Nazak Nikakhtar

Partner & Chair, National Security Practice, Wiley Rein LLP

Biography

Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar is an international trade and national security attorney, a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Chair of Wiley’s National Security practice and Co-Chair of the CFIUS practice. She additionally leads the Strategic Competition/Supply Chain practice. Ms. Nikakhtar is also a trade and industry economist and a former Georgetown University adjunct law professor. Her practice involves matters involving international trade and global transactions, domestic and international competition, customs compliance, WTO dispute settlement, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, industrial policy, and supply chain assessments.

From 2018 to 2021, with unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Nikakhtar served as the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). Additionally, Ms. Nikakhtar was nominated for and served as the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In these roles, Ms. Nikakhtar shaped America’s international trade and national security policies as the U.S. Government’s top official for the intersection of trade policy economic competitiveness, supply chains, and export controls on dual-use items and technologies. Ms. Nikakhtar also served as the Commerce Department’s lead for CFIUS, where she shaped U.S. investment policy and implemented new laws concerning foreign investments and national security.

Ms. Nikakhtar earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degrees from Syracuse University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Journal of International Lawmand Commerce. Ms. Nikakhtar received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

John C. Yoo

Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley; Senior Research Fellow, School of Civic Leadership, Civitas Institute, University of Texas at Austin; Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Biography

John Yoo is the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law. He is also Distinguished Visiting Scholar, School of Civic Leadership and Senior Research Fellow, Civitas Institute, at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

His most recent book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Supreme Court, co-authored with Robert Delahunty, was published in 2023. Professor Yoo’s other books include Defender-in-Chief: Trump’s Fight for Presidential Power; Striking Power: How Cyber, Robots, and Space Weapons Change the Rules for War, Point of Attack: Preventive War, International Law, and Global Welfare, and Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from George Washington to George Bush.

Professor Yoo has published more than 100 articles in academic journals on subjects including national security, constitutional law, international law, and the Supreme Court. He also regularly contributes to the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and National Review, among others.

Professor Yoo has served in all three branches of government. He was an official in the U.S. Department of Justice, where he worked on national security and terrorism issues after the 9/11 attacks. He served as general counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He has been a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and federal appeals Judge Laurence Silberman. He has been a visiting professor at Seoul National University in South Korea, the Interdisciplinary Center in Israel, Keio University in Japan, Trento University in Italy, the University of Chicago, and the Free University of Amsterdam.

Professor Yoo supervises the Public Law and Policy Program and the California Constitution Center. He also serves on the boards of the Pacific Legal Foundation, the Federalist Society’s Separation of Powers and Federalism Division, the Universidad Cientifica del Sur Law School, and the Asia-Pacific Law Institute at Seoul National University. He is a winner of the Federalist Society’s Paul Bator award and been the Edwin Meese III Originalism Lecturer at the Heritage Foundation.

Professor Yoo graduated from Yale Law School and summa cum laude from Harvard College.

Thomas Krueger

Senior Policy Advisor, Akin Gump LLC

Biography

Thomas Krueger advises clients on matters resolving international trade policy matters related to international technology transfers subject to U.S. export, import and investment screening regulations. This includes export control policies and/or economic sanctions with regards to China, Russia and other countries of concern. Thomas has experience with traditional technology fields such as aerospace and defense exports and particular experience with emerging technology policies and regulations such as artificial intelligence, quantum and advanced semiconductor technology. He has conducted numerous risk assessments on cutting-edge technology transfers and advises clients on risk mitigation measures.

Previously, Thomas served as a Director of Strategic Trade and Nonproliferation at the National Security Council. In that role, he was responsible for advising the President and National Security Advisor on technology transfers, as well as coordinating interagency positions on U.S. export controls and technology transfer policies.

Prior to his work in at the National Security Council, Thomas held several positions at the U.S. Department of State, including as a Senior Foreign Affairs Officer. Among other duties, he served as the senior advisor to State Department leadership on export controls and technology transfer policies and regulations. Thomas represented the Department of State’s foreign policy positions on EAR-related technology licenses and regulations to the Department of Commerce. He also led the State Department’s nonproliferation reviews of Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) filings and sanctions-related export controls policies. Thomas also served as a Defense Trade Controls Analyst in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. Thomas is a retiree from the U.S. Army.

