Grigore Alexandru, Mubadala

One of a handful of inside counsel included in our “Top Advisors” list, Greg is a former Deputy Director at the Office of Foreign Investment Review at the DoD. An expert on the CFIUS national security review process — as well as FOCI, ITAR, EAR, and other regulations — Greg worked at Sidley until moving to Abu Dhabi to join Mubadala, the sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates. A long-time advisor to Foreign Investment Watch and repeat member of this list, Greg has contributed some of our most widely read articles, including an explanation of the CFIUS co-lead role, an overview of a unclassified CFIUS procedures document, and — most recently — insights on the hidden deal risks regarding reputational exposure across jurisdictions.

Nadia Asancheyev, DLA Piper

While relatively new to DLA Piper, Nadia is certainly not new to the CFIUS community. An expert on all things related to the Committee, Nadia also provides counsel and guidance regarding the DoJ’s Bulk Data Security Program. And she should know: She most recently served in the National Security Division of the DoJ, and served in the Foreign Investment Review Section as a regulator for both CFIUS and Team Telecom. At the National Security Division’s Office of Law & Policy, Nadia represented the DoJ at the National Security Council, and previously was the first Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on National Security and the Law. She can be reached at [email protected]

Keith Ausbrook, Guidepost Solutions

Keith is senior managing director at Guidepost, where he leads a national security practice engaged in CFIUS monitorships and advisory work. Previously, Keith had served as the Executive Secretary of the Homeland Security Council at the White House. He served as the special counsel to a House Committee investigating preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina; was chief oversight counsel for the House Judiciary Committee following the September 11 attacks; and was the top lawyer on the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee that oversaw (among other matters) the theft of classified information by former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger. He is an expert on CFIUS mitigation, and provided a prescient guest column for us back in 2020 on common mitigation measures. Keith can be reached at [email protected].

Laura Black, White & Case

A 15-year veteran of the U.S. Treasury Department and four-time member of this list, Laura Black served as the first Director of Policy and International Relations of CFIUS. In addition to being the “chief drafter” of the regulations implementing FIRRMA, Laura played a leading role in the development of several global investment regimes, and spearheaded the Treasury Department’s engagement with dozens of foreign governments. She explained that foreign engagement strategy to our readers with great precision, and has provided ongoing insights on myriad topics, like the emergence of state-wide legislative proposals that may conflict with CFIUS’s mandate. Laura was also actively involved in the development of proposals for outbound foreign-investment reviews, and regularly provides valuable insights to the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team. Not surprisingly, she’s also the go-to person for industry, and was recruited to interview new CFIUS head Chris Pilkerton at an industry event. She can be reached at [email protected].

Scott Boylan, StoneTurn

It’s rare that we find experts who’ve sat on literally every side of the CFIUS table. But that’s Scott Boylan. Formerly the CFIUS and Team Telecom representative at the Department of Homeland Security, Scott has also served at Treasury and Justice. But he’s also served as Chief Legal Officer for large CFIUS-mitigated companies, which means he’s participated in the negotiation of mitigation agreements from both sides. On top of that, he now regularly conducts CFIUS audits as an independent third-party. So, he’s structured CFIUS strategy, negotiated transactions before CFIUS, overseen compliance with CFIUS and FOCI mitigation agreements, and audited them from the outside. Scott has always carved out time to answer questions from Foreign Investment Watch editors, and has offered practical guidance for readers. He can be reached at [email protected].

Caroline Brown, Crowell & Moring

Since the moment we reported that Caroline Brown was leaving the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to join Crowell & Moring, she has been a critical resource to the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team. From commenting on Executive Orders to providing observations from CFIUS events, Brown is seemingly always available, always online, and always insightful. In addition to FinCEN, Caroline also served in the DoJ’s National Security Division, and at Treasury’s Office of General Counsel, Enforcement and Intelligence. A member of Crowell’s National Security Practice steering committee, she can be reached at [email protected].

John Carlin, Paul Weiss

Chair of Paul Weiss’s National Security & CFIUS group, John Carlin previously served as Acting Deputy Attorney General and then Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States, as well as Assistant Attorney General for the DoJ’s National Security Division. He’s been involved in a number of recent high-profile cases, including one we covered involving the acquisition of iRobot by its Chinese contract manufacturer, Picea. Those who nominated John cited his experiences with “high stakes” transactions involving AI, quantum and other critical and emerging technologies. He can be reached at [email protected]

Charles Capito, Morrison Foerster

Charles makes our Top Advisors list for the third year in a row. A seasoned national security expert with deep CFIUS experience, Charles has been involved in securing clearances for some of the largest and most sensitive cases reviewed by CFIUS, and has been involved in all steps of the CFIUS process, from assessing risk and presenting cases before the Committee, to negotiating mitigation measures and implementing agreements. He has been a critical resource to the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team for several years, providing perspective, context and insights both on-background and on-the-record, on topics ranging from legislative proposals to CFIUS deliberations. Charles is a partner at Morrison Forester, and he can be reached at [email protected]. 

