Ata Akiner

Ata Akiner is an associate in the International Trade Group, and is a member of the Firm's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Reviews & US National Security and CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) practice. He focuses his practice on national security reviews before CFIUS, FOCI (foreign ownership, control, or influence) mitigation matters, and US export controls and economic sanctions.

Ata advises clients on potential national security risks posed by foreign investment, and he assists clients seeking national security approval before CFIUS. He also advises clients on sensitive national security investigations and compliance matters, including due diligence to assess potential areas of national security concern and mitigation agreements with CFIUS.

For sanctions and export controls matters, Ata helps clients comply with laws and regulations administered by the US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the US State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Ata has assisted clients on their compliance with US sanctions programs.

Ata also represents clients in US trade remedy cases, including administrative proceedings before the US Department of Commerce. He is actively involved in pro bono initiatives at the Firm.

Ata received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center with a certificate in WTO & International Trade Studies. Prior to and during law school Ata worked as a trade policy analyst at an international law firm in Washington, DC. In this capacity he monitored and provided analysis of US trade policy developments for a range of clients, including prominent East Asia-based trade associations.