Faegre Drinker Adds Partner Christopher Monahan, Bolstering Customs & International Trade Practice in Washington, D.C.

Faegre Drinker announced today that Christopher Monahan has joined the firm as a partner in the customs and international trade practice in Washington, D.C. Monahan comes to the firm from Winston & Strawn LLP.

Monahan advises U.S. and international clients on law and policy affecting complex international transactions across a range of industries. He has extensive experience navigating the nuances of U.S. regulation of international trade and foreign investment, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), matters in front of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

“Chris’s background working with companies from numerous industry sectors will be a great asset to our clients as they seek to develop business strategies and thrive on an international scale,” said Douglas Heffner, who leads the firm’s customs and international trade group. “We are thrilled for Chris to join the team in helping clients navigate highly technical and regulated international transactions.”

Monahan designs and manages international investigations, audits and compliance assessments, along with the preparation of disclosures and responses to government agency inquiries and subpoenas related to violations of the ITAR, EAR and OFAC sanctions programs.

Additionally, Monahan assesses organizational international trade compliance risks, including those associated with corporate mergers and acquisitions. He has supported companies facing highly technical compliance challenges, as well as defending and resolving serious violations of U.S. export controls with the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce (DDTC and BIS), sanctions administered by the Department of Treasury (OFAC) and anti-corruption laws (FCPA and U.K. Bribery Act).

Monahan also represents clients responding to inquiries and subpoenas from government agencies such as the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

Further, Monahan has represented U.S. and multinational clients from a variety of industries, including aerospace, defense, aviation, electronics, pharmaceutical and automotive, on matters from day-to-day compliance to licensing, classification and commodity jurisdiction. He assists clients in the creation of export compliance programs and conducts trainings on export controls for both U.S. and international companies.

Monahan earned his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center and his bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University.

From multinational corporations with complex supply chains and global investments to small businesses looking to grow and manage operations on an international scale, Faegre Drinker’s customs and international trade team provides clients with experienced regulatory, policy and compliance counsel needed to navigate the evolving international trade landscape and to pursue opportunities in the global marketplace with confidence. With professionals who are authorities in import compliance, export controls, trade sanctions, national security, trade remedies and international trade policy, the group advises on a wide variety of regulatory, policy and compliance matters.

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