Christian Davis, Akin Gump

Christian is a partner at Akin Gump, where leads the firm’s CFIUS practice. A well-known topical expert with a particular focus on international trade and national security law and policy, Christian has been involved in CFIUS matters across sectors, from aerospace and defense to energy and infrastructure. In addition to his work negotiating and implementing CFIUS mitigation agreements, Christian has hands-on experience in Information and Communications Technology and Services or “ICTS” supply chain issues, including responding to subpoenas, Commerce determinations and other U.S. government outreach. Christian can be reached at [email protected].

Christine Daya, DLA Piper

Christine Daya is a partner at DLA Piper, where she co-chairs the firm’s National Security and Global Trade practice, and serves as global cochair of the CFIUS and Global FDI practices. She has been involved in hundreds of cross-border transactions, advising on CFIUS filing and risk-allocation matters, and negotiating multiple national security agreements. She also regularly handles multi-jurisdictional transactions that require an assessment under the FDI regimes of non-U.S. countries, and provides ongoing CFIUS counsel to the venture capital arms of several major conglomerates, including those of Toyota, Samsung, LG and others. Christine has also taken on a leadership role in the sector, hosting the first of two “Women in CFIUS” lunch events in D.C., and moderating discussions with CFIUS officials. She can be reached at [email protected].

Stephanie Douglas, Guidepost Solutions

Stephanie Douglas is president of Guidepost’s National Security Practice, where she works on multifaceted national security engagements including investigations and CFIUS matters. A go-to expert for the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team, Stephanie has significant experience leading audits and monitorships of CFIUS related National Security Agreements, and has provided insights to our readers on topics ranging from penalties to monitoring. She brings an intelligence officer’s keen eye to her work, honed after serving 20 years at the FBI in senior roles including Executive Assistant Director, where she oversaw the FBI’s national security investigations and operations. She can be reached at [email protected]

Doreen Edelman, Lowenstein Sandler

A perennial entry in our “Top Advisors” feature, Doreen Edelman is the founder of Lowenstein’s Global Trade & Policy practice, where she has a particular expertise in cross-border M&A, export controls, supply chain matters, and more. Not only does she have deep knowledge of CFIUS, but she advises companies on the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Directorate of Defense Controls export control regulations, preparing compliance programs and assisting with deal diligence. She’s known for her practical guidance, and has provided our readers insights on topics such as CFIUS scrutiny of LPs and Biden’s approach to China. Seemingly always available for clarifications and comments, Doreen has been a valuable resource to Foreign Investment Watch editors. She can be reached at [email protected].

Brian Egan, Skadden Arps

Brian leads the CFIUS, Export Controls and Sanctions practices in the National Security Group of Skadden. Previously the senior-most lawyer at both the National Security Council and the State Department, Brian also served as Deputy White House Counsel to President Obama, and Assistant General Counsel at the Treasury Department. He has a particular expertise on export controls matters, from compliance to enforcement, as well as sanctions compliance and risk mitigation, civil and criminal enforcement matters, and “blacklisting” issues. Brian can be reached at [email protected]

Thomas Feddo, The Rubicon Advisors

For the fifth year in a row, Thomas Feddo makes our Top Advisors list. The founder of The Rubicon Advisors, Tom is perhaps best known as “the OG” Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at the U.S. Treasury Department, a presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position responsible for overseeing all operations and activities of CFIUS. Since his departure from Treasury, he’s hosted a regular video series with Foreign Investment Watch called “Ten with Tom,” has testified several times before Congressional committees on outbound screening, and has been an invaluable resource to our Editorial team for insights that only a few people on the planet can provide. The Foreign Investment Watch team has Tom on speed dial, and he’s always quick to respond with insights and intel. He can be reached at [email protected].

Robert Friedman, Holland & Knight

Robert Friedman is the co-head of Holland & Knight’s International Trade Practice and a leader of the firm’s National Security & Defense Industry Group. A former official with the U.S. Department of State, “Robbie” has significant experience with complex cross-border transactions and matters before CFIUS and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. His detailed CFIUS work has included performing national security-related risk assessments, developing tailored strategies for engaging CFIUS and its member agencies, negotiating and implementing mitigation agreements, and more. Before entering private practice, he was a legal adviser at the State Department, where he was involved in high-stakes negotiations in more than 20 countries across five continents; he served as a key legal adviser on several international arms control and nonproliferation treaties, including developing the legal architecture to address the threats posed by chemical weapons in Syria. He was also a senior policy advisor to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, managing participation in the White House-led interagency policymaking process on issues related to China, Russia, North Korea, Europe, cybersecurity, nonproliferation and arms control. He can be reached at [email protected].