Nazak Nikakhtar

Partner & Chair, National Security Practice, Wiley Rein LLP

Biography

Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar is an international trade and national security attorney, a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Chair of Wiley’s National Security practice and Co-Chair of the CFIUS practice. She additionally leads the Strategic Competition/Supply Chain practice. Ms. Nikakhtar is also a trade and industry economist and a former Georgetown University adjunct law professor. Her practice involves matters involving international trade and global transactions, domestic and international competition, customs compliance, WTO dispute settlement, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, industrial policy, and supply chain assessments.

From 2018 to 2021, with unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Nikakhtar served as the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). Additionally, Ms. Nikakhtar was nominated for and served as the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In these roles, Ms. Nikakhtar shaped America’s international trade and national security policies as the U.S. Government’s top official for the intersection of trade policy economic competitiveness, supply chains, and export controls on dual-use items and technologies. Ms. Nikakhtar also served as the Commerce Department’s lead for CFIUS, where she shaped U.S. investment policy and implemented new laws concerning foreign investments and national security.

Ms. Nikakhtar earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degrees from Syracuse University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Journal of International Lawmand Commerce. Ms. Nikakhtar received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Eric J. Kadel

Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Biography

Eric Kadel is engaged in a wide variety of corporate, transactional and regulatory matters. He is a member of the Firm’s Corporate and Finance, Financial Services, Investment Management, Alternative Investment Management, Cybersecurity, and Commodities, Futures and Derivatives Groups. With regard to financings, Mr. Kadel regularly represents participants in capital markets transactions, and dealers and end users in connection with structuring and documenting a wide variety of swaps and other derivatives, including equity, credit default and commodity swaps, options and forwards. Mr. Kadel’s work in the investment management area includes advising public and private investment companies and investment advisers on a wide variety of transactional, regulatory, compliance and other matters, including registration and regulation. Mr. Kadel also advises clients of the Firm regarding developments in the laws regulating the financial services industry and on cybersecurity issues. Mr. Kadel is currently an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School.

In addition, Mr. Kadel is one of the principal partners in the Firm’s International Trade and Investment practice. He counsels and represents clients on questions about U.S. economic sanctions, including those administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), United States antiboycott requirements under the Export Administration Regulations administered and enforced by the Commerce Department’s Office of Antiboycott Compliance within the Bureau of Industry and Security, Bank Secrecy Act/anti‐money laundering laws and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). Mr. Kadel’s practice includes analysis of proposed transactions and business relationships; due diligence and design and review of compliance procedures and strategies; and internal investigations, voluntary disclosures and government enforcement actions. Mr. Kadel also regularly advises clients regarding questions arising under Exon-Florio and the transaction review process administered by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), and has represented clients before CFIUS on many national security reviews.

Nazak Nikakhtar

Partner & Chair, National Security Practice, Wiley Rein LLP

Biography

Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar is an international trade and national security attorney, a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Chair of Wiley’s National Security practice and Co-Chair of the CFIUS practice. She additionally leads the Strategic Competition/Supply Chain practice. Ms. Nikakhtar is also a trade and industry economist and a former Georgetown University adjunct law professor. Her practice involves matters involving international trade and global transactions, domestic and international competition, customs compliance, WTO dispute settlement, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, industrial policy, and supply chain assessments.

From 2018 to 2021, with unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Nikakhtar served as the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). Additionally, Ms. Nikakhtar was nominated for and served as the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In these roles, Ms. Nikakhtar shaped America’s international trade and national security policies as the U.S. Government’s top official for the intersection of trade policy economic competitiveness, supply chains, and export controls on dual-use items and technologies. Ms. Nikakhtar also served as the Commerce Department’s lead for CFIUS, where she shaped U.S. investment policy and implemented new laws concerning foreign investments and national security.

