Our National Security & International Trade team complements Bradley’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group by bringing a perspective to M&A and corporate advisory work that traditional deal counsel cannot replicate. Our team advises both buyers and sellers in pre-negotiation risk mitigation and restructuring to address national security concerns, and works within the federal interagency process to achieve our clients’ business objectives.
Drawing on deep experience inside agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice, our lawyers understand how national security decision-makers evaluate risk in real time.
We integrate that insight into every phase of defense-tech transactions: structuring investments to anticipate Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) scrutiny; navigating export controls under ITAR and EAR; assessing supply chain and cybersecurity obligations; and identifying regulatory diligence issues that can materially affect valuation. For investors, founders, strategic acquirers, and sellers operating at the intersection of capital and classified or controlled technology, we deliver deal execution informed not only by corporate law acumen but by firsthand knowledge across multiple administrations of how the government views, investigates, and enforces its national security objectives.
As the number of industries and technologies that affect U.S. national security grows, CFIUS jurisdiction and federal oversight of foreign direct investment has expanded as well. Bradley provides CFIUS filing strategies, including structuring transactions to address national security concerns, negotiating and drafting National Security Agreements (NSAs), and other mitigation measures required by CFIUS. Additionally, we provide post-transaction compliance support to ensure ongoing compliance well after any CFIUS filing.
Defense, aerospace, and national security technology companies face unique export control challenges. Bradley’s National Security & International Trade team advises companies regarding the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the dual-use export controls of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and compliance with trade sanctions regimes.
Our attorneys assist clients in establishing product jurisdiction and classification, obtaining export licenses and Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs), drafting Technology Control Plans (TCPs), and implementing robust export control compliance programs. We also provide training on compliance obligations, conduct internal audits, and help mitigate risks by addressing voluntary disclosures.
Bradley’s team is experienced in navigating complex investigations and enforcement actions involving the DOJ, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and other trade control agencies.
Bradley advises clients on compliance with international sanctions regimes, including those administered and enforced by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the State Department. Our attorneys have investigated and prosecuted sanctions violations while in government service, and now help companies develop sanctions compliance programs, conduct internal investigations, and represent clients facing regulatory or criminal investigations for alleged sanctions violations.
Because alleged sanctions violations often involve money laundering or related financial crimes, our National Security & International Trade attorneys work closely with Bradley’s Financial Crime & Economic Sanctions team to advise banks and financial services firms on anti-money laundering (AML), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and sanctions compliance.
In addition, we conduct enterprise-wide risk assessments, advise on due diligence for transactions involving high-risk jurisdictions, and provide training programs and independent audits to ensure compliance. Our attorneys are adept at addressing complex issues, including secondary sanctions risks, sanctions evasion tactics, and enforcement actions, and we offer comprehensive support to companies across sectors such as energy, defense, finance, shipping, and technology.
Cybersecurity and data protection have never been more important to our national security. State-sponsored cyberattacks targeting governments and the private sector are on the rise. Bradley’s attorneys have experience tackling the most sophisticated cyber threats facing government and industry, including DOJ and FBI veterans who have prosecuted cybercrimes. We counsel clients on preparation and detection, cyber incident response and notification requirements, and defending claims resulting from breaches.
Bradley’s National Security & International Trade team complements our Cybersecurity & Privacy Practice Group, positioning us to assist clients in safeguarding critical data and infrastructure while ensuring compliance with evolving federal and state regulatory requirements. We provide focused cybersecurity counsel to DOD and intelligence community contractors, including how to adhere to the DOD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, as well as how to navigate the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) cybersecurity requirements, Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) obligations, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity frameworks.
Government contracting presents unique legal challenges given the complex regulatory requirements for doing business with the federal government. This is especially true for companies selling to the DOD, the intelligence community, or other federal agencies involved in U.S. national security.
Bradley’s Defense & National Security team complements our award-winning Government Contracts Practice Group to provide focused counsel relating to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), DOD cybersecurity requirements (CMMC), and classified government contract support.
Bradley represents clients in government investigations and enforcement actions across a spectrum of specialized fields, including trade sanctions and export control violations, terrorism financing and money laundering, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and other criminal or regulatory investigations implicating national security. Our attorneys hold the clearances necessary to litigate cases involving classified information under the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) and provide strategic advice and crisis management counsel in such disputes or investigations.
Our team complements Bradley’s Government Enforcement & Investigations Practice Group, which represents companies and individuals in a range of government and internal investigations, regulatory inquiries, False Claims Act (FCA) suits, and enforcement actions.
Companies large and small that conduct cross-border business, particularly in countries with high levels of public corruption, are at risk of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the UK Bribery Act, and other countries’ anti-corruption laws. In recent years, the DOJ and related government agencies have increased their focus on FCPA compliance and enforcement.
Anti-corruption investigations present unique challenges because of their international scope and the rigorous expectations of prosecuting agencies. Bradley’s team of former federal prosecutors and anti-corruption lawyers has significant experience handling anti-corruption compliance, investigations, and litigation. Our lawyers also can help build best-in-class FCPA compliance programs, conduct risk assessments for cross-border investments, and perform FCPA due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.