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- Professionals
- Alan P. Larson
Alan Larson provides clients with strategic advice, counseling and representation at the intersection of international business and public policy. A Ph.D. economist, decorated diplomat and non-lawyer, Mr. Larson advises clients on high stakes international challenges. His trouble shooting takes him to all parts of the world. His practice encompasses international investment and acquisitions; sanctions and trade compliance; international energy transactions, international aviation and international trade. He has helped win approval of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) for some of the highest profile foreign investments in the United States, including several by state-owned companies and sovereign wealth funds.
Mr. Larson helps Covington’s management team formulate and implement its international strategy. He is Chairman of Coalition for Integrity and a Board Member of Helping Children Worldwide. He previously served in the State Department two top economic policy jobs, as Under Secretary of State for Economics and Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, as well as Ambassador to OECD. He is a Career Ambassador, the State Department’s highest honor.
- Provides strategic advice to a young international oil company active in frontier regions.
- Provides strategic advice to a U.S. company facing a criminal investigation in a foreign jurisdiction.
- Resolved several high value international investment disputes in the energy sector.
- Advised CEOs and Boards of Directors on sanctions compliance issues regarding Iran and Libya.
- Advised over a dozen firms on Iran sanctions issues and represented several before U.S. government agencies.
- Advised dozens of firms on Russia sanctions issues.
- Represented in the CFIUS process many firms, including SOEs and sovereign wealth funds, that successfully acquired sensitive assets in the U.S.
- Traveled to a Central Asian capital to represent before the government the interests an oil company and two incarcerated employees.
- Advised firms on sanctions compliance and conflicting oil claims in Southern Sudan, Burma and Cuba.
- Advised firms on regulatory issues and policy issues in China and India.
- Represented, before the President and Prime Minister and of Pakistan, companies seeking stronger intellectual property rights protection.
- Advises on international legal cooperation issues, including extradition and mutual legal assistance.
- Advised an Indonesian firm on international policy issues and a U.S. firm on an Indonesian investigation.
- Won approval of an acquisition of a U.S. agro-business firm by a Japanese investor.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Coalition for Integrity, Chairman of the Board
- Helping Children Worldwide, Board Member
- Co-Chaired private sector advisory panels for Obama Administration on bilateral investment treaties and corporate social responsibility guidelines
Previous Experience
- Department of State, Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, Under Secretary of State (1999-2005)
- Department of State, Economic and Business Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State (1996-1999)
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ambassador (1990-1993)
Newly-Released CFIUS Annual Report for 2015 Foreshadows Heightened Scrutiny of Foreign Investment
September 21, 2017, Covington Alert
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) this week released its long-awaited Annual Report to Congress regarding foreign acquisitions of U.S. businesses reviewed by CFIUS in 2015. The report provides important data that yields insights into the types of transactions the Committee reviewed and the Committee’s treatment of those ...
September 14, 2017, Covington Alert
We are writing to provide our perspective on two significant developments involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”).
July 28, 2017, Covington Alert
Congress has passed and sent to President Trump, for his signature or veto, a bill that would impose significant new sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The legislation—the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act—enjoys broad bipartisan support, having passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 25 by a vote of 419-3, and the ...
July 7, 2017, CNBC
Alan Larson participated in an interview with CNBC to discuss how the G-20 Summit will affect global trade and the world economy.
June 23, 2017, Covington Alert
We are writing to provide our perspective on recent developments regarding the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), including the plans of Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to introduce significant legislation to reform CFIUS, and the operation of CFIUS in the first six months of the administration of President Donald Trump.
January 16, 2017
LONDON—Craig Pollack and Louise Freeman have joined Covington as partners in the firm’s European Dispute Resolution practice resident in London. Mr. Pollack will also serve as co-chair of the firm’s Global Disputes Initiative with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and former U.S. Under Secretary of State Alan Larson. Mr. Pollack focuses on complex high ...
Presidential Report Recommends U.S. Action to Counter Chinese Policies in the Semiconductor Industry
January 11, 2017, Covington Alert
Late last week, a group of technology industry leaders, researchers, and former policymakers comprising the President’s Council on Science and Technology (“PCAST”) issued a report entitled Ensuring Long-Term U.S. Leadership in Semiconductors. The report concludes that China is seeking to reshape the global semiconductor industry in a manner that threatens U.S. leadership in that sector. Given the criticality of the semiconductor industry to U.S. national security, the report recommends a three-part strategy to (1) counter Chinese policy actions, (2) improve the business environment for U.S. semiconductor companies, and (3) help “catalyze transformative semiconductor innovation over the next decade.”
