Director of White Collar Defense | Senior Military Law Attorney
Former United States Attorney and Army Judge Advocate
Duane “DAK” Kees brings decades of experience at the highest levels of federal law enforcement, military justice, and government decision-making. After being nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, DAK served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, where he was the chief federal law enforcement officer for the district. In that role, he supervised federal prosecutors, directed complex criminal investigations, and worked closely with federal agencies on matters involving public corruption, white collar crime, national security, violent crime, child exploitation, and other high-profile offenses.
As United States Attorney, DAK was responsible for evaluating allegations, determining enforcement priorities, overseeing charging decisions, and helping guide some of the most significant federal investigations in the region. He also served on multiple Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittees, including Veterans and Servicemembers, White Collar Fraud, and Terrorism and National Security, where he contributed to discussions and recommendations affecting federal law enforcement policy nationwide.
Before leading a United States Attorney’s Office, DAK served as an Army Judge Advocate with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. During his military service, he advised commanders, investigated allegations of misconduct, and handled military justice matters as both a prosecutor and defense counsel. His military experience provides him with firsthand insight into how military leaders, investigators, and legal authorities evaluate evidence, credibility, accountability, and risk.
DAK’s career has been spent evaluating the types of allegations and concerns that can alter a person’s future. Having served as both a senior federal prosecutor and military attorney, he understands how government agencies assess evidence, investigate misconduct, determine risk, and make decisions that affect careers, reputations, security clearances, military service, and personal freedom. This perspective allows him to help clients anticipate government concerns, identify weaknesses in a case, and develop strategies designed to achieve the strongest possible outcome.
Today, DAK leads National Security Law Firm’s White Collar Defense Practice and serves as a senior attorney within the firm’s Military Law Practice. He represents service members, veterans, executives, professionals, contractors, and federal employees facing government investigations, military justice matters, administrative actions, security clearance concerns, white collar allegations, and other high-stakes legal challenges.
Jurisdictions Admitted: Arkansas. Represents clients nationwide in federal administrative, military, national security, security clearance, and white collar defense matters.
Education: J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law; B.S., United States Military Academy at West Point.