Megan Gordon, Clifford Chance

Not many advisors can say they have extensive experience with the Outbound Investment Security Program, especially since it’s not even two years old, but Megan Gordon is one of them. The co-head of Clifford Chance’s U.S. Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Group, Megan has been deeply engaged with the outbound regime, helping companies manage risk exposure and designing compliance programs. Much of her practice these days involves complex cross-border and domestic issues arising from the OISP, and she’s spent time with the Foreign Investment Watch team describing some of the intricacies and unexpected consequences facing market participants. She can be reached at [email protected].

Josh Gruenspecht, Wilson Sonsini

A partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini, Josh has been involved in some of the most high profile cases before CFIUS, including transactions involving Broadcom, Sprint, and the Nokia-Alcatel-Lucent deal. Described by more than one person at “the most detail-oriented national security lawyer practicing today,” Josh has negotiated security agreements, information sharing agreements, and network and physical security plans and policies with CFIUS, DCSA, the FCC, and others. He also serves as CFIUS counsel to the National Venture Capital Association, and authored the model CFIUS language for risk allocation in venture capital investing. The rare lawyer with a hardcore engineering background — earlier in his career, he worked on network security R&D focused on device and network exploitation — Gruenspecht previously served as a Cybersecurity Fellow with the Center for Democracy and Technology. He has provided myriad insights to Foreign Investment Watch’s Editorial team, and has provided readers context on topics related to venture capital, mitigation agreements, Team Telecom, and more. He can be reached at [email protected].

Stephenie Gosnell Handler, Gibson Dunn

The former Director of Cybersecurity Strategy and Digital Acceleration at McKinsey, Stephenie Gosnell Handler is one of our top experts at the nexus of international trade, cybersecurity and technology. A former officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Stephenie has deep expertise in matters related to CFIUS, export controls, and sanctions, as well as cybersecurity matters across the risk management and incident lifecycle. While at McKinsey, she advised senior leadership on public policy and geopolitical trends, and led the firm’s in-house cybersecurity legal team on everything from data localization and regulatory compliance to preparedness and response. Stephenie has been an invaluable advisor to the Foreign Investment Watch team, seemingly available 24×7, and her insights and webcasts on topics ranging from CFIUS trends to the pending outbound review have been timely and insightful, as have her cybersecurity and data privacy “review and outlooks.” She can be reached at [email protected].

Stephen Heifetz, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

No one has made CFIUS-watching more fun and entertaining than Stephen Heifetz. A partner in the National Security practice of Wilson Sonsini, Stephen previously served in the U.S. government as a CFIUS official, and in other national security positions at the CIA, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice. He has been involved in more than 1,000 CFIUS matters, and serves as CFIUS counsel for the National Venture Capital Association. His contribution to our “Startup’s Guide to CFIUS” was the most widely read column in that special section, and he’s been an ongoing resource to the editors of Foreign Investment Watch for insights — and humor; perhaps a remnant from his days as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. He’s been quite outspoken on deficiencies at CFIUS, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind; when Foreign Investment Watch wants a brilliant, insightful, contrarious view, it’s usually Stephen who can offer it up. He can be reached at [email protected].

Annie Herdman, Paul Weiss

The London head of Paul, Weiss’ Antitrust and Foreign Direct Investment groups, Annie has built a deep expertise advising on complex multijurisdictional FDI matters at scale. Having advised on filings and regulatory clearance strategies before all major global antitrust and FDI agencies, she has established “house counsel” relationships with several major investment firms, including Apollo, TPG and TDR Capital. As such, she’s advised on myriad recent transactions, including the acquisition of Hologic by TPG Global and Blackstone; and the investment in PCI Pharma involving Kohlberg, Bain and Mubadala. She can be reached at [email protected]

David Holley, StoneTurn

David has more than three decades of investigative and risk consulting experience in high-stakes internal and cross-border investigations. An expert in navigating and mitigating complex business and legal challenges in high-risk jurisdictions and industries, he draws from unique experience in both the private the public sectors: He served in the Environmental Enforcement Section of the Department of Justice, and held senior positions at risk consultancies Kroll, BRG and K2 Integrity. He has been a go-to resource for the Foreign Investment Watch team, and has provided myriad insights both off- and on-the-record related to third-party monitors, outbound enforcement, penalties and more. He can be reached at [email protected].

