Quantum technology has moved from the research lab to the boardroom. Governments and industries are racing to develop practical quantum computing while simultaneously confronting the cybersecurity risks that this same technology will eventually pose to today's encryption standards.
Recent US executive orders on quantum innovation and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) reflect a broader global trend. Quantum is now a strategic national priority on par with artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductors, with implications spanning national security, critical infrastructure, government procurement, and technology investment. Organizations across virtually every sector—financial services, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, and defense—will need to navigate an evolving and increasingly complex regulatory landscape as quantum capabilities mature.
K&L Gates advises clients on the full spectrum of legal, regulatory, and commercial issues arising from quantum technology. Our multidisciplinary team draws on experience across government contracts, cybersecurity and privacy, national security, intellectual property, critical infrastructure, emerging technology, and public policy, including professionals who have served in the White House, the intelligence community, senior advisors to congressional leadership and the respective committee chairs, the Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, the Department of War, the SEC, and the US Department of Justice. We help clients assess "harvest now, decrypt later" risks to long-lived sensitive data, develop post-quantum cryptography (PQC)-migration strategies, evaluate cryptographic and supply-chain exposure, and prepare for new federal procurement and compliance requirements tied to quantum readiness. We also counsel technology companies, research institutions, and investors on the opportunities created by federal quantum innovation initiatives, including funding programs, public-private partnerships, and commercialization pathways.
As quantum computing and PQC continue to reshape the regulatory and technology landscape, we help clients stay ahead of the curve, translating fast-moving policy developments into practical guidance for boards, management teams, and technology leaders. Whether the issue is data governance, government contracting, technology transactions, or enterprise risk management, our lawyers work with clients to build quantum readiness into their broader cybersecurity and business strategy today, before Q-Day arrives.
