International Trade & National Security

 

 

Kennedy advises defense, energy, and manufacturing clients on the complex intersection of international trade controls, national security, and global regulatory compliance. He provides comprehensive licensing and regulatory services, successfully securing authorizations from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).Most recently, he has counseled defense manufacturing clients on compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ensuring secure supply chains for critical defense technologies.

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​Beyond licensing, Kennedy designs and implements robust sanctions compliance programs, drafting internal policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that navigate the shifting landscape of U.S. economic sanctions and export bans. He has counseled defense manufacturing clients on International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) compliance, ensuring secure supply chains for critical defense technologies.

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His trade expertise extends to foreign direct investment and national security reviews. Kennedy has published extensive guidance on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), analyzing the impact of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) on cross-border transactions. 

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On the global stage, Kennedy has represented U.S. oil and gas industry interests before the United Nations and APEC, specifically working to harmonize chemical classification standards (GHS) and reduce technical barriers to trade. While at the American Petroleum Institute (API), he led strategic advocacy against restrictive EU climate-related trade policies and managed compliance strategies for international frameworks like REACH.

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Trade & Security Competencies

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• Export Controls & Defense Trade

  • ITAR Compliance Program Development

  • ITAR/EAR Jurisdiction & Classification

  • Defense Manufacturing Security & Supply Chain Risk Management

  • Technical Data & Technology Transfer Controls

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• Foreign Investment & Security

  • CFIUS Risk Assessment & Filings

  • Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA)

  • Critical Infrastructure Security (DHS/CFATS)

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• Global Market Access & Policy

  • EU REACH & International Chemical Regimes

  • UN & APEC Representation (Global Harmonized System - GHS)

  • Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

  • International Regulatory Divergence Strategies (EU Green Deal/Circular Economy)