Rod Hunter, Baker McKenzie

A partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Baker McKenzie, Rod Hunter previously served as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and senior director for international economics at the National Security Council, which is the White House office that coordinates trade policy and supervises CFIUS. In that role, he managed CFIUS cases, including negotiating resolution of some of the most sensitive cases. He also served as senior counsel at the US Trade Representative’s office, where he litigated cases before the World Trade Organization. A recognized expert in the field of national security, he has testified before Congress and the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission on matters related to CFIUS and national security. He has provided ongoing insights and expertise on FIRRMA and CFIUS to Foreign Investment Watch readers, and can be reached at [email protected].

David Jividen, White & Case

A Senior National Security Advisor at White & Case, David has more than 30 years of deeply relevant experience; he served as Deputy Director for the Department of Defense’s Foreign Investment Review office, and as a senior attorney advisor at the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, where he provided both transaction-specific and high-level strategic CFIUS and Team Telecom advice. He has personally negotiated over 50 mitigation agreements on behalf of the DoD and DoJ, and was responsible for monitoring over a hundred CFIUS and Team Telecom agreements. David has also proved to be an invaluable resource for the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team, providing insights, “heads up” alerts, and even edits when we make mistakes. He can be reached at [email protected]

Eric Johnson, Proskauer

Not many regulators go out of their way to engage with the media and transaction parties, but Eric was one of them. Most recently Principal Deputy Chief for the Foreign Investment Review Section at the DoJ’s National Security Division, Eric basically supervised the DOJ’s work involving CFIUS and Team Telecom, and was deeply involved in the Data Security Program. While at the DoJ, Eric spent time with Foreign Investment Watch readers explaining the proposal, and then unpacking the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (we credit him for cracking the acronym’s pronunciation). Seemingly always available and ready to engage, Eric is now a partner at Proskauer. He can be reached at [email protected].

Ben Joseloff, Davis Polk

Ben Joseloff is one of few practitioners to have served as both a CFIUS lawyer at Treasury, and a CFIUS policymaker at the White House; he served as Director for International Trade and Investment at the National Security Council, where he coordinated White House efforts relating to FIRRMA, and then went on to serve as Senior Counsel and CFIUS Lead Counsel at Treasury. The combination has given Ben hands‑on experience with nearly every facet of the CFIUS process, from reviewing transactions to negotiating mitigation agreements. Until recently at Cravath, Ben is now a partner at Davis Polk, where he has provided insights to Foreign Investment Watch readers on topics like CFIUS’s international cooperation. He can be reached at [email protected].

John Kabealo, Kirkland & Ellis

Previously the founder of an eponymous CFIUS-focused boutique law firm, John is a former M&A attorney at Skadden who recently joined Kirkland & Ellis in the International Trade and National Security practice. Regularly quoted in the pages of Foreign Investment Watch, John focuses almost exclusively on national security regulatory reviews, and has built a reputation as a pragmatic, deal-oriented advocate on very complex global transactions. “He was a defensive back for Princeton football,” said one individual who nominated John to this list in a prior year, “and literally nothing gets passed him.” He has provided insights on Congressional legislation and activities, and has been a valuable sounding board for the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team. John can be reached at [email protected]

Nicole Kar, Paul Weiss

A partner and global co-chair of the Antitrust Practice at Paul Weiss in London, Nicole Kar has been our go-to expert on the UK’s National Security and Investment Act. Quoted by Foreign Investment Watch more times than we care to count, Nicole’s extraordinary understanding of the complex and constantly-changing European and UK foreign-investment review regimes has made her our resident expert on the NSIA; we’re apparently in good company, as Nicole advised the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on the passage of the bill. She provided a primer for our readers back in April 2022, and few months later broke down the first UK report on their new regime. Nicole can be reached at [email protected]

Nicholas Klein, DLA Piper

Nicholas Klein is a partner at DLA Piper, where co-chairs the firm’s National Security and Global Trade practice; and serves as global co-chair of the CFIUS and Global FDI practices. An expert on all things CFIUS, Nicholas has quietly played a critical role in numerous high-profile CFIUS matters, including Softbank’s acquisition of Fortress Investment, as well as Softbank’s investment in GM Cruise. His plain English explanations of CFIUS processes, including topics like, “Why file if it’s not mandatory?” have touched on the insightful and seldom-discussed ancillary benefits, and he’s provided insights for readers on critical technology assessments and other matters in the past year. Nicholas can be reached at [email protected].