Ms. Nikakhtar earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degrees from Syracuse University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Journal of International Lawmand Commerce. Ms. Nikakhtar received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Nazak Nikakhtar

Partner & Chair, National Security Practice, Wiley Rein LLP

Biography

Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar is an international trade and national security attorney, a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Chair of Wiley’s National Security practice and Co-Chair of the CFIUS practice. She additionally leads the Strategic Competition/Supply Chain practice. Ms. Nikakhtar is also a trade and industry economist and a former Georgetown University adjunct law professor. Her practice involves matters involving international trade and global transactions, domestic and international competition, customs compliance, WTO dispute settlement, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, industrial policy, and supply chain assessments.

From 2018 to 2021, with unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Nikakhtar served as the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). Additionally, Ms. Nikakhtar was nominated for and served as the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In these roles, Ms. Nikakhtar shaped America’s international trade and national security policies as the U.S. Government’s top official for the intersection of trade policy economic competitiveness, supply chains, and export controls on dual-use items and technologies. Ms. Nikakhtar also served as the Commerce Department’s lead for CFIUS, where she shaped U.S. investment policy and implemented new laws concerning foreign investments and national security.

Ms. Nikakhtar earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degrees from Syracuse University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Journal of International Lawmand Commerce. Ms. Nikakhtar received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

John C. Yoo

Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley; Senior Research Fellow, School of Civic Leadership, Civitas Institute, University of Texas at Austin; Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Biography

John Yoo is the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law. He is also Distinguished Visiting Scholar, School of Civic Leadership and Senior Research Fellow, Civitas Institute, at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

His most recent book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Supreme Court, co-authored with Robert Delahunty, was published in 2023. Professor Yoo’s other books include Defender-in-Chief: Trump’s Fight for Presidential Power; Striking Power: How Cyber, Robots, and Space Weapons Change the Rules for War, Point of Attack: Preventive War, International Law, and Global Welfare, and Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from George Washington to George Bush.

Professor Yoo has published more than 100 articles in academic journals on subjects including national security, constitutional law, international law, and the Supreme Court. He also regularly contributes to the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and National Review, among others.

Eric Kadel is engaged in a wide variety of corporate, transactional and regulatory matters. He is a member of the Firm’s Corporate and Finance, Financial Services, Investment Management, Alternative Investment Management, Cybersecurity, and Commodities, Futures and Derivatives Groups. With regard to financings, Mr. Kadel regularly represents participants in capital markets transactions, and dealers and end users in connection with structuring and documenting a wide variety of swaps and other derivatives, including equity, credit default and commodity swaps, options and forwards. Mr. Kadel’s work in the investment management area includes advising public and private investment companies and investment advisers on a wide variety of transactional, regulatory, compliance and other matters, including registration and regulation. Mr. Kadel also advises clients of the Firm regarding developments in the laws regulating the financial services industry and on cybersecurity issues. Mr. Kadel is currently an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School.

In addition, Mr. Kadel is one of the principal partners in the Firm’s International Trade and Investment practice. He counsels and represents clients on questions about U.S. economic sanctions, including those administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), United States antiboycott requirements under the Export Administration Regulations administered and enforced by the Commerce Department’s Office of Antiboycott Compliance within the Bureau of Industry and Security, Bank Secrecy Act/anti‐money laundering laws and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). Mr. Kadel’s practice includes analysis of proposed transactions and business relationships; due diligence and design and review of compliance procedures and strategies; and internal investigations, voluntary disclosures and government enforcement actions. Mr. Kadel also regularly advises clients regarding questions arising under Exon-Florio and the transaction review process administered by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), and has represented clients before CFIUS on many national security reviews.

Nazak Nikakhtar

Partner & Chair, National Security Practice, Wiley Rein LLP

Biography

Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar is an international trade and national security attorney, a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Chair of Wiley’s National Security practice and Co-Chair of the CFIUS practice. She additionally leads the Strategic Competition/Supply Chain practice. Ms. Nikakhtar is also a trade and industry economist and a former Georgetown University adjunct law professor. Her practice involves matters involving international trade and global transactions, domestic and international competition, customs compliance, WTO dispute settlement, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, industrial policy, and supply chain assessments.

