Emerson Siegle
Associate
Emerson Siegle is an associate in Ropes & Gray’s litigation & enforcement practice group. Emerson has particular experience counseling clients and assisting with internal and government investigations relating to economic sanctions regulations, import and export compliance, Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) issues, anti-corruption laws, anti-boycott laws, and other areas of international risk. Emerson also writes frequently about economic sanctions, CFIUS, and other international risk topics.
In addition, Emerson also focuses his practice on administrative and constitutional litigation, and has experience in a wide range of other subject matters, including the False Claims Act and business and commercial litigation.
Emerson maintains an active pro bono practice. He worked on the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, and has also focused on drafting amicus briefs before various appellate courts, representing an organization dedicated to increasing openness and transparency in government, and defending voting rights.
Experience
International Risk
- Represented customs broker in responding to and successfully concluding U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigation into duty claims for goods entry
- Represented international freight forwarding company in internal and government-initiated investigations related to potential violations of the OFAC sanctions regulations and Export Administration Regulations
- Represented an oil and gas company in global trade compliance diagnostic review and assisted company to enhance controls related to economic sanctions, import and export compliance, and anti-boycott laws.
- Represented a multinational corporation conducting global anti-corruption due diligence, with a focus on India
- Assists companies develop procedures for conducting business in Iran in compliance with OFAC’s General License H
- Routinely conducts pre- and post-acquisition economic sanctions, export control, and anti-corruption due diligence for corporate and private equity clients
Administrative Litigation
- Represents the Medical Information Working Group (MIWG), an informal coalition of major pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers that address legal and policy issues pertaining to government regulation of manufacturer communications
- Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer and physicians in federal district court litigation, successfully challenging FDA regulations governing truthful and non-misleading speech on First Amendment and administrative grounds
- Represented major cancer treatment and research center in seeking relief under the Administrative Procedure Act against the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
Other Matters
- Represented an individual charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, ultimately resulting in dismissal of all felony charges
- Represented life-sciences company in successful dismissal of a complaint alleging breach of contract, fraud, conspiracy, and other claims at the motion to dismiss stage
- Represented medical device manufacturer in False Claims Act litigation, obtaining favorable settlement following presentation of innovative First Amendment arguments
- Represented an investment management company in connection with allegations of misvaluation of bonds in violation of federal securities laws
- Represented medical device manufacturer in an investigation regarding allegations of off-label promotion
Pro Bono
- Part of the Ropes & Gray team involved in representing plaintiffs in Tanco v. Haslam, one of four marriage equality cases decided by the United States Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the Supreme Court held that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples
- Numerous amicus briefs before the United States Supreme Court and circuit courts of appeal on behalf of groups such as LGBT individuals and criminal defendants, including in cases such as King v. Burwell, Gloucester County School Board v. G.G., and Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
- Represents coalition pursuing openness and transparency in D.C. government
- Represented voting rights organization in litigating protection of federal voting rights
Publications
- Co-author, “A Review Of US Economic Sanctions In 2017,” Law360 (December 20, 2017)
- Co-author, “New Cuba Sanctions Signal Increased Commercial Challenges,” Law360 (November 9, 2017)
- Co-author, “Revoking Sudan Sanctions Brings New Prospects, Old Risks,” Law360 (October 10, 2017)
- Co-author, “The North Korea Executive Order And How It May Affect You,” Law360 (September 22, 2017)
- Co-author, “CFIUS Continues To Present Obstacle To Chinese Acquisitions,” Law360 (September 19, 2017)
- Co-author, “OFAC’s Streak Continues: Takeaways from the TransTel Sanctions Settlement,” Bloomberg BNA’s Corporate Law & Accountability Report (August 4, 2017)
- Co-author, “OFAC Continues To Pursue Oil And Gas Companies” Law360 (July 21, 2017)
- Co-author, “Export Control Enforcement In The Wake Of The ZTE Resolution” Law360 (March 10, 2017)
- Co-author, “U.S. Department of Commerce Establishes Favorable Export Control Policies for India,” Ropes & Gray Alert (February 23, 2017)
- Co-author, “India Supreme Court Clarifies Standard for Enforcement of Indian Prevention of Corruption Act,” Ropes & Gray Alert (July 14, 2016)