Samuel W. Salyer
Counsel
Areas of Focus
- International Trade
- Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
- Antibribery/Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
- National Security
- Represents clients in government and internal investigations involving economic sanctions, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and export control laws.
- Advises clients on assessing and responding to regulatory and enforcement risk across different jurisdictions, including by evaluating and strengthening compliance programs.
- Represents clients in litigation and contested proceedings in U.S. federal and state courts and before regulatory bodies.
Sam represents individuals and companies in responding to investigations by U.S. authorities including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), as well as by foreign authorities and international institutions, including the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), French Parquet national financier (PNF) and the World Bank.
Sam has worked closely with clients to investigate, remediate and resolve high-profile civil and criminal matters. He has assisted clients in negotiating resolutions, satisfying post-resolution requirements, working with compliance monitors and designing and implementing effective compliance programs. Sam has been recognized by The Legal 500 for his “outstanding drafting capabilities” and experience assisting corporate clients.
Sam also has experience litigating criminal and civil matters in U.S. federal and state court and before regulatory tribunals. He has conducted jury and bench trials and has represented clients in successful state and federal appellate proceedings. In addition, Sam has represented clients in international commercial arbitration conducted under ICDR and ICC Rules.
Sam maintains an active and diverse pro bono practice. In 2020, he helped lead a team that secured the release under the First Step Act of an individual previously sentenced to life imprisonment on drug charges. In 2023, Sam was part of a team that secured the release of a high-profile human rights activist who was unlawfully detained by a foreign government.
Sam received his J.D. from Columbia Law School where he was a Harlen Fiske Stone Scholar, a moot court program editor, and served as notes & submissions editor of the Human Rights Law Review. He graduated from George Washington University summa cum laude with a B.A. in American Studies.
- Representation of world-leading aerospace and defense company in connection with globe-spanning anti-corruption investigation by multiple U.S. and foreign enforcement agencies.
- Representation of multinational company in connection with U.S. investigation into high-profile allegations of terrorist financing, sanctions violations and money laundering.
- Representation of U.S.-licensed financial services company in connection with FinCEN investigation into anti-money laundering controls.
- Representation of foreign state-owned entity in civil litigation involving assertion of state secrets privilege by U.S. government.
- Representation of a multinational energy company in internal investigation related to potential sanctions violations.
EducationJ.D., Columbia Law School, 2013
B.A., George Washington University, summa cum laude, 2008
J.D., Columbia Law School, 2013
B.A., George Washington University, summa cum laude, 2008
Bar AdmissionsDistrict of Columbia
New York
District of Columbia
New York
- "Trends, Developments and Updates in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: What You Need to Know," The Knowledge Group, February 19, 2019.
- "ISO 37001 Standard for Anti-Bribery Management Systems: How to Stay Internationally Compliant," The Knowledge Group, August 28, 2018.