From 2018 to 2021, with unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Nikakhtar served as the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). Additionally, Ms. Nikakhtar was nominated for and served as the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In these roles, Ms. Nikakhtar shaped America’s international trade and national security policies as the U.S. Government’s top official for the intersection of trade policy economic competitiveness, supply chains, and export controls on dual-use items and technologies. Ms. Nikakhtar also served as the Commerce Department’s lead for CFIUS, where she shaped U.S. investment policy and implemented new laws concerning foreign investments and national security.

Ms. Nikakhtar earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degrees from Syracuse University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Journal of International Lawmand Commerce. Ms. Nikakhtar received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Eric J. Kadel

Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Biography

Eric Kadel is engaged in a wide variety of corporate, transactional and regulatory matters. He is a member of the Firm’s Corporate and Finance, Financial Services, Investment Management, Alternative Investment Management, Cybersecurity, and Commodities, Futures and Derivatives Groups. With regard to financings, Mr. Kadel regularly represents participants in capital markets transactions, and dealers and end users in connection with structuring and documenting a wide variety of swaps and other derivatives, including equity, credit default and commodity swaps, options and forwards. Mr. Kadel’s work in the investment management area includes advising public and private investment companies and investment advisers on a wide variety of transactional, regulatory, compliance and other matters, including registration and regulation. Mr. Kadel also advises clients of the Firm regarding developments in the laws regulating the financial services industry and on cybersecurity issues. Mr. Kadel is currently an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School.

In addition, Mr. Kadel is one of the principal partners in the Firm’s International Trade and Investment practice. He counsels and represents clients on questions about U.S. economic sanctions, including those administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), United States antiboycott requirements under the Export Administration Regulations administered and enforced by the Commerce Department’s Office of Antiboycott Compliance within the Bureau of Industry and Security, Bank Secrecy Act/anti‐money laundering laws and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). Mr. Kadel’s practice includes analysis of proposed transactions and business relationships; due diligence and design and review of compliance procedures and strategies; and internal investigations, voluntary disclosures and government enforcement actions. Mr. Kadel also regularly advises clients regarding questions arising under Exon-Florio and the transaction review process administered by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), and has represented clients before CFIUS on many national security reviews.

Nazak Nikakhtar

Partner & Chair, National Security Practice, Wiley Rein LLP

Biography

Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar is an international trade and national security attorney, a partner at the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Chair of Wiley’s National Security practice and Co-Chair of the CFIUS practice. She additionally leads the Strategic Competition/Supply Chain practice. Ms. Nikakhtar is also a trade and industry economist and a former Georgetown University adjunct law professor. Her practice involves matters involving international trade and global transactions, domestic and international competition, customs compliance, WTO dispute settlement, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, industrial policy, and supply chain assessments.

From 2018 to 2021, with unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Nikakhtar served as the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). Additionally, Ms. Nikakhtar was nominated for and served as the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In these roles, Ms. Nikakhtar shaped America’s international trade and national security policies as the U.S. Government’s top official for the intersection of trade policy economic competitiveness, supply chains, and export controls on dual-use items and technologies. Ms. Nikakhtar also served as the Commerce Department’s lead for CFIUS, where she shaped U.S. investment policy and implemented new laws concerning foreign investments and national security.

Ms. Nikakhtar earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degrees from Syracuse University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Journal of International Lawmand Commerce. Ms. Nikakhtar received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar

Partner & Chair, National Security Practice, Wiley Rein LLP

Made in China: The Legal Battle Over America’s Supply Chains

International & National Security Law Group

America's Expanding Semiconductor Export Controls

Foreign Policy in the Biden Administration

International & National Security Law Practice Group Teleforum

Made in China: The Legal Battle Over America’s Supply Chains

America's Expanding Semiconductor Export Controls

America's Expanding Semiconductor Export Controls

Foreign Policy in the Biden Administration

Foreign Policy in the Biden Administration

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International & National Security Law Group

International & National Security Law Practice Group Teleforum