Steve Klemencic, Berkeley Research Group

A managing director at Berkeley Research Group, Steve Klemencic is one of the few experts with significant experience auditing and monitoring foreign transactions for their impact on national security. He’s served as the compliance auditor on several transactions, has served on a number of CFIUS third-party monitorship teams, and has shared his experiences and insights with Foreign Investment Watch readers on topics like building trust with CFIUS and preparing for compliance and mitigation expenditures. A former senior analyst at the National Intelligence Council, Steve actually developed and implemented the assessment process for the U.S. intelligence community review of foreign acquirers entering into a CFIUS transaction; the effort encompassed all sixteen U.S. intelligence organizations and provided a structured process for identifying potential threats to U.S. national security. He can be reached at [email protected].

Renee Latour, Clifford Chance

Renee Latour is a partner at Clifford Chance, where she focuses on complex cross-border trade matters that involve export controls, economic sanctions, and of course national security reviews; she regularly represents clients before CFIUS, including negotiation of mitigation measures and national security agreements. A regular go-to expert for the Foreign Investment Watch team, Renee has provided insights on a number of matters, most recently on topics related to national security agreements. She can be reached at [email protected]

Michael Leiter, Skadden Arps

Michael Leiter, who heads the National Security group at Skadden, returns to our “Top Advisors” list for the fifth time. The former director of the National Counterterrorism Center under Presidents Bush and Obama, Leiter previously helped establish the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, serving as its deputy chief of staff responsible for oversight of the U.S. intelligence community, including the CFIUS process and all legislative affairs. Importantly, Leiter has hand-on experience as a senior executive at defense contractors and technology companies, which provide him a unique perspective on both operational and legal matters. He’s also a go-to advisor to Silicon Valley’s top-tier venture-capital firms, which are now under increasing scrutiny from the Select Committee and others. Leiter can be reached at [email protected].

J. Philip Ludvigson, King & Spalding

A CFIUS veteran and repeat member of this list, Phil Ludvigson previously served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He also served as Treasury’s first Director for Monitoring & Enforcement, and built the office that pursues CFIUS non-notified transactions and oversees all CFIUS mitigation measures, including compliance monitoring and enforcement actions. Before joining Treasury, Ludvigson held various roles at the Department of Homeland Security, including serving as the Acting Director of Foreign Investment Risk Management, where he led all aspects of the agency’s participation in CFIUS and Team Telecom. He has been an invaluable advisor to Foreign Investment Watch, and his behind-the-scenes insights and late-night explanations of complex regulatory matters and legislative proposals have been absolutely priceless. Now a partner at King & Spalding, Ludvigson can be reached at [email protected].

James Mendenhall, Sidley

A partner in Sidley’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy group, James Mendenhall leads the firm’s CFIUS practice, and has been a seemingly constant source of intelligence for the editors of Foreign Investment Watch. Previously the General Counsel of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where he handled complex trade negotiations and served as the USTR representative on CFIUS, Mendenhall has deep experience with the Committee, and has shared his insights regularly with our readers. He was written extensively on CFIUS and the interplay with other regulations and legislation (think the Commerce Department’s ICTS rules), and has been deeply involved in several high-profile cases, including the recent ICON-PTSDI clearance by CFIUS, which he explained to our readers in a “Ten Minutes On” video session. He can be reached at [email protected].

Ken Mendelson, Guidepost Solutions

Ken Mendelson is Senior Managing Director at Guidepost, where he focuses on the intersection of law, technology and public policy. An expert on myriad regulatory requirements governing complex “critical and emerging technologies,” Ken oversees the delivery of his firm’s cybersecurity and privacy services, from developing policies to conducting risk-based cybersecurity assessments and investigations. Importantly, he is well-known to CFIUS, having been selected to serve as third-party monitor and auditor under multiple national security agreements. He has been a regular contributor and advisor to Foreign Investment Watch, most recently opining on the importance of professional standards and expectations for TPAs and TPMs. Earlier in his career, Ken served as counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, where he advised committee members on topics ranging from digital surveillance to encryption. He can be reached at [email protected].

Karalyn Mildorf, Clifford Chance

With nearly two decades of specialized experience focusing on CFIUS, few have seen as many cases as Karalyn Mildorf. A partner at Clifford Chance, Mildorf is relentlessly focused on issues related to national security, foreign direct investment and CFIUS. She has advised clients on CFIUS issues in myriad transactions across sector and region, and has extensive experience with national security requirements in connection with complex transactions. Whether it’s assessing potential national security issues, navigating the CFIUS process, addressing inquiries by the Committee (including non-notified transactions), negotiating CFIUS-related deal terms, or addressing implementation of (and compliance with) CFIUS mitigation agreements, Mildorf has literally seen it all. She can be reached at [email protected].