October 17, 2016, Covington Alert
Effective today, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (“CACR”) and the U.S. Commerce department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) has amended the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) to expand permissible dealings involving Cuba, further easing the longstanding U.S. trade embargo and continuing a policy shift that the Obama Administration announced in December 2014.
Simultaneous with last Friday’s announcement of these changes, President Obama issued a Presidential Policy Directive that outlines a policy of “normalization” as to U.S.-Cuba relations. The directive states that the embargo — elements of which remain in place — is “outdated” and renews calls for Congress to lift the remaining restrictions.
June 6, 2016, Global Policy Watch
In reaction to the global economic slowdown and commodity price collapse, Saudi Arabia’s leaders have made virtue of necessity in announcing plans for far-reaching economic, educational and related reforms. They aim to innovate and diversify the economy of the Kingdom. The goal is faster growth and job creation, especially in the private sector, in order...… ...
May 12, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC — Covington advised China Molybdenum Co., Ltd (“CMOC”) on certain aspects of its agreement to acquire Freeport-McMoRan Inc.’s indirect 56% Interest in Tenke Fungurume for $2.65 billion in cash plus contingent consideration of up to $120 million. CMOC is primarily engaged in the mining, processing and marketing of mineral products. The acquisition ...
April 28, 2015, Money Laundering Bulletin
April 9, 2015, Global Policy Watch
My colleague Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat has posted a masterful overview of the Framework understanding that Iran and the P5+1 have reached, including an assessment of the issues to be addressed in transforming the Framework into a binding international agreement. In this posting. I identify five international and diplomatic signposts on which Western companies ...
August 4, 2014, Covington E-Alert
July 18, 2014, Covington E-Alert
July 11, 2014, Covington Advisory
US China Investment Pact Talks May Spur Market Reform
July 11, 2014, Law360
Al Larson is quoted regarding the U.S.-China Bilateral investment pact. "Laying down a starting point for the exchange of market access offers on investment between two of the globe's largest economies sends a strong message to investors that have been dissatisfied with the lack of access in China ever since the country acceded to the World Trade Organization ...
June 26, 2014, Covington E-Alert
May 19, 2014, The Wall Street Journal
Covington's Alan Larson and Mark Plotkin are quoted regarding Chinese investment in U.S. infrastructure
May 13, 2014, Covington E-Alert
April 29, 2014, Covington E-Alert
April 28, 2014, Covington E-Alert
April 15, 2014, Covington E-Alert
March 5, 2014, Covington E-Alert & Advisory
March 4, 2014, Covington E-Alert
January 22, 2014, Covington E-Alert
December 20, 2013, Covington E-Alert
November 27, 2013, Covington E-Alert
October 25, 2013, Covington Advisory
9/27/2013
WASHINGTON, DC, September 27, 2013 — Marisa Lago, assistant secretary for international markets and development at the U.S. Treasury Department, addressed a symposium held at Covington & Burling earlier in September about trends in Chinese foreign direct investment in America. The symposium, co-hosted with the China General Chamber of Commerce, examined the ...
May 20, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, May 20, 2013 — The U.S. Department of State recently honored Alan Larson, a senior international policy advisor at Covington & Burling, with its 2013 Foreign Service Cup. The award is given in recognition of a foreign service officer’s career in the foreign service and afterwards on behalf of their communities. Mr. Larson’s distinguished career ...
2/13/2013
WASHINGTON, DC, February 13, 2013 — The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) on Tuesday approved CNOOC Ltd.’s bid to acquire the U.S. assets of Canadian energy company Nexen Inc. It was the final regulatory hurdle in the $15.1 billion acquisition, the largest overseas investment ever by a Chinese company. Covington & Burling represented ...
February 2012, Foreign Service Journal
February 2011, Foreign Service Journal
Covington to Host US-China Dialogue at Shanghai Expo
May 19, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, May 19, 2010 — Against the backdrop of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and on the eve of the upcoming round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the US and China, Covington & Burling LLP will co-host a day-long event, “Shaping the US-China Business Relationship” on Friday, May 21. The event will be held at the USA National Pavilion, which ...
February 22, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, February 22, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce that Timothy P. Stratford, who most recently served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for China Affairs, has joined the firm as a partner. He will be resident in the firm’s Beijing office and will practice in the International Trade and Finance group. Mr. Stratford’s ...
2/11/2009
WASHINGTON, DC, February 11, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce that Ambassador John K. Veroneau, who most recently served as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, has joined the firm’s international practice as a partner. Mr. Veroneau will be resident in Covington’s Washington office. At USTR, Mr. Veroneau had broad supervisory responsibility ...
July 2006, The Bernard and Irene Schwartz Series on American Competitiveness, Council on Foreign Relations
1982, The University of Iowa
- Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, Department of State (2005)
- Career Ambassador, U.S. Department of State (2004)