Sullivan & Cromwell is one of the leading legal advisers in matters related to U.S. international trade and investment, including supply chain issues, backed by years of experience and a record of client success.
The Firm advises U.S.-based clients making or receiving non-U.S. investments and works closely with U.S. and non-U.S. companies and financial institutions with their international activities. S&C advises on issues involving compliance with anti-money-laundering laws, including: the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and the USA Patriot Act; compliance with U.S. economic sanctions administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); and other international trade and investment laws in the context of transactions.
We routinely advise multinational companies on their expanding obligations to protect and conduct due diligence on their global supply chains to ensure compliance with various laws and regulations, including tariffs, import controls and customs laws; the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD); and forced labor laws and restrictions, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
S&C lawyers also advise on establishing and upgrading structures, procedures and compliance programs in order to avoid violations. In addition, from the Defense Production Act of 1950, to the creation of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in 1975, to the Exon-Florio amendment in 1988 and the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007, S&C has been advising clients on federal rules regarding the national security review of foreign investment and structuring acquisitions and other investments in order to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.
S&C’s highly regarded and world-renowned Criminal Defense and Investigations Group and National Security Practice regularly handle matters involving international trade issues, including the defense of organizations and officers of companies facing investigations or charges under the FCPA, U.S. economic sanctions, import and export controls and anti-money-laundering laws. The Firm’s criminal defense and national security teams include former federal and state prosecutors; former senior officials and attorneys from the Treasury Department, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State; former bank regulatory enforcement counsel; and the leading practitioners in banking and securities regulation. These lawyers also have extensive federal and state court trial experience.
S&C’s extensive experience with foreign investment and trade issues—coupled with the Firm’s expertise in finance and investment—are key factors in clients’ success.
