Daanish Hamid is a partner in PLG’s Washington, DC office and is part of the firm’s International Trade and White Collar Practice Groups. He focuses on investigations, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions.

He advises clients on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), economic sanctions, anti-money laundering restrictions, and national security filings with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Daanish represents companies before the Department of Justice (Fraud Section), the Securities and Exchange Commission (Division of Enforcement), the Department of the Treasury (OIS, FinCEN, and OFAC), the Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and other U.S. government agencies.

Daanish has led numerous matters in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. He is the author of the FCPA chapter of the Third Edition of Corruption and Misuse of Public Office, a leading treatise published by Oxford University Press. He has a law degree with honors from the University of Oxford and a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School, where he was a member of the International Law Review.

Representative Experience

FCPA AND OTHER INVESTIGATION MATTERS

  • Advised a major state-owned oil company in the Middle East on a kickback investigation and related settlement negotiations with a third party service provider.
  • Led an internal investigation for a publicly-traded software client into anti­corruption and anti-competition matters in the Middle East.
  • Conducted an investigation into anti-corruption, anti-kickback, and conflicts­ of-interest concerns for a technology company with respect to a European referral partner.
  • Managed multiple FCPA investigations for a Fortune 500 specialty materials company in China, Korea, Japan, and certain other Asian countries.
  • Led internal investigations for a prominent gas and utility company falsely accused of corruption by certain political interests in Latin America.
  • Advised a US air cargo company in an ICC arbitration relating to the termination of its Southeast Asian agent due to corruption allegations.
  • Represented a mining equipment company with respect to certain agent transactions in Nigeria and other African countries.
  • Investigated a construction company's operations in India in relation to fraud, kickback, vendor padding, and government bribery allegations.
  • Conducted an investigation into alleged improper payments and the use of unauthorized subcontractors by a Chinese distributor of a geo-mapping company.
  • Led internal investigations for a telecommunications company in relation to government bribery and tax dispute matters in South Asia.
  • Conducted FCPA and fraud investigations for a multimedia company in relation to a joint venture in Latin America.
  • Supported an investigation/joint defense of various business partners in relation to a government privatization matter in Eastern Europe subject to scrutiny and eventual settlement with the US Department of Justice.
  • Advised a US financial services company on a fraud investigation triggered by a third party that misappropriated the client's trademark and misrepresented to various other parties that it was an authorized representative of the client.

CFIUS/NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS

  • Successfully filed a voluntary notice with CFIUS on behalf of a large publicly-­traded diagnostic testing company in relation to its $2 billion acquisition by a European company.
  • Successfully filed a voluntary notice with CFIUS on behalf of a high-net­ worth businessman from Asia who committed to invest over $100 million in a US investment fund that finances a variety of US technology and other portfolio companies.
  • Successfully represented a large Japanese conglomerate in obtaining CFIUS approval with respect to its two-stage minority investment in a US technology company.
  • Successfully represented an Asian company on a mandatory declaration filed with CFIUS pertaining to its minority investment (consisting of non-public information rights) in a US wireless technology company.
  • Successfully represented a European public limited liability company on two CFIUS filings with respect to its strategic investment in a U.S.-based supply chain software provider.
  • Successfully represented an Asia-based business conglomerate on a CFIUS filing pertaining to its $60 million acquisition of a US water and wastewater equipment company that supplies the US military.
  • Advised a US semiconductor company on CFIUS regulatory compliance in relation to certain unit purchase agreements involving prospective Chinese investors, joint venture partners, and licensees.
  • Counseled a variety of European, Middle East and Asian CVC's and investment firms (including Chinese state-affiliated entities) on structuring their funds and financing transactions in a manner to mitigate against CFIUS filing risks in relation to US portfolio investments.
  • Advised several US technology, automotive, defense and healthcare companies on the CFIUS aspects of their investment and M&A deals with foreign investors and acquirers.

