Brian J. Egan

Mr. Egan has advised on CFIUS reviews for clients spanning a wide range of business sectors and jurisdictions, including Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He also has counseled on numerous export controls issues, including compliance, classification, licensing, enforcement and related due diligence, and has assisted with internal investigations and government disclosures. Additionally, he has significant experience working with clients on sanctions compliance and risk mitigation, civil and criminal enforcement matters, and “blacklisting” issues.

A former senior legal official in the Barack Obama administration, Mr. Egan has a deep background in domestic and international legal matters that influence U.S. government national security and foreign relations policies and programs. He held several roles in federal government, serving as the senior-most lawyer at both the National Security Council and the Department of State, as well as deputy White House counsel to then-President Obama and assistant general counsel at the Department of the Treasury. In recognition of his work, he received numerous awards from government agencies, including the National Security Council; the departments of State, Treasury and Justice; and the Central Intelligence Agency.

During his time with the White House and National Security Council, Mr. Egan provided legal advice on a broad range of domestic and international law matters relating to national and homeland security, engaging extensively with senior counsel at the major federal departments and agencies involved in national security work, including the departments of Justice, Defense, Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security, as well as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FBI, CIA, National Security Agency and others.

As legal adviser at the Department of State, Mr. Egan led the team advising on the legal aspects of all U.S. foreign policy, counseling the secretary of state and other senior government officials on matters including foreign sovereign immunities, economic sanctions, export controls, resolution of investment disputes, treaty negotiation and interpretation, cybersecurity and cyber hacking. He also oversaw litigation against the U.S. government before international tribunals, including the International Court of Justice.

While serving as assistant general counsel for enforcement and intelligence at the Department of the Treasury, Mr. Egan was responsible for providing legal advice related to sanctions and anti-money laundering matters before OFAC and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Mr. Egan is co-author of U.S. Export Controls and Economic Sanctions (4th Edition), a leading treatise in the field published in 2021 by Oxford University Press.

Mr. Egan has been recognized in Chambers USA and as a leading lawyer in The Legal 500 U.S., in addition to being named one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global Litigators and one of Washingtonian’s Top Lawyers in the field of national security. He frequently speaks in public forums on a variety of international legal issues, including testifying before Congress and participating in panel discussions.