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, export controls, import laws, anti-boycott laws, and anti-corruption laws. Emerson also routinely counsels clients on the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) process, and assists with obtaining CFIUS pre-clearance for transactions. Emerson 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 defending the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, 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 international life sciences company in internal investigations related to potential violations of the OFAC sanctions regulations and Export Administration Regulations
- Guided Asia-based technology company in obtaining CFIUS pre-clearance for acquisition of U.S. semiconductor company
- 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.
- Routinely conducts pre- and post-acquisition economic sanctions, export control, and anti-corruption due diligence for corporate and private equity clients
- Represented multiple Fortune 500 companies in conducting comprehensive compliance program reviews, with a focus on trade compliance
- Assisted companies develop procedures for conducting business in Iran in compliance with OFAC’s General License H, and with winding down transactions following the revocation of General License H
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
- Part of the Ropes & Gray team involved in defending the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
- 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, “CFIUS Issues Final Rules Implementing FIRRMA: Key Changes and Developments,” Ropes & Gray Alert (January 15, 2020)
- Co-author, “OFAC’s New Iran Sanctions May Not Signal Seismic Change,” Law360 (January 14, 2020)
- Co-author, “Key Takeaways from the First Unilateral Controls Issued Pursuant to the Export Control Reform Act,” Ropes & Gray Alert (January 8, 2020)
- Co-author, “US Strengthened And Expanded Economic Sanctions In 2019,” Law360 (December 10, 2019)
- Co-author, “Kisor May Be A New Dawn For Challenges To FDA Actions,” Law360 (December 2, 2019)
- Co-author, “CFIUS Publishes Proposed FIRRMA Regulations, Part 2: A New Framework for Real Estate Transactions,” Ropes & Gray Alert (September 20, 2019)
- Co-author, “CFIUS Publishes Proposed FIRRMA Regulations, Part 1: A Sea Change for Foreign Investments in U.S. Businesses,” Ropes & Gray Alert (September 19, 2019)
- Co-author, “U.S. Imposes Partial Embargo on Venezuela,” Ropes & Gray Alert (August 6, 2019)
- Co-author, “Mid-2019 CFIUS Review—The ‘Calm’ Before the Storm,” Bloomberg Law (July 11, 2019)
- Co-author, “OFAC Expands Reporting Requirements for Rejected Transactions,” Ropes & Gray Alert (July 9, 2019)
- Co-author, “A Dramatic 6 Months for OFAC Sanctions Enforcement,” Law360 (June 28, 2019)
- Co-author, “Key Takeaways From OFAC’s Compliance Program Guidance,” Law360 (May 28, 2019)
- Co-author, “INSIGHT: Why Am I Receiving New Questions About My Firm’s Anti-Money Laundering Program?,” Bloomberg Law (May 1, 2019)
- Co-author, “OFAC Is Raising The Compliance Bar,” Law360 (April 3, 2019)
- Co-author, “Grindr, CFIUS And The National Security Risks Of Dating,” Law360 (April 1, 2019)
- Co-author, “OFAC Escalates Venezuela Sanctions,” Law360 (January 31, 2019)
- Co-author, “A Review Of US Economic Sanctions in 2018,” Law360 (December 11, 2018)
- Co-author, “Société Générale: Sanctions Enforcement Is Alive And Well,” Law360 (November 30, 2018)
- Co-author, “CFIUS Pilot Program: Immediate Investment Implications,” Law360 (October 15, 2018)
- Co-author, “US' Secondary China Sanctions Signal New Risks For Cos.,” Law360 (September 26, 2018)
- Co-author, “US sanctions and export controls: What every healthcare and life sciences compliance officer needs to know,” WorldECR (September 2018)
- Co-Author, “Congress Passes Landmark CFIUS Reform Bill,” Ropes & Gray Alert (August 6, 2018)
- Co-author, “Mid-2018 Sanctions Review: A Turbulent Year So Far,” Law360 (June 21, 2018)
- Co-author, “FDA Clarifies Communication Rules for Medical Product Cos.,” Law360 (June 21, 2018)
- Co-author, “How Iran Deal Pullout Will Impact Cos. And Investors,” Law360 (May 9, 2018)
- Co-author, “De-Implementation Day: Preparing for Changes to U.S. Sanctions Targeting Iran,” Ropes & Gray Alert (May 2, 2018)
- 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)
Presentations
- Panelist, “The Impact of Export Controls on Service Providers,” Cederquist Compliance Day, Stockholm (October 9, 2019)
Education
- JD, University of Virginia School of Law, 2013; Order of the Coif; Virginia Law Review , editorial board
- BA (Political Science), summa cum laude, Pepperdine University, 2010