Sean M. Reilly

Sean M. Reilly is Co-Chair of the Sanctions, Export Controls & Anti-Money Laundering practice group and a member of the Global Investigation, Enforcement and Compliance practice group in the Washington, D.C. and Miami offices at Hughes Hubbard & Reed. Sean advises U.S. and foreign companies on economic sanctions, export controls, foreign investment national security reviews and investigations by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), and international trade policy.

Sean works with his U.S. and global clients to assess and address business risks, design and implement compliance programs, conduct internal investigations, and strategically engage with federal regulators related to his clients’ sanctions, export control, anti-corruption, and investment security obligations. He regularly counsels investors and public and private companies with respect to the potential national security implications of mergers, acquisitions, and other investment transactions. In the M&A context, he conducts assessments of the parties’ CFIUS obligations, as well as the implications of recent restrictions imposed on outbound investments related to national security technologies and products in countries of concern.

Sean also represents clients in complex litigation matters, including commercial, products liability, securities class action and derivative litigation.

Prior to joining Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Sean served in the U.S. Department of Commerce, including as assistant to the secretary and director of the department's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning. In this role, he acted as senior economic, international trade, export control and foreign policy advisor to the Secretary of Commerce. During his tenure, he worked with White House staff and other Cabinet agencies to develop and advance policies related to international trade, export controls, sanctions, national security, and the review of cases pending before CFIUS.

Following law school, Sean served for nearly five years as judge advocate in the United States Air Force.

• Represented Japanese investment fund related to investment in U.S. battery technology company
• Represented Mercedes-Benz in its investment in humanoid robotics company Apptronik’s $403 million Series A funding round
• Represented international air carrier on sanctions and export control compliance, including issues related to flights to Cuba and Venezuela
• Represented U.A.E.-based commodities trading company regarding petition to OFAC for removal from SDN List
• Represented Wipro in its $40 million acquisition of U.S.-based IT services consulting firm Applied Value Technologies
• Represented Japanese industrial company on its investment in U.S. robotics company
• Represented European logistics company regarding U.S. export controls and sanctions compliance
• Represented Indian hotel OYO on its acquisition of G6 Hospitality, the parent company of U.S. hospitality brand Motel 6
• Represented Rheinmetall AG in its $950 million acquisition of Loc Performance Products
• Represented aviation leasing companies regarding Russia sanctions compliance and related litigation
• Represented Sotheby’s in connection with a definitive agreement with Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company ADQ under which ADQ acquired a minority interest in Sotheby’s
• Represented Knorr-Bremse AG in its €630 million acquisition of the North American rail signaling business of Alstom
• Represented global investment firm in its acquisition of U.S. aviation parts and components manufacturer
• Represented Japanese investment fund related to joint venture investment in U.S. manufacturing company
• Represented multinational oil and gas company regarding an internal review of compliance with economic sanctions and export controls, specifically related to distribution network
• Represented energy services firm in conjunction with an SEC investigation and negotiated resolution
• Represented international aerospace and defense company in connection with export controls compliance and criminal investigations by multiple jurisdictions related to its historical use of third parties