Aimen Mir, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Another long-time, repeat entry in our Top Advisors list, Aimen Mir previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at Treasury, where he was ostensibly the senior-most career CFIUS official. Aimen managed CFIUS review and resolution of over 1,000 transactions, and played leading roles in shaping both FIRRMA and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. Previously counsel in the National Security Division of the Department of Justice, Aimen has been involved in numerous cross-border CFIUS matters, including Volkswagen’s proposed $2.6 billion co-investment with Ford Motor Co. in autonomous vehicle technology company Argo AI. He has provided intel for our readers on multiple occasions, most recently related to the government shutdown, and our 2021 conversation with him on the non-notified process remains one of our most well-read articles ever. He can be reached at [email protected].

Brian Moore, Bot Auto

One of only a few inside counsel to be included consistently in our “Top Advisors” list, Brian is currently the Chief Policy Officer at Bot Auto, the autonomous trucking company that was launched by TuSimple cofounder Xiaodi Hou. Moore has significant experience addressing CFIUS national security concerns across multiple entities: He previously served as CFIUS Security Officer at Treasure Data (he discussed his experiences with us back in 2022), and then joined Tusimple, where he also played an “instrumental” role in helping the company become CFIUS compliant. In addition to his work at Bot Auto, Moore has played an important role at the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, where his “sophisticated grasp of policy implications” have had a material impact on the U.S. autonomous driving industry.

Britt Mosman, Willkie Farr

A partner and co-chair of the Global Trade & Investment practice group at Willkie Farr, Britt Mosman has been a go-to expert for Foreign Investment Watch for half a decade. Previously an Attorney-Advisor in the Office of the Chief Counsel, she she advised the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, Britt is an expert on compliance and enforcement matters related to CFIUS, the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering, export controls and more. She has provided context for Foreign Investment Watch readers on topics like non-notified transactions from Russia, the outbound regime, and more. She has deep crypto expertise, and has been involved in several high-profile, high-stakes enforcement proceedings. She can be reached at [email protected].

Kenneth Nunnenkamp, Morgan Lewis

Ken Nunnenkamp is a partner at Blank Rome, where he focuses on issues related to CFIUS, export controls, sanctions and trade enforcement. An outside-the-box thinker, Nunnenkamp had previously coauthored a high-profile and intriguing proposal: One that stated national security reviews of foreign investments merit a full-on Commission, not an ad-hoc Committee. He later shared his insights with our readers during a “Ten Minutes On” video session, and has provided regular insights and behind-the-scenes tips to the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team. He regularly represents clients in international trade and national security matters before U.S. federal courts and government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security, Defense, and Treasury. He can be reached at [email protected].

Katherine Padgett, Akin Gump

Katherine Padgett is a parter at Akin Gump, where she focuses on a wide range of international trade matters, including CFIUS and the DCSA. Prior to joining the firm, she served in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the Department of State, where she acted as the department’s lead CFIUS lawyer and principal lawyer on international investment matters. She also represented the State Department in interagency policy-making processes, and worked closely with senior officials at the National Security Council, U.S. Trade Representative, the DoJ, DoD and others. She has represented firms in Abu Dhabi and across Asia on CFIUS matters, and has provided insights to Foreign Investment Watch readers on topics like the BIS’s connected vehicles rule. She can be reached at [email protected].

H.K. Park, Crumpton Global

We’ve said it many times before: H.K. Park should be on our payroll. Managing Director at Crumpton Global, H.K. has provided Foreign Investment Watch with more scoops and “heads-up” stories than any other reader or advisor. A former Assistant to the Secretary of Defense on homeland security matters, H.K. spent nearly two decades at the advisory firm launched by former Secretary of Defense and Member of Congress William S. Cohen, where he led the firm’s Korea and Southeast Asia practices. An expert on helping companies think about expansion into foreign markets, particularly Asia, H.K. is one of the few experts on outbound foreign-investment regimes, and was the first to explain to our readers how national security audits could be a direct result of any outbound legislation or Executive Order. He can be reached at [email protected].

Ulises Pin, Morgan Lewis

Ulises Pin is a partner at Morgan Lewis, where he co-leads the firm’s Data Center Strategic Initiative. A go-to advisor for private equity firms, venture capital funds, and financial institutions, Ulises happens to specialize in digital infrastructure and data centers — two topics directly at the nexus of national security and foreign investment. He represented DigitalBridge Group in its acquisition by SoftBank (leading national security and CFIUS matters), and advises Brookfield Infrastructure Partners on the national security aspects of data center and digital infrastructure investments. Several parties said Ulises has a penchant for “translating complex requirements into practical strategies that eliminate risk.” He can be reached at [email protected].

