Christine E. Savage

• Assisted energy, infrastructure, defense, and biotechnology companies in evaluating their export controls and compliance procedures for purposes of positioning their investment strategies for clearance by CFIUS.
• Represented several U.S. and non-U.S. aerospace and defense companies in conducting internal investigations of export control and economic sanctions laws and preparing voluntary disclosures before the Bureau of Industry and Security, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
• Representing companies in the FinTech industry with respect to economic sanctions compliance before OFAC, including responding to government subpoenas, penalty actions, conducting internal investigations, helping to design effective compliance programs, and addressing novel licensing issues.
• Assisted in obtaining clearance by CFIUS for companies in sensitive sectors, including defense, critical technology, and critical infrastructure industries of foreign investment, including addressing issues related to Foreign Ownership, Control and Influence, as well as assisting the companies in negotiating mitigation agreements with the U.S. government.
• Assisted numerous clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device and agricultural industries in obtaining licenses from OFAC for the sale of products in sanctioned countries, including Cuba, Iran and Syria, as well as assisting companies in designing compliance procedures to use existing U.S. government general licenses and license exceptions in a lawful manner.

Christine Savage leads our firm's practice in sanctions law, export controls, and national security investigations of inbound U.S. investment before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. ("CFIUS").

Christine has over 25 years of experience helping clients handle their international trade regulatory, compliance, and investigation needs.  She advises clients in a broad range of industries, including aerospace and defense, energy, FinTech and financial services, semiconductors and information technology, and biotechnology, on issues involving sanctions and export control laws.  She also assists clients in evaluating foreign investment transactions in sensitive U.S. industries and technologies, including helping them navigate proceedings before CFIUS.  

Christine looks for practical ways to help solve our clients' concerns, including defending clients in enforcement proceedings  and inquiries before the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Bureau of Industry and Security, and Directorate of Defense Trade Controls; assisting clients with internal investigations and compliance programs; and analyzing and structuring complex regulatory and licensing solutions.  She also represents clients' interests before the Executive Branch and Congress on the impact of trade and national security regulations on their businesses, including advocating for legislative and regulatory solutions to help advance their trade and investment goals.

Previously, Christine served as an advisor in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce.  In that role, she acted as counsel to the government in trade remedy proceedings and litigation involving numerous countries. She also engaged with foreign government officials and industry experts as part of a U.S. government team involved in White House trade initiatives.

Christine was recommended by Legal 500 U.S. in the International Trade category. She is recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers U.S.A. in the International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions category.