Morgan Lewis today welcomes Giovanna M. Cinelli and Kenneth J. Nunnenkamp—a leading team in the areas of US export controls, national security, economic sanctions, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)—as partners in Washington, DC. They join Morgan Lewis from Dentons, where Ms. Cinelli led the export controls and national security practice.

Ms. Cinelli will co-lead Morgan Lewis’s international trade, national security, and economic sanctions practice. She focuses on the aerospace, high-tech, defense, and energy sectors, and has advised clients for more than 25 years on national security issues, including complex export compliance matters, cross-border due diligence, and classified investigations. Ms. Cinelli conducts complex civil and criminal export-related investigations and transaction due diligence to meet export and regulatory requirements. She also represents clients before US government agencies regarding export policy and in the negotiation and settlement of export enforcement actions.

Mr. Nunnenkamp, who is also a veteran international trade and national security lawyer, conducts investigations into compliance issues arising from regulations governing export, customs, foreign trade, foreign assets controls, and international traffic in arms. He provides comprehensive investigation management and execution, from the preparation of the investigation plan, to the preparation, filing, and resolution of voluntary and directed disclosures, US government investigations, and subpoenas related to export and import matters. In addition to litigating cases at various levels in US federal courts, Mr. Nunnenkamp represents clients in international trade and national security issues before the US departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security, Defense, and Treasury. He also helps clients set up trade and sanctions compliance programs and conducts compliance training.

Ms. Cinelli and Mr. Nunnenkamp have regularly advised companies on issues before CFIUS, and they have lectured and written extensively on export, national security, and CFIUS-related issues.

“Giovanna and Kenneth are a highly regarded team in the areas of export control and national security, further strengthening our capabilities to serve clients in these pivotal areas,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Their exceptional legal skills, formidable reputations, and military backgrounds deepen our ability to assist clients confronting the rapid evolution of trade policies and security issues.”

Mr. Nunnenkamp served in the US Marine Corps and as a JAG officer. He represents veterans pro bono before the Board of Veterans Appeals, the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and various military discharge review boards. Ms. Cinelli served as a Naval Reserve intelligence officer specializing in Soviet-era submarine platforms and national security and intelligence issues while practicing law.

Ms. Cinelli also formerly chaired Women in Aerospace, an organization dedicated to expanding leadership opportunities for women and increasing their visibility in the aerospace industry. She has appeared on CNN and MSNBC as an expert in international technology transfer, arms exports, and related national security issues.

Morgan Lewis lawyers on the International Trade, National Security, and Economic Sanctions team advise clients on import and export control, national security issues and economic sanctions, and represent them before various government agencies. They conduct classified and non-classified investigations, guide clients through various disclosure procedures under export and sanctions regulations, prepare compliance policies, and conduct compliance training.