Overview
Brian Egan is a distinguished international lawyer who advises on a range of complex legal issues that affect his US and foreign clients. He partners with clients to address US and multilateral economic sanctions, export controls, anti-money laundering programs, national security investment reviews and other national security matters, cross-border disputes, international cybersecurity and data privacy matters, and issues of public international law. As a former senior legal official with the White House, the National Security Council, and the Department of State and Department of the Treasury under the Obama Administration, he has keen insight into domestic and international legal matters that influence US government national security and foreign relations policies and programs. Brian’s clients benefit from his tremendous understanding of the inner workings of international regulations and interests.
As legal adviser at the Department of State, Brian led the office responsible for advising on all legal issues that impact US foreign relations, including the US government’s international law portfolio. He counseled the secretary of state and other senior US government officials on a wide range of pressing domestic and international legal issues, including foreign sovereign immunities, economic sanctions, resolution of investment disputes, treaty negotiation and interpretation, cybersecurity, and cyber hacking. He also oversaw litigation against the US government before the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals.
Brian has also held prestigious roles at the White House, providing legal advice on a broad range of domestic and international law matters relating to national and homeland security, interacting extensively with senior counsel at every major US government department and agency engaged in national security work, including the departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Energy; the Central Intelligence Agency; the Office of the US Trade Representative; the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; the US Agency for International Development; and the US Mission to the United Nations.
Brian regularly appears in public fora to speak on international legal issues, including testifying before Congress, public speaking engagements, and panel presentations.
- District of Columbia
- California
- J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2000, Order of the Coif; Executive Editor, California Law Review
- B.A., Stanford University, 1994
Areas of Practice
Speaking Engagements
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"Deep Dive: Staying Compliant with Primary and Secondary Russia Sanctions Restrictions," ACI's 9th Annual New York Forum on Economic Sanctions, New York, NY, December 5, 2018
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"Understanding CFIUS Review Process and 'National Security' Concerns: What Every Cross-Border M&A Lawyer Must Know about the CFIUS Review Process and Potential Risks When Representing Non-US Buyers of US Businesses and Assets," The New Engine of Growth in Asia Conference: Investment and Technology, ABA Section of International Law, Seoul, South Korea, October 19, 2018
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"Current State of Russia Economic Sanctions," Navigating Russia Sanctions Complexities Seminar, ACI, New York, NY, September 24, 2018
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"Test Your Knowledge of Multiple Sanctions Restrictions Under CAATSA," Navigating Russia Sanctions Complexities Seminar, ACI, New York, NY, September 24, 2018
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"US National Security Regulation and China: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead," US Investment Opportunities and Challenges in the Trump Era, Lex Mundi Conference, Shanghai, China, September 11, 2018
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"Navigating the Trade War: Section 301 Tariffs and Exclusions," US Investment Opportunities and Challenges in the Trump Era, Lex Mundi Conference, Shanghai, China, September 11, 2018
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"The Most Common Misunderstandings About the "Specially Designed" Definition: Where Exporters Have Gone Right and Wrong in Determining ITAR," ACI's ITAR Boot Camp, Chicago, June 7, 2018
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"Test Your Knowledge of the Multiple Sanctions Restrictions under the CAATSA: What Is and Is Not Compliant in Intra-Corporate Transaction Scenarios," ACI's 11th Annual Advanced Forum on Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance, Washington, DC, April 25, 2018
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"The Use of Force in North Korea: The Legal Process," ABA Standing Committee on Law & National Security, Washington, DC, April 24, 2018
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"Foreign Investments Control: Towards the Globalization of Protectionism?," ABA Annual Conference of the Section of International Law, New York, NY, April 18, 2018
