Alexis Early

Practice Areas

Alexis Early helps clients navigate complex business challenges related to the cross-border flow of goods, software, technology, funds, and investment capital. She counsels clients on sanctions, export controls, anti-money laundering, and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) matters.

Alexis advises US and foreign-based multinational clients in information technology/telecom, financial services and insurance, energy and infrastructure, aerospace and defense, emerging technology, food and agriculture, shipping and logistics, and education/humanitarian sectors across a broad range of transactions, including:

Transactional: Represents US target companies, investors and strategic buyers, and US and foreign funds in a range of transactions, including fund formation, venture capital and private equity, and strategic and public company M&A. Conducts diligence, advises clients on structuring deals to mitigate regulatory risk, and navigates regulatory processes, including CFIUS reviews of inbound foreign investment, CFIUS and foreign ownership control and influence (FOCI) mitigation negotiations, and outbound investment screening.

Compliance: Advises US and foreign clients on the development, implementation, and maintenance of international trade compliance under export controls (Export Administration Regulations and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations), economic sanctions (Office of Foreign Assets Control, State Department, and United Nations), antiboycott regulations, and anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism regimes (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network).

Enforcement: Conducts sensitive internal assessments of US and foreign companies and financial institutions, provides licensing guidance, assists clients in the preparation and submission of voluntary and directed disclosures, and engages in penalty negotiations with US government agencies.

Public Policy: Collaborates with clients, trade associations, and industry leaders to engage in dialogue with government officials, draft legislation, propose regulatory solutions, and advance adoption by the Executive Branch and Congress. Experience advising foreign sovereigns and private sector entities and implementing strategic advocacy campaigns related to international trade and multilateral trade agreements, defense cooperation, energy security, foreign assistance, and immigration.

Multijurisdictional Coordination: Leads and coordinates multi-country teams that provide multijurisdictional guidance to clients, such as advocating to US, UK, and EU authorities to harmonize aspects of their Russia sanctions regulations and advising clients on other countries’ CFIUS-style multijurisdictional foreign direct investment (FDI) reviews triggered by multi-country deals.

Alexis has been recognized as a leading CFIUS practitioner by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and the Legal 500. She is a co-founder of Women in CFIUS. Her insights regularly appear in The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Reuters, The Washington Post, and other major publications. In law school, she was the founding Editor-in-Chief of American University’s Business Law Review, the first comprehensive business law journal in Washington, DC.

Alexis serves on the Wellesley Business Leadership Council, the Washington College of Law Advisory Council on Business Law, and as a director of SMYAL, DC’s largest organization supporting LGBTQ youth. She has volunteered as an elections monitor in the United States and internationally and advises clients and pro bono partners on the rule of law, human rights, and LGBTQ issues.