor reporting to CFIUS after the foreign acquisition of a U.S. business, delivering ongoing audits.
Advised a global technology platform on foreign-actor influence, trust and safety, and data-protection obligations with national security implications.
Delivered national security risk assessments for emerging-technology companies, evaluating cybersecurity and supply-chain exposure.
Let's Talk.
Every engagement is led directly by DJ Rosenthal, not delegated to associates. Clients get senior-level counsel on every matter, every time.