Covington & Burling LLP | Practices, Industries & Regions

Covington has broad expertise handling advisory and enforcement matters involving US foreign trade controls, including export controls, economic sanctions, anti-boycott requirements, and anti-bribery prohibitions. Our unique depth in the substantive US legal constraints in this area is equally matched by our considerable policy experience with the key regulatory agencies. We count among our ranks a number of former government officials, such as Stuart Eizenstat and Alan Larson, with significant experience in US foreign trade control policy.

Covington has long been a leading firm assisting a broad range of clients with advisory and enforcement matters involving foreign trade controls administered by the US and other governments, including export controls to restrict dissemination of sensitive technologies; embargoes and other economic sanctions to combat terrorism and carry out US foreign policy; anti-boycott requirements; and anti-bribery prohibitions. We regularly advise leading US and international companies in virtually all sectors of the economy, including entities in the oil and gas sector, software and high-technology concerns, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, defense contractors, manufacturing entities, financial institutions, and university-affiliated laboratories.

Our work includes on-going advice to clients on the frequent changes in the scope of trade control programs, advice and assistance on interpretive matters, obtaining licenses and other authorizations, advocating changes in regulatory programs and legislation, and defending clients in administrative and criminal enforcement cases. We assist clients in the development and implementation of internal compliance programs, the conduct of internal investigations, and the design of remedial measures (including in-house training programs).

In cooperation with our offices in London and Brussels, we also counsel clients on the scope and applicability of foreign trade control measures and related blocking statutes administered by the European Union and by national governments in Europe, including the EU Dual Use Regulation.

Representative Matters

Representing a major industrial company in criminal and civil enforcement investigations involving US economic sanctions against Iran.
Assisting leading life sciences companies in the design and implementation of global trade compliance programs, including selection and implementation of restricted parties screening solutions.
Advising multinational oil and gas company on the impact of Middle East trade sanctions programs on technology licensing arrangements and the broader operation of affiliates and joint ventures incorporated outside the United States.
Representing US defense subcontractors in enforcement investigations and related export licensing initiatives before the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
Coordinating internal investigation and related enforcement proceedings for major US industrial company arising under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

More Representative Matters

Accolades

Only US law firm with two partners (Peter Trooboff and Peter Flanagan) listed Chambers USA (2006-2007) as “top tier” advisors on Export Controls and Economic Sanctions.
Our senior lawyers are frequent speakers at leading trade compliance conferences and programs.