Geopolitical Risks to Litigators and Law Firms: Protecting Attorneys, Clients, and Operations in an Unstable World

Mr. Dowling has extensive experience advising U.S.-based companies on outbound international labor and employment laws. He provides counsel on a wide variety of global employment law matters, including codes of conduct and HR policies that guide operations in multiple jurisdictions, international compensation and benefits issues, whistleblower hotlines, and cross-border internal investigations and HR compliance audits. Mr. Dowling regularly advises clients on employment matters that arise with international restructuring, reductions in force, mergers, acquisitions, and outsourcing. Additionally, he helps clients properly engage independent contractors overseas, manage expatriate programs, and develop employment agreements and employee handbooks. Earlier in his career, Mr. Dowling served as in-house international employment counsel for a Fortune 500 company in Paris and as an employment law consultant for a global consulting firm. 

Mr. Firestone is recognized as a leading expert in transnational criminal investigations and represents companies and individuals in high-profile and sensitive matters before the DOJ, the SEC, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of Treasury and other U.S. agencies and international institutions. His cases often involve the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and other sanctions laws, the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering laws, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and other federal criminal statutes related to business crime and national security. Mr. Firestone has represented several prominent individuals and companies in delisting proceedings before OFAC, has obtained the cancellation of several Interpol notices and has represented individuals in the European Court of Human Rights. He previously worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York, where he specialized in the investigation and prosecution of transnational organized crime. 

Mr. Saiduddin graduated from law school in 1995 with the goal of pursuing a career in law enforcement, his first job out of law school was as a police officer. After 9/11, Mr. Saiduddin's career took a different trajectory, leading him to civilian positions in the Intelligence Community and military service, where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Blending his law enforcement, intelligence, and military backgrounds with his law degree, allows Mr. Saiduddin to evaluate and analyze his clients’ cases to empower them to play their side, the opponent’s side, and the third side.