Brent Connor

Brent Connor assists U.S. and international businesses manage complex trade, compliance and government enforcement matters with practical, risk-aware solutions.

He advises manufacturers, government contractors, logistics providers, carriers and investment firms on everything from export controls for military and dual-use items and technology, economic sanctions, customs and anti-bribery laws to international trade compliance.

Brent counsels clients on classifying exports and imports, determining licensing obligations, conducting internal investigations, filing voluntary disclosures, and designing compliance programs that minimize risk while supporting their business objectives. He also advises clients on national security reviews before the CFIUS, assessing transaction risk, determining filing obligations and negotiating mitigation agreements. He also assists clients with FOCI issues and domestic sourcing regulations, including Buy American and Trade Agreements Act compliance.

U.S. and non-U.S. airlines, including all-cargo carriers, rely on Brent to steer them through Department of Transportation, FAA, TSA and other agency regulatory inquiries. He assists with hazardous materials enforcement, route approvals, PFC issues and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) compliance. He also provides guidance on FAA legislation and environmental issues impacting aviation clients.

Brent guides clients throughout the government contracting lifecycle, from bid protests to claims and appeals, regulatory matters and intellectual property protection. Drawing on his U.S. Army government contracts experience, he offers practical insight into contractor challenges and government expectations.

Experience

• Reviewed a global entity's export controls, sanctions and FCPA compliance program, enhancing it to prevent violations and implement best practices. With this updated compliance program, the client can avoid violations that carry severe fines and penalties, including the loss of government contracts, the loss of eligibility to participate in U.S. government programs and the loss of export privileges.
• Developed voluntary disclosures of OFAC sanctions violations for a national retail company, which enabled the client to avoid fines and penalties.
• Led an internal investigation of a global company into EAR and ITAR export control violations, interviewing witnesses and managing document review, and generated voluntary disclosures for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Directorate of Defense Controls (DDTC) at the U.S. State Department, all of which helped avoid costly fines and penalties.
• Represented a foreign-owned company in the CFIUS process in connection with a multibillion-dollar acquisition ultimately approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
• Developed a compliance program for a mitigation agreement with CFIUS and coordinated with the lead agency on compliance issues.
• Led investigations into importers' misclassifications of imports resulting in the nonpayment of applicable tariffs and developed voluntary disclosures for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), avoiding significant fines and penalties.