Sid Mody is a first-chair trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor who provides exceptional counsel at the intersection of cybersecurity, data privacy, and white-collar defense. He is widely recognized for guiding organizations through complex regulatory, transactional, and litigation challenges—whether responding to sophisticated cyber threats, navigating global privacy requirements, or defending against high-stakes investigations and enforcement actions.
With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, Sid is a trusted advisor to companies seeking to manage risk, ensure compliance, and protect their interests in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Sid joined O'Melveny from the National Security, Cybercrime, and Money Laundering Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas. His government service includes roles as Lead Cyber Hacking and Intellectual Property Attorney, Digital Currency Crimes Coordinator, and the district’s sole National Security Cyber Specialist. He also led the Litigation Technology Unit as Senior Litigation Counsel. Earlier in his career, as an Assistant District Attorney in Tarrant County, Texas, Sid was a key member of the White Collar Crimes Unit, prosecuting complex fraud, intellectual property, and computer crimes. He has personally tried numerous cases as both a state and federal prosecutor.
Sid has extensive experience conducting investigations involving the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and state attorneys general. He is also well-versed in handling False Claims Act investigations related to national security matters.
Leveraging his prosecutorial background in cryptocurrency matters, Sid advises cryptocurrency and fintech companies on risk mitigation and enforcement issues, including anti-money laundering (AML), money transmission, sanctions, tax fraud, and token offerings. His regulatory experience also encompasses compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and other laws governing AML and sanctions programs.
Comprehensive Cybersecurity and Privacy Counsel
Sid also provides comprehensive counsel on cybersecurity and privacy, advising clients on a wide range of global data protection and consumer privacy issues. His expertise includes transactional due diligence, incident response, cross-border data transfers, and compliance with major regulatory frameworks such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other US state, federal, and international requirements. Sid’s strategic guidance enables organizations to navigate the complex and evolving landscape of data privacy and security obligations.
In addition to his advisory work, Sid helps organizations proactively manage cyber risk and respond to incidents. He designs and implements tailored cyber risk management programs that reduce exposure and ensure regulatory compliance. When cyber incidents or data breaches occur, Sid serves as a trusted advisor, guiding companies through crisis management, regulatory investigations, and enforcement actions by state and federal agencies.
Sid’s practice also includes representing clients in litigation arising from cyber incidents. He has defended organizations facing litigation and regulatory investigations by the SEC, DOJ, State Attorneys General, and industry-specific regulators.
As a recognized authority in data privacy and cybersecurity, Sid frequently speaks at industry events worldwide, sharing his insights to help clients address emerging challenges in cybersecurity and privacy.
Sid is also heavily involved in pro bono work at the firm and works closely on matters assisting nonprofit organizations. His commitment to public service extends beyond his client work, as he dedicates significant time and expertise to supporting nonprofits and advancing causes that benefit the broader community.
In Private Practice
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
- Advising an energy corporation on compliance with cybersecurity regulations.
- Provided counsel to a private equity investment firm regarding a complex email phishing scheme, which required coordination with multiple agencies for disclosures.
- Advised a cryptocurrency company in response to several ransomware attacks, managing required disclosures and collaborating with law enforcement.
- Guided a corporate client through a merger and acquisition transaction involving a cybersecurity breach, overseeing all post-merger cybersecurity-related disclosures.
- Counseled a major semiconductor company during a data breach, assisting with notifications to state and federal regulators.
- Counseled a leading circuit board manufacturer through a significant data breach involving the exposure of thousands of individuals’ personally identifiable information (PII).
- Advised a major advertising company in managing the disclosure of a large-scale PII data breach.
- Serve as lead data breach counsel for a Fortune 500 e-commerce company, working directly with their Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CSIRT).
- Serve as lead data breach counsel for a Fortune 500 electronics manufacturing company.
- Serve as lead data breach counsel for a major US semiconductor company.
- Serve as lead data breach counsel for a major US circuit board manufacturer.
- Advise multiple corporate clients on revising and updating their privacy policies.
- Counsel multiple corporate clients on multistate Attorney General investigations related to cybersecurity breaches and required disclosures.
- Advise clients on compliance with SEC cybersecurity disclosure rules and assist with related regulatory investigations.
- Represent a large social media company in privacy-related litigation.
- Advised a large social media company on privacy compliance matters.
- Advise a global video game developer and publisher on privacy issues, including compliance with COPPA, CCPA, and GDPR.
- Support a diverse range of national and international organizations in assessing cyber risk and developing, implementing, and enhancing cyber risk management programs.
White Collar and Corporate Investigations
- Represented a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in an SEC investigation related to a cyber incident.
- Representing a corporate client in an internal investigation involving potential False Claims Act (FCA) violations.
- Representing a corporate client in a Department of Defense (DOD) investigation concerning potential FCA claims.
- Represented a corporate client in a US-based investigation of employee embezzlement, coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
- Representing a client in a criminal DOJ investigation involving allegations of bank fraud.
