Overview
(May 18, 2026, Washington, DC) – Steptoe LLP is pleased to announce that Cari Stinebower, Christopher Man, Mariana Pendás Fernández, and Dainia Jabaji have joined as partners in the firm's Washington, DC office. Formerly of Winston & Strawn LLP, the powerhouse team amplifies Steptoe’s tier-one international trade, export controls, economic sanctions, government investigations, white collar defense and commercial trials capabilities.
Collectively, the four partners bring decades of experience representing multinational corporations, financial institutions, public officials, and individuals in high‑stakes matters before US federal and state courts, international arbitration tribunals, and US and foreign regulatory and enforcement agencies. Their arrival underscores Steptoe's continued strategic investment in Washington, DC as a center for complex disputes, challenges, and opportunities for clients at the intersection of law, policy, and global commerce.
"Cari, Chris, Mariana, and Dainia are world-class lawyers with national and international reputations for handling matters where legal, regulatory, and reputational risk converge,” said firm chair Gwen Renigar. "Their deep experience with investigations and enforcement agencies, combined with their global perspective and litigation strengths, enhance our DC platform and allow us to continue to meet the needs of our clients on their most sensitive matters.”
Speaking on behalf of the group, Cari Stinebower said, "Washington, DC is central to many of the most consequential disputes, reputational risks, and regulatory matters our clients face. When we looked at firms, Steptoe stood out for its world-class work, collaborative environment, and growth momentum. We are excited to join colleagues who share a commitment to first‑rate advocacy, sound judgment, and practical solutions.”
Cari Stinebower is a leading international trade, national security, and sanctions attorney with more than 25 years of government and private‑sector experience. She advises multinational corporations and financial institutions on US economic sanctions, export controls, anti‑money laundering, anti‑bribery and anti‑corruption issues, and cross‑border regulatory investigations. Cari previously served at the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), where she advised on sanctions programs, enforcement matters, and related litigation. Cari focuses on providing practical guidance to clients as they navigate legal, reputational and policy risks.
Christopher Man is a nationally recognized trial and appellate lawyer whose practice focuses on high‑profile civil and criminal litigation, white-collar defense, and government investigations. He has represented companies and individuals including governors, members of Congress, senior White House officials, and US presidential candidates in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), economic sanctions, money laundering laws, securities enforcement, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and federal election laws. His practice frequently involves international investigations, extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) matters, and complex appeals, including before the US Supreme Court.
Mariana Pendás Fernández advises clients on US and EU economic sanctions, anti‑money laundering, and anti‑corruption laws and regulations, including the FCPA, as well as international commercial arbitration. A dual‑qualified, multilingual lawyer admitted in the United States and Spain, and a holder of a Swiss law degree, she has extensive experience handling cross‑border investigations, OFAC and EU economic sanctions compliance matters, and sanctions related disputes, with a particular focus on Latin America and Europe.
Dainia Jabaji focuses her practice on white-collar, financial regulatory, and international trade investigations, enforcement, compliance, and defense. Drawing on her experience leading global sanctions investigations at a major financial institution, she regularly assists clients with matters involving anti-money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and OFAC regulations, government investigations, disclosures, and enforcement actions, and provides practical guidance on navigating evolving regulatory regimes.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients and innovative thinking before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
