WilmerHale

Providing ‘good commercial guidance on CFIUS processes and likely sensitivities’, WilmerHale’s formidable government-side experience ensures adept handling of complex filings, including mitigation negotiations. Alongside an existing strength in mid-market M&A, its premier CFIUS expertise makes the group a regular fixture on reviews for large-scale, cross-border transactions—across all key industries. Highly regarded department chair Benjamin Powell is a former associate counsel to the president and GC to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Among Powell’s recent cases, he represented chemical company Univar Solutions during the successful CFIUS review of its $8.1bn acquisition by Apollo Global Management and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. A former senior counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, Jason Chipman also contributes extensive government-side experience and specializes in regulatory matters connected to cybersecurity, CFIUS and related export controls. In a highlight example of his practice sweet spot, Chipman is acting as CFIUS counsel to Intel regarding a $9bn transaction involving semiconductor memory technology. Other key contacts in the Washington DC-based team include Stephen Preston, who chairs the defense, national security and government contracts practice; and the ’very strategic’ Robert Kimmitt, who previously served as Deputy Secretary of the US Department of the Treasury.