Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Expands National Security Regulatory Practice

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, announced today that Stephen Heifetz has joined the firm’s national security regulatory practice as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office. In addition to serving in several federal regulatory and national security agencies, Heifetz played a key role in developing laws and regulations related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) as a senior official in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Policy Development. Most recently, Heifetz was a partner in a law firm based in Washington, D.C., where he was co-chair of the international regulation and compliance group.

“As a former director of CFIUS matters for Homeland Security, Stephen has developed valuable and distinct experience in an increasingly important regulatory area that is critical to the successful operation and growth of companies,” said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. “Our clients, particularly those doing business across U.S. borders, will benefit from Stephen’s range of regulatory expertise, which includes anti-money laundering, economic sanctions, and other national security laws. We’re pleased to welcome him to our firm.”

Heifetz will continue to advise on laws and policies at the intersection of international business and security. He counsels clients on legal compliance and political risks and defends companies facing government investigations and enforcement actions. Heifetz has been involved in hundreds of CFIUS cases, and he regularly helps clients make determinations regarding CFIUS filings and how to navigate the CFIUS process. He also represents clients with regard to anti-money laundering laws administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and other financial regulators, economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and by the UN Security Council, and other international regulatory and national security matters.

After finishing law school, Heifetz worked for the Central Intelligence Agency and later served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.

Heifetz earned his J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Georgetown University Law Center in 1996. He received a B.A., with honors, from Stanford University in 1993.

Based in Washington, D.C., Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s national security practice advises clients ranging from large multinational companies to small start-ups on national security issues, notably the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, technology transactions, export controls and economic sanctions, cyber security, corruption and bribery, and privacy and data protection. The firm’s attorneys have deep experience in the national security community and counsel clients on all aspects of national security issues, including advising on various government licensing requirements; assisting with obtaining required government authorizations; and representing clients throughout government inquiries and investigations, board investigations, mergers and acquisitions, and congressional inquiries.

Source:  www.wsgr.com