David Plotinsky, Morgan Lewis

A perennial entry in this “Top Advisors” list, David Plotinsky had previously served as acting chief of the Foreign Investment Review Section at the DoJ’s National Security Division. He was also chief of the FCC’s Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division, and served in several senior roles in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s Office of General Counsel (to name a few). An expert with an extraordinarily deep understanding of complex compliance and enforcement matters arising from CFIUS and Team Telecom cases, his “ten minutes on” session with Foreign Investment Watch was one of our most widely-viewed videos; his Q&A with us on lessons for dealing with CFIUS was considered “priceless” by readers. David has provided constant guidance and insight to the editors of Foreign Investment Watch on topics related to global trade, information communications technology, critical and emerging technology, and more. Now a partner at Morgan Lewis, David can be reached at [email protected].

Mark Plotkin, Covington

Few firms do as much CFIUS work as Covington, and Mark Plotkin is the reason why. While maintaining an under-the-radar profile, Mark has a well-known reputation as one of the preeminent CFIUS experts. Sometimes known as the “dean of the CFIUS bar,” Mark and his team have been involved in some of the most high-profile transactions involving Chinese parties, from China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s $1.5 billion acquisition of Nexen, to the sale of CIT Group to China’s Avolon Holdings. And he’s been doing it longer than most: He helped secure CFIUS clearance for GlobalFoundries’ acquisition of IBM’s semiconductor business more than a decade ago. Mark can be reached at [email protected]

Bridget Reineking, Cooley

Previously senior counsel and co-lead CFIUS counsel at the Office of the General Counsel at Treasury, Bridget Reineking has deep experience with the Committee, having supervised the legal analyses and resolution of more than 600 transactions reviewed by CFIUS. While at Treasury, she provided counsel in connection with CFIUS’ review of both notified and non-notified transactions, and negotiated national security agreements with U.S. businesses and foreign investors on behalf of the government. A go-to advisor for the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team, Bridget was gracious enough to play a game of true/false with us, and is a constant source of clear, straight-forward insights. She can be reached at [email protected].

Brian Reissaus, Freshfields

Currently a Senior Advisor on the National Security team at Freshfields, Reissaus most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security Operations at the Treasury Department, and — for the first 16 months of the Biden Administration —served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Investment Security. Experts say Brian played a “key role” in negotiating FIRRMA and then promulgating the implementing regulations, and was involved in managing the processing of more than 1,500 notices and declarations filed with CFIUS, with a combined transaction value of more than $1 trillion. Since he left the Committee, he’s been a source of “highly insightful, reliable, and actionable advice,” as our readers can attest from his “Ten Minutes On” segment regarding legal challenges to CFIUS. Brian can be reached at [email protected].

Michael Rose, EisnerAmper

As CFIUS has elevated the role of third-party auditors and monitors, experts like Michael Rose have been absolutely invaluable to the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team. An experienced consultant in the worlds of audit and internal controls, Michael is a partner in the Risk and Compliance Services group at EisnerAmper, where he also serves as national practice leader of the firm’s CFIUS Advisory Services group. An expert on topics related to National Security Agreement compliance oversight, he has conducted readiness and third-party audits for numerous CFIUS-imposed NSAs. His experience has enabled him to inform our readers about the ways that CFIUS risk assessments and audits are conducted, and has provided a unique perspective on topics ranging from filing trends to national security risks. Rose can be reached at [email protected].

Paul Rosen, Latham & Watkins

Paul’s inclusion on this list is obvious: He was appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the second-ever Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at Treasury, where he oversaw CFIUS and led the U.S. government’s investment security screening, regulatory reviews, and enforcement activities. In addition to knowing the ins-and-outs of the Committee, many of the current senior CFIUS staffers were his hires, which means he knows who to call when necessary. And having ramped up the Committee’s compliance and enforcement function, he certainly knows how decisions are made and compliance is monitored. Foreign Investment Watch editors had the pleasure of speaking with Paul on several occasions when he was at CFIUS, and since his departure he’s been an invaluable advisor. He can be reached at [email protected].

Anne Salladin, Hogan Lovells

Anne Salladin served for nearly two decades in the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for International Affairs of the Treasury Department, which provides legal advice to the Secretary of the Treasury, who of course chairs CFIUS. As senior counsel, she was responsible for providing legal advice on CFIUS matters, working closely with other CFIUS agencies, and played a role in developing laws and regulations related to CFIUS. Anne has been involved in myriad transactions filed with CFIUS, and has represented companies before CFIUS in the pharma, defense, semiconductor, and other industries. Her Q&A with Foreign Investment Watch is still one of the most-widely read interviews we have ever published, and she is a regular go-to expert for our Editorial team. She can be reached at [email protected].

