Anthony Rapa

Associate

• arapa@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Anthony Rapa is an Associate in the Washington DC office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he is a member of the Litigation Department.  His practice focuses on complex commercial disputes, as well as international regulatory compliance, white-collar defense, and government contracts matters.

Mr. Rapa’s commercial dispute resolution experience includes the representation of clients in cross-border arbitration proceedings administered by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).  He has also represented an investor seeking recovery from a sovereign state in proceedings organized by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Mr. Rapa is also significantly engaged in the practice of international regulatory compliance, focusing on export controls, economic sanctions, and anti-corruption.  He has extensive experience with complex international internal investigations, as well as voluntary self-disclosures to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security, and the State Department Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.  Mr. Rapa has also assisted with drafting corporate compliance policies and has advised clients on the standards for civil and criminal liability under economic sanctions and export controls regimes.

Mr. Rapa’s practice also includes white-collar defense, with an emphasis on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and federal securities laws.  He has also advised clients regarding federal and state money laundering statutes.

Mr. Rapa has also represented clients in judgment enforcement proceedings, successfully securing garnishment of judgment debtors’ bank accounts and spearheading a multi-million dollar asset seizure in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mr. Rapa is also active in the firm’s government contracts practice, assisting in the representation of clients in bid protests before the Government Accountability Office.

Mr. Rapa supports Steptoe’s pro bono efforts, successfully representing a client seeking asylum in the U.S. and assisting with the drafting of amicus briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prior to joining Steptoe, Mr. Rapa interned with the District of Columbia Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect.

Selected Publications

• President Obama Issues Executive Order Imposing Sanctions on Assad Regime in Syria
  May 20, 2011
• International Law Advisory - New US, UN, and European Sanctions on Iran
  June 28, 2010
• International Law Advisory - House, Senate Pass New Iran Sanctions Legislation
  February 26, 2010
• International Law Advisory - OFAC Issues Proposed Belarus Sanctions Regulations Under Executive Order 13405
  February 4, 2010
• OFAC Promulgates Final Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines
  November 16, 2009
• President Delegates Authority for Congressional Notification on Missile Equipment & Technology Exports
  October 21, 2009
• “When Secrecy Threatens Security: Edmonds v. Department of Justice and a Proposal to Reform the State Secrets Privilege”
  37 Seton Hall L. Rev. 233 (2006)

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Litigation Section, International Law Section (Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee, National Security Committee)