Jonathan Wakely practices at the intersection of national security and the private sector, advising clients on a range of significant foreign direct investment, national security, supply chain security, cybersecurity, and public policy matters.
Jonathan is nationally recognized for his expertise representing clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (better known as “Team Telecom”), and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) in proceedings related to the mitigation of foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI). He has handled national security reviews for transactions totaling over $250 billion across virtually all sectors and negotiated and advised companies on compliance with many of the most significant, complex, and sensitive national security agreements of the past decade.
Jonathan also counsels clients on emerging areas of national security and supply chain security regulation, including the Department of Justice’s Sensitive Data Rule (also known as the Data Security Program); the Department of Commerce’s Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) and Connected Vehicle Rules; and the Department of the Treasury’s Outbound Investment Rule. Jonathan helps clients understand these new regimes, develop compliance plans, mitigate business impact, and engage with regulators.
Clients also turn to Jonathan for advice on strategic business and policy matters related to U.S.-China competition. He is regularly engaged by multinational businesses—including some of the world’s leading technology companies—to assist in developing legal and business strategies related to positioning with respect to China.
Jonathan has been recognized by various publications for his work on national security matters, including as one of the world’s leading foreign investment lawyers under 40 by Global Competition Review, as a “DC Rising Star” by The National Law Journal, as a “Rising Star” by Law360, and as a leading CFIUS expert by Chambers USA. Clients regard Jonathan as an “industry veteran,” commenting that he’s “fantastic,” “an excellent lawyer,” and applauding his “great understanding of CFIUS work” (Chambers USA).
In addition to his legal practice, he is an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches a course on national security and the private sector. Jonathan has also published extensively on matters related to the regulation of foreign investment; his articles have appeared in the Harvard National Security Journal, The International Lawyer, and the Global Trade and Customs Journal.
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