Covington & Burling LLP | Biographies

Jonathan Wakely advises clients on a range of international trade, national security, and public policy matters. Mr. Wakely joined the firm after serving as a political analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, where he provided strategic analysis on Africa and Afghanistan to the President and other senior policymakers.

Drawing on his government experience, Mr. Wakely represents clients worldwide seeking national security approval for foreign investments before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and clients seeking to mitigate foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) under national industrial security regulations. He also counsels companies on export regulations administered by the U.S. State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

In the trade and public policy area, Mr. Wakely advises clients on trade policy matters and in disputes involving the World Trade Organization, bilateral investment treaties, and free trade agreements. He has also represented clients before Congress and the executive branch on government relations initiatives.

Representative Matters

Representing multiple corporations in obtaining national security approval for foreign investments before CFIUS.
Representing a foreign embassy in a public policy and legislative campaign to secure professional visa legislation as part of the implementation of a free trade agreement.
Representing investors in a dispute arising under a bilateral investment treaty.
Counseling a corporation on obtaining a facility security clearance from the Department of Defense.
Representing a multinational corporation in an internal investigation into possible violations of export control laws.