Hrishikesh N. Hari

Hrishikesh N. Hari assists clients in national security and white collar matters, advising clients on a range of significant international trade, cross-border investment, anti-corruption, and public policy matters.

Hrishi 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.

He also represents clients in national security-related white collar 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) and economic sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In these areas, Hrishi has experience with developing, implementing and improving risk-based, effective compliance programs and with conducting internal investigations related to potential violations. He has advised clients in challenging locations across Asia, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union and Latin America.

Clients regularly turn to Hrishi 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.

Hrishi 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.

Prior to joining Dechert, Hrishi was an associate in the international trade and investment practice of a major international law firm. He also previously clerked for the General Counsel of the United States Trade Representative.

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.

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.

Foreign investors can complicate capital raises — CFO Dive (September 1, 2021)

Table for Six Dinner & Discussion, South Asian Bar Association of Washington D.C. (September 13, 2023)
HSBC Local Insights Webcast: The Impact of US Export Controls - Where are the CHIPS Falling? (November 29, 2022)
Committed Capital Sidecar: Increased Foreign Direct Investment Scrutiny: How Are PE firms Impacted, 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, a 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)

American Bar Association
South Asian Bar Association
American Society of International Law

Hrishikesh N. Hari

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Washington, D.C.

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