David J. Ribner’s practice focuses on counseling US and non-US clients on international trade and investment regulatory matters, including trade and anticorruption compliance. His clients span a variety of industries, with a focus on companies operating in the technology and energy sectors.
David has extensive experience securing national security clearance by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), having served as CFIUS counsel in transactions with investors spanning the globe and myriad industries.
David also counsels clients on compliance with US economic sanctions, export controls, customs laws, and antiboycott regulations, as well as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and advises on the development and implementation of related corporate compliance programs. When potential violations of such laws arise, he conducts internal investigations and assists with responding to subpoenas and other information requests from the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commerce Department’s Office of Export Enforcement, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
David is consistently recognized by Chambers USA with a ranking as a CFIUS expert and by Chambers Global as an “Up-and-Coming” CFIUS expert. He has also been recommended as a Rising Star for International Trade: CFIUS by The Legal 500 US and named to Global Competition Review, Foreign Investment Control’s “40 Under 40,” which recognizes the world’s top foreign investment lawyers under age 40. David frequently speaks and publishes on topics related to international trade.
Representative CFIUS Experience
- IBM in connection with multiple transactions, including the sale of its x86 server business to Lenovo, the sale of its global semiconductor manufacturing business to GLOBALFOUNDRIES, and the sale of select IBM software products to HCL Technologies
- Mitsui & Co. in connection with its acquisition of Spaceflight, Inc., a space launch rideshare company, and its investment in Airspan Networks Inc., a communications equipment company
- A European multinational company in connection with CFIUS matters involving multiple acquisitions of US physical and logical access control and security equipment businesses
- DigitalGlobe, Inc. in its acquisition by Macdonald, Dettweiler and Associates Ltd.
- OMERS Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment manager of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, in the US$800 million sale of portfolio company Airports Worldwide to Vinci Airports, a subsidiary of Vinci Group
- Mentor Graphics Corporation in its US$4.5 billion acquisition by Siemens Industry, Inc., a leader in global technology, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation, and digitalization
- Analogix Semiconductor in its acquisition by Beijing Shanhai Capital Management Co, Ltd.
- A buyer consortium led by Yunfeng Capital, TF Capital and Tony (Bizuo) Liu, in a going private transaction involving Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBMG).
Representative Economic Sanctions & Export Control Experience
- Conducted internal investigations relating to potential violations of economic sanction laws, antiboycott laws and, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
- Represented U.S. and non-U.S. companies in enforcement matters arising from potential violations of economic sanctions, export control, and customs laws, including assisting clients in responding to subpoenas and other information requests from the Department of Justice, the SEC, the Commerce Department’s Office of Export Enforcement, the State Department, and OFAC, and in settling pending enforcement matters before such agencies
- Conducted assessments and audits of economic sanctions and export control compliance programs in a variety of industries
- Advised on the development and implementation of corporate compliance programs in the areas of export controls, economic sanctions, customs, and the antiboycott laws
- Represented US and non-US companies in obtaining a range of authorizations, licenses and advisory opinions under the EAR, the ITAR, as well as the economic sanctions regulations governing trade with Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Syria
- Advised on the consequences of changes in economic sanctions laws, including Russia/Ukraine, Iran and Cuba sanctions programs
Representative FCPA Experience
- In response to FCPA inquiries from the U.S. government, conducted an investigation for a leading tech company of the company’s operations in numerous countries across Asia, Africa, and South America
- Represented former corporate executive of Brazilian company in connection with DOJ investigation into FCPA violations regarding alleged bribes to state-owned enterprise
- Represented former corporate executives of Brazilian company in connection with DOJ investigation regarding alleged payments to political officials
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
Education
- Georgetown University, J.D.
- King's College London, University of London M.A.
- Columbia University, B.A.
