Ali Burney

Investigations & Enforcement

• Representing an Asia-based global oil and gas trading company in relation to a multi-agency sanctions-related investigation by DOJ, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the FBI.
• Successfully represented a Singapore-based commodity trader in front of DOJ and FBI relating to allegations of violations of US sanctions and anti-money laundering laws. As a result of the representation, DOJ issued a declination letter and the client did not have to pay a monetary penalty despite the fact that the initial allegations by DOJ and FBI suggested more than USD 200 million in suspect transactions over a five-year period.
• Successfully represented a South Asian refiner in relation to an inquiry from the State Department relating to a suspected shipment of Iranian crude oil. Following our submissions on behalf of the client, the State Department concluded its inquiry without any further action against our client.
• Represented a major European aircraft manufacturing company in relation to a regulatory investigation arising from alleged violations of US sanctions and export controls.
• Represented a major South American airline in relation to a regulatory investigation by the US Department of Commerce.
• Represented a Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturing company in relation to alleged violations of US sanctions and export controls.
• Represented major European and Middle Eastern banks in relation to regulatory investigations arising from alleged violations of OFAC sanctions programs.

Compliance & Advisory

• Advised a global mining company on a group-wide risk assessment of its compliance with US, UN, EU and UK sanctions, export controls and AML/CTF requirements.
• Served as US sanctions and export controls counsel to major international banks, logistics companies, commodity trading companies, and oil and gas companies.
• FCPA counsel to a solar power company with investments and projects throughout South Asia and South East Asia.
• Represented private-equity clients in connection with due diligence on highly complex M&A transactions in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa related to sanctions, AML, and anti-bribery and corruption issues.

• "Fighting Digital & Corporate Crime, Investigations & Digital Assets — HK, China & US Focus," Asia Forum: 3rd Annual International Arbitration & Competition Law Summit in Hong Kong, May 18, 2023
• "Sanctions and Arbitrations: Perspective from South-East Asia," L2 i-CON International Webinar, April 13, 2023
• "Sanctions and their impact on the rule of law," GAR Live: Hong Kong, October 27, 2022
• "Navigating the New Economic Sanctions Era: Impact on Global Business/Sanctions Risk Management," IPBA's Anti-Corruption & Rule of Law Committee, June 2, 2022
• "Corruption in the Resources Sector," Energy and Resources Law Asia, November 11, 2021
• "Conducting Effective Internal Investigations for Export Violations", Strafford Publications, October 20, 2021
• "US Tech Export Controls, Sanctions Against Chinese Entities in 2020," China Law & Practice podcast, January 7, 2021
• "Hong Kong and China: What is the Future for Export Controls and Sanctions," Annual Forum on Global Economic Sanctions for Canadian Operations, November 19, 2020

• "Regulatory Due Diligence of the Target Companies in Merger Transactions," Challenges to Cross-Boundary Deal-Making in the Greater Bay Area, Asian Legal Business webinar, September 23, 2020

• Chambers Greater China, Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (2023-2024)
• Chambers Asia-Pacific, Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms), Greater China Region (2022 - 2023)
• Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Regulatory: Anti-Corruption and Compliance, Hong Kong (2022 - 2024)

• US Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control