Publications and Speeches

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • Panelist (alongside Matt Galvin, Counsel for Data Analytics and Compliance at the Department of Justice), “DOJ’s Use and Evaluation of Data Analytics for Investigations and Compliance” hosted by the Virginia Association of CPAs.
  • Presenter, "How Dealmakers Need to Think About CFIUS," prior law firm webinar.
  • Panelist, "Roundtable & Open Forum on the Ukraine/Russia Conflict", hosted by the International Trade Council.
  • Moderator, "Navigating a successful legal career path in the financial services industry," South Asian Bar Association Webinar consisting of panelists from PayPal, Robinhood, and HSBC.
  • Panelist, "International Trade and Cross-Border Transactions in the Era of Trade War," Asia Business Conference, Harvard Business School.
  • Presenter, "Emerging Cross-Sector Topics: Privacy, Security and Operating Across Borders," lnvestED Conference - Finding Opportunity in the Global Education Industry.
  • Presenter, "CFIUS: A Practical Guide for CVCs," Global Corporate Venturing & Innovation Summit.
  • Presenter, "Does Law Enforcement Have You in its Sights? - Essential Knowledge on the Latest Developments in Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Affecting Lawyers," International Bar Association Annual Conference.
  • Panelist, "Trade Wars, Tariffs, FIRRMA, and CFIUS: Your Top Questions Answered," Rock Center for Corporate Governance, Stanford Law School/Silicon Valley Directors' Exchange.
  • Presenter, "The Latest Schemes to Hide Corruption: How to Restructure Your Risk and AML Strategies in Light of New Tactics," ACl's 9th Global Forum on Anti-Corruption Compliance in High Risk Markets.
  • Presenter, "Vetting and On Boarding New Partners: Risk-Based Due Diligence Strategies for Evaluating New Intermediaries, Brokers, Distributors, Suppliers and Agents," American Conference Institute's National Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
  • Presenter, "Good Corporate Governance & Anti-Terror Financing Enforcement: How to Navigate the Post-9/11 Environment and Advise Nonprofit Organizations," NAML Annual Conference.
  • Presenter, "International Contracting: Anti-Corruption Compliance and Local Law Considerations," National Contract Management Association.
  • Presenter, "International Anti-Corruption Compliance - Concerns for Private Equity Investors," 20th Annual Private Equity CFO Conference, San Francisco.
  • Presenter, "Strategies for Effective Auditing and Due Diligence of Third Parties in China: Special Focus on Beneficial Ownership," ACl's Global Forum on Anti-Corruption Compliance in High Risk Markets.
  • Presenter, "Anti-Corruption/FCPA Compliance and Investigations - How to Put Your Best Food Forward," Bloomberg BNA Speaker Series.
  • Presenter, "Overcoming Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance Challenges in China and India," American Conference lnstitute's National Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Conference, New York.
  • Presenter, "FCPA and Economic Sanctions: Leveraging Internal Screenings and Healthcare Compliance Resources to Reduce Penalty Risks," ACl's Advanced Forum on FCPA and Anti-Corruption for the Life Sciences Industry.
  • Presenter, "FCPA Enforcement and Compliance Strategies - Overview," Practicing Law lnstitute's International Briefing Series.

PUBLICATIONS/PRESS

  • Raytheon’s $950 Million Settlement: Does It Count As a Win, The Anti-Corruption Report, December 4, 2024.
  • FCPA Enforcement: Primed to Re-Emerge under Biden?, Financier Worldwide, March 2023.
  • CFIUS - Upping the Ante, Asian Legal Business Thomson Reuters, Sarah Wong, November 18, 2022.
  • The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - An Executive Summary, Client Alert, November 16, 2022.
  • CFIUS Enforcement and Penalty Guidelines Just Issued, Client Alert, October 20, 2022.
  • CFIUS National Security Reviews Cover Certain Real Estate Transactions, Client Alert, October 2, 2022.
  • CFIUS: A Practice Overview for Dealmakers, Client Alert, June 21, 2022.
  • The New Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020: A potential game-changer for enforcement and compliance, Client Advisory, Jan 11, 2021.
  • Voluntary CFIUS Filings May Limit Uncertain Outcomes, Law360, June 25, 2021.
  • Q&A with Daanish Hamid on Recent Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Developments, The National Law Review, November 5, 2020.
  • New CFIUS Regulations Change Mandatory Filing Requirements and Increase the Importance of US Export Controls, Client Advisory, September 30, 2020.
  • World Bank Sanctions in Africa: A Formidable Compliance Concern, Client Advisory, August 11, 2020.
  • CFIUS Encourages Public to Provide Tips and Referrals, Client Advisory, June 24, 2020.
  • CFIUS Filing Fees Effective as of May 1, 2020: What you need to know, Client Advisory, May 5, 2020.
  • New Regulations Reinforce CFIUS's Expanded Role with Respect to Foreign Investments in the United States, Client Advisory, January 16, 2020.
  • United States - Global Bribery Offenses Guide, Client Advisory in association with Transparency International, December 4, 2019.
  • Must Read by M&A Personnel - Key Points on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and FIRRMA, Nikkei, Japan, November 29, 2018.
  • CFIUS Chapter of the American Bar Association's Aerospace and Defense Industries Year in Review, 2019.
  • FCPA Chapter of the Third Edition of Corruption and Misuse of Public Office, a leading treatise published by Oxford University Press, 2017.

Education

  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D.
  • University of Oxford, B.A., with honors

Previous Experience

  • DLA Piper, Partner
  • Cooley, Partner
  • Winston & Strawn, Partner

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • New York

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