Albert Schultz, Kaerus

Albert is president of Kaerus Consulting, which provides the full range of mitigation services for companies under agreements with CFIUS, DCSA, and Team Telecom. He has personally served as Outside Director, Third-Party Monitor, Trustee, Security Director, and Proxy Holder, and has been involved in some of the most complicated cases under CFIUS NSAs, including one characterized by a top DoD CFIUS official as the “triple black diamond” of cases. Schultz previously spent nearly three decades at the Central Intelligence Agency. He has been a regular source of intel for the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team, and publishes his own CFIUS newsletter packed with practical insights. Schultz can be reached at [email protected].

Mark Skerry, Simpson Thacher

Mark Skerry is a partner at Simpson Thacher, where he serves in the National Security Regulatory practice. A former attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, Mark has carved out a niche working with some of the largest private-equity firms and institutional investors and high-profile cases. For example, he represented Paramount Global in connection with its merger with Skydance Media, and helped Microsoft get foreign investment approvals for its $19.7 billion acquisition of Nuance Communications. He’s shared his insights with readers on topics ranging from non-notified transactions to the Known Investor Program, and remains a source of intel for the Foreign Investment Watch editorial team. He can be reached at [email protected]

Jesse Sucher, FTI Consulting

Jesse Sucher is a senior director at FTI Consulting, where he advises clients on investment screening and national security matters. Previously, Jesse was Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Investment Security, covering both CFIUS and the Outbound Investment Security Program. He also served as Deputy Director and founding member of the first enforcement arm of CFIUS, and previously led sanctions investigations at Treasury’s OFAC. A go-to resource for the Foreign Investment Watch editorial team, Jesse has done a deep dive with us on third-party monitors and auditors, and has provide insights on myriad topics including divestment orders. Jesse can be reached at [email protected].

Olga Torres, Torres Trade Law

Olga is the founder of the eponymous Torres Trade Law and a related advisory firm, Torres Trade Advisory. An expert on all things CFIUS, Olga has significant experience developing strategies and conducting negotiations with U.S. regulatory agencies, and her firm has developed a number of useful resources including a Global Tariff Navigator, a “Trade Trump Table” that maps policy directives, and a trade podcast that has featured DoJ officials, legal experts, CPB auditors, and more. Olga also been a valuable source of intel on industry developments, and has provided readers with insights on outbound, industry regulations, CFIUS jurisdiction, specific transactions, and more. Torres can be reached at [email protected].

Mick Tuesley, Simpson Thacher

The head of the National Security Regulatory practice at Simpson Thacher, Mick Tuesley is an expert on CFIUS matters and other industry security regulations, from FOCI to export controls. He has served as regulatory counsel to several major broadcast networks in connection with the FCC’s media ownership review proceedings, and has provided insights for Foreign Investment Watch readers on numerous topics, including M&A trends and their nexus with CFIUS risks. He has been involved in numerous complex and high-profile transactions, including multiple foreign-investment reviews involving Sprint in the wireless sector. He can be reached at [email protected].

Carl Valenstein, Morgan Lewis

Valenstein is a member of the CFIUS working group at Morgan Lewis, where he focuses his practice on complex global transactions and international risk management, including compliance with the foreign investment review process, export control and sanctions, and anti-money laundering, antiboycott, and anticorruption laws and regulations. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Valenstein has worked broadly in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East (he’s also conversant in French and Italian). He has served as lead counsel on some of the more complex and thorny CFIUS cases, and has done so across heavily regulated industries, including global defense and energy. He can be reached at [email protected].

Adam Vaccaro, DLA Piper

Adam is a partner at DLA Piper, where he focuses on national security and regulatory compliance matters, with a particular emphasis on CFIUS and the Outbound regime. Previously, Adam served as the CFIUS Coordinator and Director of the Office of Investment Security in the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce, where he worked closely with the Bureau of Industry and Security and others on CFIUS and national security issues. He also led a consulting team supporting the Department of Defense’s participation on CFIUS, helping them identify and analyze the national security implications of investments. He can be reached at [email protected].

Brandon Van Grack, Morrison Foerster

The co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s National Security and Crisis Management groups, Brandon Van Grack spent more than a decade at the DoJ, holding several positions including Chief of the Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit. He provided an outstanding primer on the FARA Unit for our readers, and has provided myriad insights to the Foreign Investment Watch Editorial team on topics ranging from state legislation to the DoJ’s voluntary self-reporting policy. The lead prosecutor for Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, Van Grack has been involved in some of the nation’s most high-profile national security matters; for example, as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Van Grack led the DoJ’s response to the Obama Administration’s rollback of sanctions targeting Iran (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). He has handled the entire range of national security matters — from espionage to cybersecurity — and has deep expertise and perspective across the entire national security landscape. He can be reached at [email protected].