Overview
Dainia Jabaji is a Partner in Steptoe's International Trade and Regulatory Compliance practice where she assists clients such as financial institutions, multinational corporations, and fintech companies in navigating sanctions, AML/CFT, and other high-stakes financial crime and national security risk in an increasingly enforcement-driven global environment.
Whether facing a government inquiry or in need of proactive compliance support, Dainia assists clients in their times of need with a menu of services. She represents clients in investigations and enforcement matters related to financial crimes, sanctions, export controls, and other financial regulatory matters, including in front of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Justice (DOJ), and banking regulators. She often leads internal investigations and advises on and assists in drafting compliance programs, policies and procedures, risk assessments, voluntary disclosures, license applications, delisting petitions, and more.
Drawing on her past experience leading internal regulatory investigations at one of the world's largest financial institutions, Dainia has particular experience leading complex, cross-border sanctions investigations and advising clients on regulatory issues involving emerging technologies, digital assets, and international payment systems. In addition to her regulatory and enforcement practice, Dainia has defended clients in related civil litigation and class actions and has advised on matters involving reputational, operational, and governance risk.
Dainia is a frequent speaker and writer on sanctions, AML, and financial crime issues and is actively engaged in professional and community organizations focused on compliance, inclusion, and justice. She maintains a robust pro bono practice, including work related to international humanitarian relief efforts and asylum matters.
- District of Columbia
- New York
- California
- J.D., University at Buffalo School of Law
- B.S., The College at Brockport, State University of New York
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
- Represented a top bank in a Department of Justice Integrity Unit-led criminal investigation into a multi-year money laundering scheme involving an employee.
- Negotiated settlements with substantial penalty reductions on behalf of clients, including a fintech bank with a bank regulator, related to alleged AML program failures, and on behalf of a shipping industry client with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged sanctions violations.
- Secured summary judgment for a top bank in a landmark discrimination class action lawsuit brought by a former customer related to the bank’s AML/OFAC compliance policies and due diligence procedures.
- Defended banking clients in litigation related to alleged “debanking” and “derisking” practices.
- Successfully petitioned OFAC for the delisting of individuals and entities from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list (“SDN List”), resulting in the unblocking of such persons and their property after decades of seizure.
- Assisted in drafting hundreds of voluntary self-disclosures to OFAC of potential sanctions violations.
- Petitioned FinCEN for the delisting of a foreign bank from FinCEN’s 311 List.
- Secured settlement for Fox News in high-profile and landmark First Amendment-related defamation case, Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network.
Speaking Engagements
- "Middle East Sanctions Compliance Roundtable," ACI Annual New York Forum on Economic Sanctions, Speaker, Dec. 3, 2025
- "International Trade Under Trump 2.0 – Emerging Risks, Trends, and Forecasts," Palestinian American Bar Association Conference, Moderator, Oct. 11, 2025
- "Sanctions 101: Sanctions Impacting Palestine and Related Compliance Considerations," Palestinian American Bar Association Webinar, Co‑Presenter, Nov. 25, 2024
- "Newly Emerging High‑Risk Jurisdictions," ACI Women in Sanctions Network Webinar, Co‑Presenter, Oct. 25, 2023
- "A Needle in a Paystack: Best Practices in Identifying Sanctioned Countries," Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists Webinar, Panelist, July 20, 2023
News & Publications
International Compliance Blog
US Provides Temporary Iran Sanctions Relief with the Potential for More to Come
June 23, 2026
By: Steptoe's Economic Sanctions Practice
Press Releases
Steptoe Adds High-Impact Four-Partner Team to Enhance DC Global Enforcement and Litigation Practice
May 18, 2026
Noteworthy
News & Publications
- "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
- "Russia Sanctions and Considerations in Building a Sanctions Compliance Programme," Journal of Financial Compliance, Co‑Author, Summer 2021
Professional Affiliations
- Selected Participant, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) 2024 Leadership Program
- American Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Palestinian American Bar Association
- Los Angeles Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- Enterprise Member, Association of Certified Anti‑Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)
- ACI Women in Sanctions Network
- Board Member, Alliance for Inclusion and Justice