Regulatory Compliance & Disputes

Ashurst Perkins Coie advises clients on economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, and anti-corruption matters. We help clients build compliance programs, manage cross-border transactions, conduct internal investigations, and respond to enforcement inquiries. Our team identifies and addresses the risks that matter most and works closely with in-house teams to help protect clients from internal and third-party misconduct. We have helped hundreds of clients assess, develop, and implement compliance policies and controls designed to identify and limit economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, and anti-corruption risks.

Our clients span industries and risk profiles, from emerging companies to highly regulated financial institutions, and include both U.S. and foreign entities. In a fast-changing cross-border environment, we keep clients informed about current developments and work with them to prepare for what comes next. For related capabilities in government investigations, see our White Collar & Investigations practice.

We advise individuals, companies, associations, governments, and international organizations on the ethics and compliance expectations faced by enterprises around the globe. Our lawyers' regulatory, compliance, and enforcement knowledge informs our advice and creative client solutions. Members of our team have served in the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of the Treasury, as well as other relevant agencies.

We have helped hundreds of clients assess, develop, and implement a broad range of compliance-related policies and controls that identify and limit risk, including codes of conduct, anti-corruption policies, vendor due diligence procedures, training materials, expense reimbursement procedures, and other internal best practices.

Our team supports clients with internal investigations, policy development, and compliance training, ensuring adherence to U.S. and international regulations and representing them in enforcement proceedings. For related capabilities in government investigations and enforcement matters, see our Securities Litigation and White Collar & Investigations practices.

Ashurst Perkins Coie defends companies and individuals facing False Claims Act (FCA) allegations in defense contracting, healthcare, and other industries, including high-stakes matters involving substantial financial exposure. We help clients manage FCA risk at every stage of internal investigations, counseling on statutory, regulatory, and contract requirements; mandatory and voluntary disclosures; and tailored compliance programs. When disputes arise, we provide a coordinated defense that includes early engagement with the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, and other authorities, as well as vigorous advocacy in trial and appellate courts when needed. Our teams combine trial, appellate, regulatory, and former government experience with deep industry knowledge in government contracts, healthcare and life sciences, IT, software, and financial services. For related capabilities, see our White Collar & Investigations practice.

Companies engaging in business with the government must successfully address complex federal procurement laws, negotiate and protect profitable contracts, and, when necessary, resolve disputes through litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

We counsel clients on the full range of legal matters related to all stages of federal procurement, including compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency FAR supplements, contract claims and disputes, bid protests, prime-subcontractor disputes, IP protection and data rights, and security clearance issues. Our team also advises on matters related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, as well as False Claims Act and qui tam actions. We help clients avoid and resolve contract issues related to contract performance and terminations, including Requests for Equitable Adjustment, suspensions and debarment proceedings, and subcontract negotiation and flow-down issues.

Our Immigration lawyers provide guidance and support to founders, entrepreneurs, and established and emerging businesses as they navigate the complexities of immigration law in a globalized economy.

Businesses depend on our Immigration practice to develop customized immigration strategies, programs, and processes to effectively manage their foreign national workforce and ensure their operations comply with immigration laws. Our lawyers are distinguished by their comprehensive approach, acting as advisers to companies in securing work authorizations for essential personnel, including executives and other high-level individuals, and defending against compliance and litigation challenges from federal regulatory bodies like the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.

Our International Trade team advises clients on international rules and U.S. laws regulating trade of goods and services, including trade remedies, customs, export controls and economic sanctions, trade-related IP, and foreign investment. We represent clients in international trade negotiations and disputes, including those involving the World Trade Organization, trade policy matters, developing and implementing government affairs strategies, and lobbying U.S. and other governments.

Clients retain our lawyers to design and implement international regulatory compliance programs, perform internal audits and investigations, and defend against government enforcement actions. We also provide international trade due diligence counseling to clients considering M&A.

Clients seek our comprehensive counsel on issues involving counterespionage, counterterrorism, protection of critical infrastructure and cyberspace, and other domestic threats. We work closely with companies on prevention and readiness, intrusion response, and remediation and hardening. We also help clients form contracting and other business relationships with components of the U.S. intelligence community, including establishing subsidiaries to work with U.S. national security departments and agencies and mitigate any Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence.

We advise companies on compliance related to U.S. export control laws and economic and trade sanctions programs, and we handle surveillance requests. We have defended and represented clients as targets and witnesses in investigations before the U.S. intelligence community, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

Companies, organizations, nonprofits, lobbying firms, political committees, and individuals turn to Ashurst Perkins Coie for guidance on the laws that govern political activity, political speech, electoral spending, and lobbying. We advise clients on day-to-day compliance, strategic political engagement, internal processes, and risk assessment, helping them make informed decisions in a rapidly changing legal and regulatory environment. Our team represents clients before the Federal Election Commission on rulemaking, advisory opinions, and enforcement matters, as well as before the IRS on tax-exempt applications, audits, and disputes. We also advise on Lobbying Disclosure Act compliance and prepare filings. In addition, our team handles litigation and dispute resolution involving voting rights, recounts, and election contests, and we represent candidates, political parties, political committees, companies, and other organizations in high-stakes matters at the federal, state, and local levels.

We counsel clients on compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act, an area that has drawn increased enforcement in recent years and requires careful attention from those working with global clients through lobbying, public relations, or other government-facing activities. Our team helps clients assess whether their activities may trigger registration, determine whether exemptions apply, manage registration and reporting obligations when required, and respond if questions or disputes arise.

Our team includes former officials from the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, SEC, and state attorneys general offices, along with subject matter leaders in international, labor and employment, environmental, corporate, retail and consumer products, franchising and distribution, marketing and advertising, e-commerce, and privacy and security law.

We help clients address complex supply chain and corporate social responsibility challenges with practical, business-focused counsel. We respond quickly to urgent and time-sensitive issues, develop integrated crisis response strategies, and conduct phased internal and external investigations when concerns arise. We also help clients design and implement effective responses that support compliance, reduce risk, and prepare their businesses for evolving legal and regulatory expectations.