- Advising multiple corporate clients in response to DOJ, SEC, and CFTC subpoenas.
- Represent multiple corporate board members in parallel DOJ and SEC fraud investigations.
- Advised a logistics company during a Department of Labor investigation.
- Represented a corporate client in an internal investigation regarding employee theft of trade secrets.
- Representing a corporate client in federal and state regulatory investigations, successfully negotiating settlements with over 25 agencies regarding product distribution in the US
- Represent a client facing wire fraud and bank fraud allegations, achieving a significant reduction at sentencing.
- Represent a social media platform in a federal regulatory investigation.
Fintech
- Advised a major video game developer on anti-money laundering (AML) policies related to in-game currency.
- Provided guidance to a blockchain technology company on AML compliance.
- Advise multiple cryptocurrency platforms on responding to law enforcement inquiries.
- Counsel a cryptocurrency client facing US regulatory scrutiny.
In Government
During his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Sid prosecuted, among others, the following defendants:
- A CEO and Inventor of a cryptocurrency altcoin, who bilked investors out of millions. Making it one of first initial-coin offering cases charged in the country;
- A group who created more than 20 fraudulent cryptocurrency investing platforms and defrauded investors out of more than US$70 million;
- An individual who launched multiple international DDoS cyberattacks on media, bloggers, and legal-news aggregation websites, including Leagle.com;
- The founders of a cryptocurrency company, who raised US$24 million from more than 13,000 investors. Being the first charged crypto case in the country on Tax Evasion;
- A home security technician, who hacked into more than 200 customers’ accounts to gain live access to their home video feeds;
- A group of six people, who hacked into airline miles accounts, stealing millions of miles, and using those miles to purchase tickets they sold to unsuspecting passengers;
- Two individuals who used an illegally obtained point-of-sale device to load millions of dollars of fraudulent store credits onto gift cards over nearly two years;
- Founder of an online website, which was the leading source of online advertisements for prostitution and sex trafficking, which generated more than US$21 million in profit;
- An individual who operated an illegal cash-to-cryptocurrency conversion scheme;
- An individual who sold fentanyl over the dark web in exchange for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies;
- An individual who sold cocaine and black tar heroin over the dark web (the case was charged under Operation DisrupTor, a coordinated international effort to disrupt opioid trafficking on the dark web); and
- Eight members of the MS-13 international criminal gang on charges of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and use, carry, and possession of a firearm during a violent crime
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- Texas
Court Admissions
- Northern District of Texas
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Education
- Texas Tech School of Law, J.D.
- Texas Tech Rawls College of Business, M.B.A.
- Texas A&M University, B.B.A.
Honors & Awards
- Named one of the “500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers” by Lawdragon (2024-2025)
Professional Activities
Speaker
- “AI in the Workplace: Considerations for Counsel,” Corporate Counsel Section of the Dallas Bar Association (March 4, 2025)
- “Navigating DOJ and SEC Approaches to Cybersecurity Enforcement,” CyberLawCon 2025 (February 28, 2025)
- “Best Practices When the Government Comes Knocking,” APIS 26th Annual Conference (April 14, 2024)
- “The Inevitable Cybersecurity Intrusion: Where Does Your Data End Up?,” IQHQ’s The IQ Brew (February 8, 2024)
- “Cybersecurity Trends,” Trade Secrets, Restrictive Covenants, & Cybersecurity Conference 2024 (January 17, 2024)
- “The US Government’s View of the Cryptocurrency Landscape,” DC Blockchain Summit 2023 (March 21, 2023)
- “Privacy Law Trends Federal and State in 2023,” IAPP Virtual Round Tables (March 16, 2023)
- “Ransomware Security Panel - How We Survived and Hunted Them!,” November 2022 Association of Business Technology Professionals of DFW Chapter Meeting (November 8, 2022)
- “The Inevitable Cybersecurity Intrusion: Where Does Your Client’s Data Actually End Up,” Texas General Counsel Forum’s 24th Annual Conference (November 3, 2022)
- “Growing Cybersecurity Issues Facing Companies and In House Counsel,” Southern Methodist University’s 30th Annual Corporate Counsel Symposium (October 28, 2022)
- Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (technology) Conference (October 24, 2022)
- “A Matter of Cybersecurity: Attack Trends, Forecasts & Red-Hot Topics for C-Leaders & In-House Counsel,” Experian and O’Melveny Webinar (October 19, 2022)
Publications
- “State Regulators Are Not Leaving FTX To The Feds,” Law360, co-author (March 2, 2023)
- “Cybersecurity Challenges and the False Claims Act: Insights from the SuperValu Decision,” ABA White Collar Crime Committee Newsletter (July 2023)
- “Evaluating and Containing Cyber and Data Privacy Risks in Corporate Transactions,” The M&A Journal (April 2023)
Corporate & Government Experience
- Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas
- Assistant District Attorney, Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office