Akin Welcomes Former Senior Treasury Official Jason Prince, Strengthens Global Economic Sanctions and Export Controls Capabilities

(Washington, D.C.) – Akin is pleased to welcome Jason Prince, immediate-past Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Prince will help lead the firm’s top-tier, multijurisdictional economic sanctions practice.

At OFAC, Prince spearheaded the legal design of groundbreaking sanctions measures and led the legal review of all major enforcement, compliance, licensing, regulatory and litigation actions across more than 35 sanctions programs. Prior to his role as Chief Counsel at Treasury, Prince served as an attorney advisor in the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement and Intelligence, advising the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

With more than 18 years of legal experience in the public and private sectors, Prince brings extensive global sanctions and export controls know-how, including in the emerging areas of fintech and virtual currency. His practice focuses on representing exporters and multinational companies, including financial institutions, on complex international trade compliance and enforcement matters involving OFAC’s sanctions regulations, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls’ International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

“Jason’s arrival strengthens our powerhouse team, which is perfectly positioned to advise clients in today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical environment across sanctions, export controls, national security and global investigations,” said Akin chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “He adds extensive global sanctions and export controls experience, including in the emerging areas of fintech and virtual currency, that are increasingly relevant to the market.”

Prince’s arrival at Akin reunites him with Opher Shweiki, who recently joined the firm from BIS. Together, as Chief Counsels, they closely collaborated on the legal review of export controls and economic sanctions regulations during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This reunion allows Akin to provide clients with the insights of the immediate-past Chief Counsels of both BIS and OFAC. Prince’s addition strengthens Akin’s sanctions, export controls, national security and global investigations team, connecting him with partners Kevin Wolf, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, and Jonathan Poling and Ryan Fayhee, former Department of Justice, National Security Division prosecutors.

“We see growing demand in this space, including in complicated sanctions regulatory and fast-paced enforcement work, and are excited to have Jason join Akin,” said international trade practice head Jonathan Poling. “With the former Chief Counsels from both OFAC and BIS and a deep bench on all things export, sanctions and ongoing enforcement work, we are well-positioned to continue to give our clients the best possible advice and representation.”

“I am truly honored to join Akin and be part of such an exceptional, multijurisdictional international trade team,” Prince said. “I have long admired the firm’s commitment to excellence and am excited to contribute to its first-class global reputation. Teaming up with Opher again and leveraging our collective experience, together with Akin’s already deep bench of strong talent, I am confident that we will bring immense value and continue to deliver outstanding results to our clients as they navigate the complex landscape of sanctions and export controls.”

About Akin’s International Trade, Regulatory and Global Investigations Practices

Akin’s renowned international trade practice guides multinational companies and whole industries through the strategic decisions, regulatory frameworks and disputes that shape how goods, services and technologies move around the world. The practice is among the largest, most distinguished and geographically diverse in the world.

Akin’s team includes former high-ranking national security and foreign policy officials from the departments of Justice, Commerce, State, Treasury, Defense and Homeland Security, as well as the White House and Congress. With lawyers and advisors located in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the team brings a global perspective to clients’ matters.

The team assists clients with regulatory compliance issues and cross-border investigations involving the ITAR, EAR, OFAC sanctions, U.S. antiboycott laws and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Akin’s regulatory lawyers appear before the departments of Justice, State, Treasury and Commerce and affiliated agencies such as OFAC and BIS, in addition to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; the International Trade Commission; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the World Bank and other multinational development banks; the World Trade Organization; the European Union (EU) Directorate General Taxation and Customs Union; the EU Directorate General for Trade; and EU member states’ national customs, export controls, economic sanctions and foreign trade administrations.

The firm’s broader regulatory section has more than 150 professionals covering antitrust, communications, cybersecurity, financial services, environmental, government procurement, health care, international trade, privacy and transportation issues.

Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

###