Cari Stinebower

Partner

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Areas of Work

Economic Sanctions, National Security & Cross-Border Transactions, Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption/FCPA

Overview

Cari Stinebower is a former US Department of the Treasury/Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) attorney-advisor who counsels multinational companies, financial institutions, and other clients on economic sanctions, national security, anti-money laundering, and anti-corruption compliance and enforcement matters. With more than 25 years of government and private practice experience, she helps clients manage regulatory risk where US national security and foreign policy objectives intersect with cross-border business.

Cari counsels clients on compliance with US economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering laws and regulations, export controls, and anti‑bribery and anti‑corruption regimes. Her work includes designing and enhancing global compliance programs, conducting sanctions and AML risk assessments, leading internal and external investigations, and representing clients in enforcement actions and regulatory inquiries before US and non-US authorities. She also helps clients navigate conflicts of law arising from non‑US blocking statutes, data privacy restrictions, and divergent regulatory expectations.

She has deep experience advising clients in the maritime, energy, financial services, insurance, and transportation sectors, including counseling on sanctions targeting Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, and other high‑risk jurisdictions. Cari frequently represents clients before OFAC and other US agencies in licensing, disclosures, and de‑listing matters and has litigated challenges to sanctions designations and enforcement actions. She also works with clients to prepare for Congressional testimony and investigations.

Before entering private practice, Cari served in senior roles at the US Department of the Treasury, including as an attorney-advisor assigned to OFAC and as a programs officer responsible for counter narcotics, sanctions, and anti‑terrorism initiatives. During her government service, she advised on sanctions legislation, drafted executive orders and United Nations Security Council resolutions, and defended OFAC in litigation and congressional investigations. She received formal recognition from the Secretary of the Treasury for her work on key counterterrorism and sanctions programs.

Cari is a frequent speaker and writer on sanctions, AML, and enforcement issues and is regularly quoted by global media outlets on developments in international trade and national security regulation. She has lectured at leading academic institutions in the United States and Europe and is consistently recognized by top legal directories and industry publications for her work in international trade, sanctions, and investigations.

District of Columbia
Maryland

J.D., American University
M.A., American University, US Foreign Policy
B.A., Amherst College

