National Security

We counsel clients on critical and cutting-edge national security issues that arise in cross-border transactions, investigations, regulatory proceedings, litigation and policy matters. Our team has decades of experience advising on these issues, including as former senior U.S. government officials serving in the most vital national security positions.

In recent years, technology, the digital revolution, supply chains and geopolitical alliances and tensions have fundamentally transformed national security. To successfully compete in this new age, businesses need to have an understanding of how the evolving and shifting landscape of national security law impacts their operations and future growth models.

Our lawyers and advisors help clients anticipate, prepare for and shape the legal and policy environment impacted by national security policies and laws. We assist clients in navigating national security regulatory regimes and in obtaining associated authorization to conduct business worldwide.

We advise on laws enforced by the U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, Defense, the Treasury, Energy, State and Homeland Security, as well as other U.S. and international government agencies and bodies.

Spotlight on Lobbying & Public Policy

Our renowned lobbying & public policy practice integrates a top lobbying practice within a full-service law firm. Our bipartisan group focuses exclusively on representing clients before the federal government on legislative, policy and regulatory matters, including on issues involving national security and defense policy and supply chain domestication.

Drawing on experience in the private sector, military and legislative and executive branches of government, our lawyers and advisors leverage all of their relationships to assist clients. The team is skilled in briefing department officials and congressional decision-makers on how a client’s product or service supports national security priorities. To secure a successful outcome, we apply our first-hand knowledge of Pentagon and congressional bureaucracy to advocate throughout the defense budgeting, appropriations and authorization processes.

Learn more about our lobbying & public policy services.

Industry Leaders

Our counsel is informed by the combined private sector and senior government experience of our practitioners. Our industry-leading national security team includes the:

• Former members of Congress who served on the House Foreign Affairs (former Chairwoman), House Appropriations, House Armed Services, House Veterans’ Affairs, Senate Armed Services and Senate Foreign Relations committees
• Former Special Assistant to the President for the National Security Council
• Former Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense
• Former Senior Counselor to the Director of the National Economic Council, White House
• Former Senior Advisor for International Economic Affairs, White House
• Former Associate General Counsel, Office of U.S. Trade Representative
• Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration
• Former Director of Policy and International Relations, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
• Former Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation and International Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Former Chief Counsel, Bureau of Industry and Security
• Former Chief Counsel, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Full Spectrum of National Security Services

We provide full support to clients in the national security arena. Our broad capabilities include advising on the following:

• Aerospace & defense industry matters
• Anti-money laundering (AML) and law enforcement
• Buy American Act (BAA) and Trade Agreements Act (TAA) requirements
• China-related issues
• Corporate transactions
• Customs & border protection
• Cybersecurity, privacy & data protection
• Economic espionage
• Emerging and foundational technologies
• Energy and infrastructure
• Export controls & economic sanctions
• Food safety and bioterrorism
• Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants
• Foreign investment screening, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
• Government contracts
• Information Communications and Technology Services (ICTS) supply chain issues
• Intellectual property
• Intelligence Community (IC) matters
• International arbitration
• International trade regulation and compliance
• Investment management industry matters
• Lobbying & public policy
• Military base enhancement
• National security and defense policy
• Security clearance matters
• Space law & policy
• Supply chain security issues
• Telecom, media & technology (TMT)
• World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute resolution and counseling.

Representative Matters

• Served as international trade counsel to a publicly traded Chinese telecommunications company, which was the subject of the largest export controls settlement in U.S. history and two U.S. government-appointed monitors.
• Defended a multiagency criminal and civil export control enforcement matter of a 3D printing company involving Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) violations relating to the export of data to China.
• Defended and settled a sanctions enforcement by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) involving a large international bulk shipping company.
• Represented the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government in the negotiation of the Abraham Accords, which resulted in the first Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel in over 25 years.
• Defended a multiagency criminal and civil export control enforcement matter of a 3D printing company involving EAR and ITAR violations relating to the export of data to China.
• Defended and settled a sanctions enforcement by OFAC involving a large international bulk shipping company.
• Represented the UAE government in international disputes brought by Qatar against the UAE in the WTO, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Court of Justice regarding the UAE’s decision to terminate relations with Qatar.
• Represented Senate-confirmed executive branch official in investigation by the House Select Intelligence Committee into misuse of intelligence in the 2016 presidential election.
• Advising investment funds on ongoing and potential People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) national security reviews in global transactions involving operations in China.
• Representing various clients in obtaining clearance for transactions to proceed before CFIUS, including in the negotiation of National Security Agreements to address identified concerns.