Honors & Awards
- Recommended by Who's Who Legal for Foreign Investment Control (2024)
- Named to the "40 Under 40" list by Global Competition Review, Foreign Investment Control (2023)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for International Trade: CFIUS (2024); Named a Rising Star (2023)
- Named to the Washington, DC Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers (2016-2019, 2023)
- Ranked by Chambers USA for International Trade: CFIUS Experts (2024)
- Named "Up & Coming" by Chambers USA for International Trade: CFIUS Experts (2021-2023); Chambers Global for International Trade: CFIUS Experts (2022-2025)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for International Trade (2020-2022)
Professional Activities
Publications
- “Tougher Stance on Chinese Investments Comes at a Cost,” The Hill (August 2018)
Speaker
- Panelist, “Government Affairs: A DC Insider View,” Forum for Corporate Directors, Orange County (December 2024)
- Presenter, “Navigating U.S. Foreign Investment Regulations: CFIUS and Investment in Biotech and Life Sciences,” 2024 MedInvest Biotech and Pharma Investor Conference (September 2024)
- Presenter, “CFIUS and Indian Investors,” AllianceIndus Foundation Conference (September 2024)
- Panelist, “US Economic Sanctions and the Impact on the Global Oil and Gas Industry,” Institute for Energy Law (May 2024)
- Panelist, “The Interplay of Economic Sanctions and Export Controls: Unraveling the Complexities of Compliance, Due Diligence and Monitoring,” 18th Annual Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance Conference (May 2024)
- Panelist, “Hot Compliance Issues-Russia Sanctions,” State Bar of Texas, 21st Annual Course-Advanced In-House Counsel (August 2022)
- Presenter, “U.S.-China Venture Capital: Trends and Regulatory Challenges,” AmCham Shanghai (January 2020)
- Presenter, “CFIUS for Startups and Investors,” Silicon Catalyst Angels (December 2019)
- Panelist, “Everything Old is New Again: CFIUS and FIRRMA – How Will the Potential Changes Affect FDI in Your Company?” 97th Annual AAEI Conference and Expo (June 2018)
Client Alerts (Most Recent)
- “CFIUS Plans to Enhance and Expand Monitoring and Enforcement Authorities” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, April 2024) (with Greta L. Nightingale)
- “CFIUS Expands to Include Secretary of Agriculture” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, March 2024) (with Greta L. Nightingale, Shruti Kannan)
- “Biden Administration Takes New Steps to Address National Security Risks of Foreign Access to U.S. Data” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, March 2024) (with Greta L. Nightingale, Scott W. Pink, Shruti Kannan)
- “United States Issues New Economic Sanctions Targeting Russia and Sanctions Evaders, But Limited Impact Expected” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, February 2024) (with Greta L. Nightingale, Shruti Kannan)
- “United States Further Expands Restrictions on Exports of Advanced Computing Chips and Semiconductor Manufacturing Items to China” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, October 2023) (with Greta L. Nightingale)
- “U.S. Suspends Some Economic Sanctions in Venezuela, Though A Number of Restrictions Remain” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, October 2023) (with Greta L. Nightingale)
- “Biden Administration Launches New Regulatory Regime Governing Outbound Investment” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, August 2023)
- “United States Further Expands Economic Sanctions and Export Controls Targeting Russia As War in Ukraine Continues” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, May 2023) (with Greta L. Nightingale, AnnaLou Tirol)
- “CFIUS Proposes to Expand Scope of U.S. Real Estate Subject to Review” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, May 2023) (with Greta L. Nightingale, Shruti Kannan)
- “Unparalleled $300 Million Civil Penalty for Export Control Violations Underscores the Imperative of Strong Compliance for Companies Operating Internationally” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, April 2023) (with Greta L. Nightingale, Sid Mody)
- “Bipartisan Legislation Seeks to Address National Security Threats From Foreign Information and Communications Technology” (O’Melveny National Security Alert, March 2023) (with Greta L. Nightingale, John Dermody, Shruti Kannan)
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