LAWYER
Hrishi N. Hari
Partner | Washington, D.C.
Hrishi N. Hari

Hrishikesh N. Hari (“Hrishi”) is a leading national security advisor and practices at the intersection of national security and the private sector in Dechert’s Washington, D.C. office. He advises private equity investors, asset managers, financial institutions, and their portfolio companies. Mr. Hari’s practice focuses on CFIUS reviews, U.S. outbound investment measures, economic sanctions, and government enforcement matters. In recent years, he has advised on transactions with a combined value in excess of over $50 billion, offering strategic advice to clients on every stage of the deal cycle.

Mr. Hari has extensive experience advising on national security reviews of foreign direct investment (FDI) and complex cross-border transactions by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). He advises foreign investors and domestic sellers with respect to managing CFIUS risks across a range of topics, including structuring transactions, fundraising, mergers & acquisitions, minority investments, syndications and exits. He has experience advising clients on all aspects of engaging with CFIUS to secure CFIUS approval, from preparation of CFIUS filings and advocacy before CFIUS throughout a filing’s review and investigation to negotiation of mitigation agreements, when necessary and appropriate.

Mr. Hari also has experience with assessing and negotiating the mitigation of foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) involving the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). This experience includes negotiating special security agreements, proxy agreements, security control agreements, and FOCI board resolutions.

He also represents clients in national security-related transactional, compliance, and enforcement matters, including in relation to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), anti-money laundering laws and regulations (AML), economic sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the outbound investment security program administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and customs/tariffs. In these areas, Mr. Hari has experience with developing, implementing and improving risk-based, effective compliance programs, conducting internal investigations related to potential violations, and with assessing and mitigating potential risks in connection with transactional matters.

Clients regularly turn to Mr. Hari for advice on the impact of regulatory policy developments in matters involving international trade, cross-border investment, and national security. He has represented clients before the Executive Office of the President, multilateral development banks, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State and Treasury and other agencies on a range of matters.

Mr. Hari is also dedicated to helping protect individuals and communities from government repression and defending human rights through direct legal support and targeted high-leverage advocacy. He has helped secure the release of prisoners of conscience in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

Mr. Hari was named a Rising Star by the National Law Journal in 2024, is routinely recognized by the Legal 500 in the International Trade category (2023 – 2024), and he was appointed to the Law360 International Trade Editorial Board in 2024. Together with colleagues, the Financial Times commended Mr. Hari for "Innovation in Deal Making" in 2025. The Financial Times also recognized Hrishi's pro bono work as a “Standout” in its “Innovation in Access to Justice and Civil Rights” category in 2023 and he was a finalist for the Beyond Practice category of The American Lawyer’s “Young Lawyer of the Year Award” in 2024.

  • Representing multiple foreign investors, including an Asian sovereign wealth fund before the CFIUS in connection with multiple investments in U.S. companies.
  • Representing a private equity firm and telecommunications service provider before CFIUS.
  • Advising foreign investors with respect to national security mitigation agreements with CFIUS Monitoring Agencies.
  • Conducting an anti-bribery investigation in Asia on behalf of a publicly-traded industrial company.
  • Conducted an export compliance investigation in China for multiple publicly-traded high technology companies.
  • Conducted an investigation regarding anti-corruption, export controls, sanctions matters for a multinational network infrastructure and cloud service provider company.
  • Advised a publicly-traded satellite technology company on compliance with global export control, sanctions, and anti-bribery laws.
  • Conducted an internal investigation in response to a whistleblower report alleging anti-bribery violations on behalf of a publicly-traded high technology company.
  • Building a risk-based compliance program for anti-corruption compliance for multiple publicly-traded life sciences companies.
  • Conducted anti-bribery investigations in various Latin American countries on behalf of a publicly-traded medical device company.
  • Negotiated settlement agreements with the U.S. Treasury Department related to violations of economic sanctions on behalf of multiple publicly-traded companies.
  • Conducted an internal investigation and negotiated resolution with multiple U.S. government agencies (OFAC and BIS) of violations of export controls and economic sanctions by two major Middle Eastern airlines.
  • Negotiated a penalty settlement regarding violations of defense-related export controls with the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) on behalf of a publicly-traded high technology company.
  • Represented multiple senior officials of a Russian telecommunications company in connection with a U.S. Government investigation of violations of U.S. anti-bribery laws.
  • Represented companies and individuals in connection with investigations and suspension and debarment matters before the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the World Bank.
  • Conducted an anti-corruption risk assessment and internal investigation for a major global pharmaceutical company with respect to operations in China and Russia.
  • Advising various multinationals with respect to sufficiency of compliance policies and procedures and suggested improvements reflecting risk assessments and global best practices.
  • Advising multiple universities with investigating potential corruption-related misconduct and providing recommendations to prevent recurrence.
  • Conducting international trade compliance due diligence in connection with corporate transactions involving sellers and buyers in a broad range of industries, including the information technology, semiconductor, travel, manufacturing, financial services, and telecommunications sectors.

Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

  • US Outbound Investment Security and Implications for Chinese Technology Companies — HSBC Local Insights (January 17, 2025)
  • The Convergence of FCPA, Export Controls and Economic Sanctions: Adjusting Your Compliance Strategy to Address the Growing Overlap Between Corporate Crime, Geopolitical Risk and National Security — ACI's International Conference on the FCPA (December 5, 2024)
  • The Practice of Preparing for Outbound Investment Scrutiny: Lessons from Navigating the CFIUS Process and New, Strategic Considerations — ACI's 10th National Conference on CFIUS (April 11, 2024)
  • What Insurance Companies Can Expect in an Aggressive AML and Sanctions Enforcement Climate — ACI's AML & OFAC Compliance for the Insurance Industry Conference (February 14, 2024)
  • U.S. Regulatory and Enforcement Updates — ACI New York Forum on Economic Sanctions (December 13, 2023)
  • The Impact of the New U.S. Outbound Investment Regime — HSBC Local Insights Webcast (September 19, 2023)
  • Table for Six Dinner & Discussion — South Asian Bar Association of Washington D.C. (September 13, 2023)
  • The Impact of US Export Controls - Where are the CHIPS Falling — HSBC Local Insights Webcast (November 29, 2022)
  • Increased Foreign Direct Investment Scrutiny: How Are PE firms Impacted — Committed Capital Sidecar, Dechert Podcast (August 17, 2021)
  • New CFIUS Regulations and the Impact on Private Equity Transactions — Investment Adviser Association (December 16, 2020)
  • Coffee Break Compliance Broadcast Series, Episode Three: Risk Assessment — Global Broadcast Series Presented by Dechert (July 15, 2020)
  • US & International Anti-Bribery Law & Compliance Practice — The Washington College of Law, Summer Program (June 2020)
  • Implementing Compliance Best Practices — The Washington College of Law, Summer Program (June 2019)
  • Critical Moments & Critical Decisions: Conducting & Defending Congressional & Internal Investigations — South Asian Bar Association North American Conference (May 14, 2016) 
  • In 2023, at its Innovative Lawyers Awards, the Financial Times recognized Mr. Hari's years of service on behalf of Freedom Now as a “Standout” in its “Innovation in Access to Justice and Civil Rights” category.
  • Received "High Honors" award in recognition of providing 100 hours or more of pro bono service in 2021 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Services
    • Rice University, B.A., 2008, magna cum laude
    • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2011, Editor in Chief of the Harvard Human Rights Journal
    • District of Columbia
    • Florida
    • American Bar Association
    • South Asian Bar Association
    • American Society of International Law