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

Hrishikesh N. Hari (“Hrishi”) serves as co-chair of the firm’s national security practice in Washington, D.C. He advises private equity investors, asset managers, financial institutions and major companies on national security reviews, foreign investment controls, U.S. outbound investment measures, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, export controls, anti-corruption and related government enforcement matters. In recent years, he has guided clients through transactions with a combined value exceeding US$100 billion, providing strategic counsel across 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 before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). He regularly counsels foreign investors and domestic sellers on managing CFIUS risk in connection with fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, minority investments, syndications and exits. His experience spans the full lifecycle of CFIUS engagement – from structuring transactions and preparing filings, to advocacy during review and investigation, to negotiating mitigation agreements when required.

Mr. Hari also counsels clients on matters involving foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI) before the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), including negotiating special security agreements, proxy agreements, security control agreements and FOCI board resolutions.

He represents clients in a broad range of national security‑related transactional, compliance and enforcement matters arising under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), U.S. anti-money laundering laws, economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. outbound investment security program (OISP) and U.S. customs and tariff laws. He regularly assists clients with designing and enhancing risk‑based compliance programs, conducting internal investigations, and assessing and mitigating regulatory risks in cross‑border transactions.

Clients frequently turn to Mr. Hari for guidance on emerging regulatory and policy developments affecting international trade, cross‑border investment and national security. He has represented clients before the Executive Office of the President, multilateral development banks, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State and Treasury, among others.

Mr. Hari is also committed to human rights and access to justice. His pro bono work includes securing the release of prisoners of conscience in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia through direct legal representation and targeted advocacy.

He is recognized by Chambers and Partners as “Up and Coming” and by The Legal 500 as a “Next Generation Partner.” He was named a “Rising Star” by the National Law Journal in 2024, has been ranked by The Legal 500 in International Trade from 2023–2025, and served on Law360’s International Trade Editorial Board (2024). The Financial Times has commended Mr. Hari for “Innovation in Deal Making” (2025) and recognized his pro bono efforts as a “Standout” in its 2023 “Innovation in Access to Justice and Civil Rights” category. He was also a finalist for The American Lawyer’s “Young Lawyer of the Year – Beyond Practice” 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.

  • “Up and Coming” for International Trade: CFIUS Experts - Chambers USA (2025)
  • “Innovation in Deal Making” - Financial Times (2025)
  • “Next Generation Partner” - Legal 500 US (2024)
  • "Rising Star" - National Law Journal (2024)
  • Finalist for the Beyond Practice category of “Young Lawyer of the Year Award”  -  The American Lawyer (2024)
  • “Standout” in its “Innovation in Access to Justice and Civil Rights” category - Financial Times (2023)
  • 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
    • American Bar Association
    • South Asian Bar Association
    • American Society of International Law

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