Over 25 years of experience in the private and public sectors, including 15 years at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, most recently as the Director of Policy and International Relations for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
Chief drafter of the regulations implementing the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA), and prior to public service, a corporate lawyer based in Washington, D.C. and Brussels, Belgium with a practice focused on cross-border investment.
Combines a deep understanding of deal dynamics, legal and policy issues, and an insider’s understanding of government processes to provide legal representation and strategic guidance.

Laura advises clients, including funds and multinational corporations, on investment screening within a broader national security context and provides strategic guidance and planning.

She also provides counsel on matters, including international investment risks, multijurisdictional reviews of transactions, cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and emerging policy issues involving outbound investments by United States entities.

Laura joined Akin after serving 15 years at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she was most recently the first Director of Policy and International Relations of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). During her tenure at CFIUS, Laura was the chief drafter of and led the process for scoping, drafting and finalizing the full set of regulations implementing the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), the first expansion of CFIUS authority in three decades.

Laura has played a leading role in the development of other investment regimes both within and outside the U.S. She was actively involved in the development of proposals for a widely anticipated regulatory program for outbound U.S. investment in critical industry sectors.

Internationally, Laura spearheaded U.S. government engagement with dozens of foreign governments, including with countries in Europe, Asia, the Western Hemisphere and the Middle East. She also played a prominent role in the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council Investment Security Working Group, chaired a G-7 Investment Security Experts Group and was a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Steering Group on Investment Security.

Laura served as a Senior Advisor to the General Counsel during the Bush administration, as well as a Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for International Markets and Development during the Obama administration. Laura served as the point person between the Biden-Harris administration transition team and the Offices of International Affairs (including CFIUS) and Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

In addition to her service at the Treasury, Laura performed the duties of the Executive Director for the U.S. on the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank and subsequently served as a senior counselor to the Senate-confirmed U.S. Executive Director.

Prior to entering public service, Laura was a lawyer in the Washington, D.C. and Brussels, Belgium offices of another leading international firm with a practice focused on cross-border M&A.

Education
J.D., Harvard Law School, cum laude, 1999
B.Ec., Bucknell University, summa cum laude, 1996

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia

Recognitions

Foreign Investment Watch, Top Advisor on Foreign Investment and National Security, 2023 and 2024.
The Legal 500 US, International Trade: International Trade: CFIUS, 2024.

Affiliations and Public Service

Advisory Board, Foreign Investment Watch
Director of Policy and International Relations, CFIUS, Office of Investment Security, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Senior Counselor, Office of the U.S. Executive Director, Inter-American Development Bank
Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of International Markets and Development, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Senior Advisor to the General Counsel, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Attorney Advisor, International Affairs and OFAC, U.S. Department of the Treasury

Speeches and Publications

Speaker, "The Future of Private Equity and Venture Capital," Beryl Alternative Investment & Data Revolution Thought Leadership Conference, September 29, 2024
Co-Chair, 10th National Conference on CFIUS, American Conference Institute, April 11, 2024.
Panelist, "The Practice of Preparing for Outbound Investment Scrutiny: Lessons from Navigating the CFIUS Process and New, Strategic Considerations," 10th National Conference on CFIUS, American Conference Institute, April 11, 2024.
Speaker, “Understanding Washington: U.S. Trade Policy Training,” Diplocraft, The Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement, March 21, 2024.
Panelist, “The Growing Impact of International Trade Laws for Med Tech Companies,” MDMA Webinar, March 20, 2024.
Speaker, "Upcoming US Outbound Investment Restrictions," Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) APAC Webinar, December 4, 2023.
Speaker, "Great Leap Outward: Enterprise Exodus in Xi's China," Ergo Global Flashpoints, November 29, 2023.
Speaker, "Understanding the New Outbound Foreign Investment Controls," Massachusetts Export Controls Webinar, October 25, 2023.
Speaker, "Foreign Ownership of U.S. Real Estate: Increased Government Scrutiny, Administrative Obligations, and Penalties," Strafford Publications Webinar, August 17, 2023.
Speaker, “Executive Order on U.S. Investments into China,” ICI Global, August 11, 2023.
Speaker, “Upcoming US Outbound Investment Restrictions,” Alternative Investment Management Association (AMIA) Webinar, July 28, 2023.
Author, “Foreign Investment in Real Estate is Getting More Complicated,” Law 360, June 2023.
Moderator and panelist, “The Scope of Coordination Across Jurisdictions,” 4th European Forum on FDI Reviews and CFIUS, London, June 2023.
Witness before Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, “An Act to Amend the Investment Canada Act,” May 2023.
Panelist, “Outbound Investment Restrictions (i.e., Reverse CFIUS),” Brookings’ Congressional Study Group on Foreign Relations and National Security Law, April 2023.
Speaker, “Cross-Border Investment and M&A: Inbound and Outbound Compliance Concerns," Massachusetts Export Expo, January 27, 2023.
Speaker, “High-Level Roundtable on Investments and National Security Strategy,” 2022 CELIS Forum on Investment Screening: The Emerging Law of Investment Control in Europe: Screening, Sanctions and Subsidies, Uppsala, Sweden, June 1, 2022.
Speaker, “Foreign Direct Investments: Hot Relationships Between the US, EU and UK,” Concurrences Webinar, October 21, 2021.
Speaker, “Understanding the Basics of CFIUS,” Select USA Summit, June 10, 2021.
Speaker, “Transparency, Predictability and Accountability for Investment Screening Mechanisms,” OECD Webinar, May 11, 2021.
Moderator, “Navigating the Current Global Scene: The Latest Developments in Overseas FDI Processes,” American Conference Institute CFIUS Conference, April 21, 2021.
Speaker, “Final FIRRMA Rules and Their Implications for Cross-Border M&A,” ABA International Law Section Annual Meeting, June 8, 2020.
Speaker, “CFIUS and FIRRMA,” 2019 BIS Conference on Export Controls, July 2, 2019.
Speaker, “Complying with CFIUS and FIRRMA,” Select USA Summit, June 11, 2019.
Speaker, “CFIUS Update,” Anti-Corruption, Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance Summit, April 16, 2019.
Speaker, “Acquisition and Ownership-Related Policies to Safeguard Essential Security Interests,” OECD, Paris, France, March 12, 2019.