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Keynote Speaker, 2018 National and International Security Law Conference, Duke University School of Law's Center on Law, Ethics and National Security (LENS), Durham, NC, February 23, 2018
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"Financial Institutions and National Security," American University Washington College of Law's National Security Law Brief Fall Symposium - Public Private Partnerships: How the National Security Community Interacts with Private Sector, Washington, DC, November 15, 2017
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"Inside Recent US Enforcement Actions: What ZTE and Others Reveal About US Sanctions Enforcement," ACI's 3rd Canadian Forum on Economic Sanctions Compliance & Enforcement, Toronto, Canada, October 24, 2017
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"Cyberspace: On the Frontier of International Law, Security, and Diplomacy," Temple International & Comparative Law Journal Annual Symposium, Temple University's Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia, PA, October 17, 2017
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"Next Steps for Cybersecurity and Financial Stability," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, DC, August 24, 2017
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"Strengthening Cybersecurity," International Law and the Trump Administration, American Society of International Law, Washington, DC, July 19, 2017
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ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security Recordings Podcast, June 22, 2017
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"Legitimacy of the Decision-Makers," Institute for Transnational Arbitration's 29th Workshop and Annual Meeting: Challenges to the Legitimacy of International Arbitration, Dallas, TX, June 15, 2017
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"Cybersecurity: Global, Regional, and National Context," Jeju Forum for Peace & Prosperity 2017: Sharing a Common Vision for Asia's Future, Seogwipo, South Korea, May 31, 2017
News & Publications
Client Alerts
GAO Issues Report Critical of TSA Pipeline Security Program
December 21, 2018
By: Stewart A. Baker, Brian Egan, Steven Reed, John C. London
Media Mentions
Vox Cites Steptoe Advisory on Service on Foreign Government in US Lawsuit
November 12, 2018
Client Alerts
Foreign Business Entities Cannot Be Sued Under the Alien Tort Statute; Other Options Remain
May 1, 2018
By: Steven K. Davidson, Michael J. Baratz, Brian Egan, Jared R. Butcher, Molly Bruder Fox
Media Mentions
Bloomberg Government Quotes Brian Egan on Due Process for Kaspersky Lab
March 29, 2018
Client Alerts
Service on Foreign Governments in US Lawsuits – Handle with Care, and Avoid the Embassy
January 31, 2018
Publications
Implications for Virtual Currency Exchangers of Significant FinCEN Action Against BTC-e
The Banking Law Journal
January 19, 2018
By: Jack R. Hayes, Brian Egan, Edward J. Krauland, Jason M. Weinstein, Alan Cohn
Media Mentions
Washington Post Quotes Brian Egan on Conviction of Benghazi Ringleader
December 1, 2017
Resources
International Law Advisory
Changes Afoot for CFIUS and US Export Controls as the Dust Settles on FIRRMA
August 16, 2018
International Law Advisory
June 28, 2018
By: Stewart A. Baker, Brian Egan, Zhu (Judy) Wang, Evan T. Abrams
International Law Advisory
President Announces Withdrawal From JCPOA and Reimposition of Nuclear-Based Sanctions on Iran
June 6, 2018
By: Brian Egan, Meredith Rathbone, Edward J. Krauland, Guy Soussan, John C. London, Algirdas Semeta
International Law Advisory
New Sanctions Against Russian Oligarchs, Officials, and Companies May Have Significant Impact
April 12, 2018
By: Meredith Rathbone, Edward J. Krauland, Brian Egan, Alexandra Baj, Evan T. Abrams
International Law Advisory
President Imposes First US Economic Sanctions Against Venezuelan Digital Currency
March 26, 2018
International Law Advisory
Criminal Enforcement and Significant Penalties Continue in 'Big Bank' AML Cases
March 23, 2018
By: M. Jeffrey Beatrice, Brian Egan, Jack R. Hayes, Elizabeth Arkell
Noteworthy
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: International Trade (2018)
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Brian has received numerous performance-based awards from US government agencies, including the National Security Council, the departments of State, Treasury, and Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
Previous Employment
- Legal Adviser, US Department of State (2016-2017)
- Deputy Assistant and Deputy Counsel to the President, The White House (2013-2016)
- National Security Council, Legal Advisor, The White House (2013-2016)
- Assistant General Counsel, US Department of Treasury (2012-2013)
- Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to the President, The White House (2011-2012)
- National Security Council, Deputy Legal Advisor, The White House (2009-2011)
- Attorney-Adviser, US Department of State (2005-2009)
Professional Affiliations
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American Law Institute
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Department of State Advisory Committee on Public International Law