Economic Sanctions, Export Controls and Customs Compliance 

  • Counseled a major Asian financial institution’s operations in three countries on U.S. sanctions compliance issues
  • Developed trade compliance procedures for a major global retail chain with over $1 billion annual revenue  
  • Secured removal of two Russian former bankers from OFAC’s SDN List
  • Counseled a U.S.-based telecommunications operator on impact of U.S. sanctions regulations on Cuba 
  • Advised a major GCC-based food and beverage producer on the impact of U.S. sanctions laws on its overseas operations in the Middle East
  • Advise companies in Russia and the UAE on processing lawful U.S. Dollar transfers through international financial institutions
  • Advised Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC)-registered entities on U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) obligations
Akrivis Law - International Practice

Cross-Border Transactions 

  • Represented European-based news media enterprise expanding its U.S. footprint, including corporate restructuring and drafting U.S. contracts and related matters related to Covid directive compliance 
  • Successfully recovered delinquent receivables for an Asian company by a U.S. principal after over two years of refusal to pay 
  • Represented a U.S. exporter seeking to recover receivables from sales to Angola, spearheading asset tracing and due diligence efforts
  • Counseled U.S. client on joint venture with European entities for a specialized tertiary care medical center in the Middle East
  • Advised U.S. luxury housewares importer on agreements with vendors in Europe and Asia
  • Draft agency contracts for U.S. company’s representatives in the Middle East, with key consideration to observing U.S. regulatory protocol such as the FCPA
Litigation

White Collar Defense & Commercial Litigation 

  • Cross-Border & Internal Investigations
    • Implemented a first-ever compliance program as part of mitigating and remedial efforts for a U.S. manufacturer subject to federal investigation
    • Obtained a misdemeanor plea for the president of a New York import-export business indicted for money laundering and structuring offenses in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY)
    • Led a major multinational investigation and collaborated with an investigations firm to assist a U.S. exporter in bank-mandated due diligence on potential African counterparty
    • Representing a customs broker in connection with a federal investigation in the District of New Jersey into potential violations of the False Claims Act
  • FCPA & Anti-Corruption
    • Advise U.S. corporations on reducing the risk of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) liability in the Middle East and India
    • Represented U.S. corporate executive accused of FCPA and related books and records violations
    • Advised on aspects of U.S. investigation of a foreign executive for alleged FCPA violations 
  • Sanctions Enforcement
    • Secured a declination of prosecution in connection with a federal investigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (DDC) of a Hungarian business for potential sanctions and money laundering violations
    • Successfully represented numerous clients on responses to OFAC Administrative Subpoenas relating to potential violations 
    • Secured delisting of a major distributor of European and Japanese industrial equipment in Pakistan from the U.S. BIS Entity List, and coordinated with Japanese co-counsel on securing removal from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) End-User List, the first such effort reported to-date
    • Represented a Canadian business in connection with a federal investigation in the Northern District of Ohio into potential money laundering and sanctions violations, which led to no charges being filed 
    • Represented UAE company in response to DOJ investigation related to alleged sanctions violations
    • Represented individual in response to DOJ investigation of alleged sanctions violations and trade secret misappropriation, which resulted in no government enforcement
    • Representing a high net-worth Canadian individual under federal indictment in the Central District of California for money laundering and sanctions violations
  • Commercial Litigation
    • Representing a major Russian company in connection with confirmation of an ICSID arbitral award in the District Court for the District of Columbia
    • Representing an Asian businessman in connection with a high-stakes complex partnership dispute in New York
    • Represented a California-based media company in connection with federal claims of employment discrimination
    • Represented an Iranian political activist in connection with federal claims of unfair competition and trademark infringement