Areas of Work

Speaking Engagements

"Debanking & Fair Access Laws - What are a Financial Institution’s Obligations & Risks," Financial & International Business Association AML Compliance Conference, Co-panelist, March 26, 2026
"Leading is Risky Business," Caribbean Regional Compliance Association (CRCA) Conference 2023, Co-panelist, Oct. 13, 2023
"Roundtable Discussion: Cuba Opportunities," Winston & Strawn "Cuba 2023 – Navigating Opportunities in the Current Business and Regulatory Environment" Program, Moderator, May 5, 2023
"How to Get Your Legal Transactions Approved with the EU Member States," American Conference Institute US Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance Conference, Co-panelist, April 26, 2023
"Future Waves: What Are the Trends in the Trust, Banking, Corporate Services and Insurance Sectors?" CRCA Conference, Co-panelist, Nov. 3, 2022
"Risk & Compliance: Navigating Shipping through Volatile Geopolitics," Lloyd’s List Webinar, Co-panelist, May 26, 2022
"Iran: What to Expect from Current Iran Negotiations and Will Opportunities Open in 2022?" American Conference Institute US Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance Conference, Co-panelist, Dec. 7, 2021
"China Landscape: Staying Compliant with Rapidly Changing Export Controls and Sanctions Regulations," American Conference Institute, Co-panelist, April 27, 2021
"Trade, National Security and the Future of US-China Economic Relations," NFTC’s 2021 Virtual Conference and Awards Ceremony, Co-panelist, Jan. 12, 2021
"Economic Sanctions 2021: What to Expect from the New Administration," ACAMS US Capital Chapter Panel, Co-panelist, Nov. 13, 2020
"The Moving Target of Sanctions Compliance," First Risk and Compliance Forum, Presenter, Oct. 8, 2020
"Third Party Management: Everyone Talks about Due Diligence, But How Do We Operationalize It?" Consero, Co-presenter, Sept. 2020
"Russia Deep Dive: Staying Compliant with Primary and Secondary Sanctions Restrictions," American Conference Institute, Co-panelist, July 28, 2020
"Next Generation Screening: Pairing Artificial intelligence with Risk Intelligence," Kharon & Accuity, Co-panelist, Aug. 20, 2020
"Sanctions and the Shipping Sector," Center for a New American Security, Co-panelist, May 27, 2020
"How to Deter Russian Aggression in an Election Year: Legislative Options," Atlantic Council, Co-presenter, March 16, 2020
"Sanctions: What are They Good For?" American Israeli Political Action Committee (AIPAC), Co-presenter, March 1, 2020
"Gas Beyond an Energy Source – An Enabler of Trade and Industrialization in Latin America," Powering Africa Summit / Latin America Energy Forum, Moderator, Feb. 24, 2020
"Helms Burton Act Roundtable," American Society of International Law, Miami, Co-panelist, Feb. 14, 2020
"A 20/20 View on 2020’s Legislative and Regulatory Outlook," ACAMS Annual Anti-Financial Crime and Public Policy Conference, Washington, D.C., Co-presenter, Feb. 6, 2020
"Economic Sanctions Developments and Disruptions for the Aviation Finance Sector," Airline Economics Growth Frontiers, Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 20, 2020
"Surviving the Tsunami of Global Regulations," Caribbean Regional Compliance Association Conference, St. Lucia, Co-presenter, Nov. 8, 2019
"Disruptive Worldwide Landscape," Silicon Valley Disruptive Technologies Summit, Santa Clara, California, Speaker, Sept. 11, 2019
"US Sanctions and Export Control – Are you up to Speed and Prepared?" Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Co-presenter, Aug. 1, 2019
"US Sanctions and Export Control – Are you up to Speed and Prepared?" American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, China, Co-presenter, July 30, 2019
"US Sanctions and Export Control – Are you up to Speed and Prepared?" Beijing, China, Co-presenter, July 25, 2019
"International Update: Sanctions, Export Controls, and Immunity," Legal Issues in Museum Administration, Washington, D.C., Co-presenter, March 21, 2019
"Global Standards, Best Practices and Key Challenges for International Financial Institutions in Managing Sanctions Related Risks," Kharon Global Sanctions Summit, New York, Moderator, April 8, 2019
"International Sanctions: Status Quo?" 5th Meeting on Financial Services Compliance, EIZ, Europa Institute at University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Co-presenter, Nov. 13, 2018
"Bribery and Corruption, Money Laundering, and Sanctions: Understanding Financial Crime Risks and Their Impact on Shipping," 2018 MLA AGM, Franschhoek, South Africa, Co-presenter, Sept. 1, 2018

News & Publications

Press Releases

June 4, 2026

Press Releases

May 18, 2026

Noteworthy

Chambers Global, International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions – USA (2019–2025)
Chambers USA, International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions (2018–2026)
Latinvex, Top 100 Female Lawyers – Trade & Sanctions (2025); Anti‑Corruption (2018–2024); FCPA & Fraud (2025)
Law360, MVP – International Trade (2020)

News & Publications

"Oil Firms Grapple With Uncertainty Over Venezuela Licenses," Semafor, Media Mention, Jan. 20, 2026
"Law Firms Scramble to Guide Clients About Venezuela Tumult," Bloomberg Law, Media Mention, Jan. 7, 2026
"US Removal of Maduro Won’t Curb Energy Cos.’ Caution," Law360, Media Mention, Jan. 6, 2026
"US Treasury Seeks Public Comment on the Implementation of the GENIUS Act," Financial Innovation & Regulation, Co‑Author, Nov. 10, 2025
"Bankers Worldwide: You May Not Be Interested in Export Controls, But They Are Interested in You," Banking Law Journal, Co‑Author, Mar. 2025
"Litigation Versus the Treasury in a Post ‘Chevron Deference’ Doctrine World," Financier Worldwide Magazine, Co‑Author, Jan. 22, 2025
"China and Hong Kong Expand Protections Over State Secrets," Notes From the China Desk, Co‑Author, June 21, 2024
"Unpacking OFAC’s New Russian Accounting Services Ban," Law360, Co‑Author, May 16, 2022

Previous Employment

US Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control
- Attorney‑Advisor, Office of the General Counsel (2001–2005)
- Programs Officer, Office of International Programs (1999–2001)

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law
Federalist Society
Vice Chair, Section of International Law, International Anti-Money Laundering and Professional Ethics Committee (2008-present)
ABA Gatekeepers Task Force
Enterprise Member, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists