Ariel was a founding board member of the Truman National Security Project.

He is now a trial and appellate litigator at Robbins Russell, where his practice largely focuses on technology and intellectual property.  He has represented plaintiffs and defendants at all stages of litigation – from trial to the Supreme Court – in disputes involving software licensing, copyright infringement, and trade secrets, among others.  He also counsels clients on media and internet transactions, such as book deals and website terms of service.  Before joining Robbins Russell, Ariel was a consultant at McKinsey & Co., where he advised technology and media companies, including television networks and telecommunications providers, on a wide variety of strategic and organizational issues.

Ariel also has significant experience in defense and national security issues.  He has represented defense contractors in internal and federal criminal investigations, and handled matters involving the FCPA, False Claims Act, wire and mail fraud, money laundering, and cybersecurity.  He was a member of the legal team that successfully challenged the Guantánamo Bay military commissions in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, and his writing on national security issues has appeared in the Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, the Yale Journal of International Law, and Slate. 

A portion of Ariel’s practice is also spent counseling clients on matters related to government ethics and lobbying.  He has represented elected officials and registered lobbyists in Congressional ethics investigations and advised clients on lobbying registration and disclosure requirements.

Ariel received his A.B. and A.M. from Stanford University, and his J.D. from Yale Law School.  He clerked for Judge Stephen F. Williams on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.