Christian C. Davis

Partner

Areas of Focus

Christian C. Davis

Partner

chdavis@akingump.com

Areas of Focus

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Biography
  • Focuses on United States law and policy affecting international trade and business.
  • Represents clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
  • Develops trade compliance programs and conducts internal investigations.

Christian Davis advises on foreign investment, export controls, sanctions, anticorruption and customs laws.

Christian represents clients in the merger, acquisition and divestiture process before CFIUS and on accounting for associated risks. He also advises in negotiating and implementing CFIUS mitigation agreements, developing and administering international trade compliance programs and conducting internal investigations.

Christian counsels clients in a wide variety of industries:

  • Aerospace
  • Defense
  • Technology
  • Investment funds
  • Engineering
  • Nuclear power
  • Oil and gas
  • Renewable energy
  • Electronics
  • Express consignment
  • Medical research
  • Athletic apparel
  • Agriculture.

He has also advised sovereign entities in the formation of law and policy.

Representative Work
  • Advising clients in the technology, energy, aerospace, defense and investment sectors regarding the CFIUS review process, including negotiating and implementing mitigation agreements to obtain CFIUS clearance.
  • Counseled a large aerospace defense contractor in developing a comprehensive export and import compliance program covering its global supply chain, international customer base, aftermarket support services, human resources policy, information technology (IT) system and merger and acquisition (M&A) activities. This engagement included providing extensive on-site support to the client and working closely with in-house counsel and internal and external business personnel.
  • Leading internal investigations for various clients, including drafting and submitting disclosures regarding violations of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Regulations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR).
  • Analyzing the commodity jurisdiction and classification of various items for clients, including drafting and submitting Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) requests to the Department of State. These engagements have involved negotiating with various federal agencies.
  • Assisting clients in obtaining authorization for the export of commodities and technologies related to nuclear power plants that are subject to export controls administered by the Department of Energy (Part 810) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Part 110).
  • Drafting and submitting various license applications for clients, including OFAC licenses, ITAR agreements and Commerce licenses.
  • Counseling a sovereign entity in the development of regulations pertaining to the nuclear industry and the negotiation of nuclear cooperation agreements.

"Christian Davis translates this complex legal and political environment into sound practical advice that enables our company to make important strategic decisions."
Chambers USA, 2022

Education
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude, 2008

  • B.A., University of Virginia, 2003

Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia

Recognitions
  • Chambers Global, International Trade: CFIUS Experts – USA, 2022.
  • The Legal 500 US, International Trade, 2021-2023.
  • Chambers USA, International Trade: CFIUS Experts, 2021-2023.
  • Law360, Rising Star in International Trade, 2018.
  • Global Excellence Awards, Leading Advisor in International Trade Law - Washington, D.C., 2018.
  • CorporateLiveWire, International Trade Lawyer of the Year, 2014-2016.
Speeches and Publications
  • Speaker, “Private Equity Under Increased Foreign Investment Oversight: New Executive Order, Expanded CFIUS Scrutiny,” Strafford Publications Webinar, December 5, 2023.
  • Speaker, "Foreign Ownership of U.S. Real Estate: Increased Government Scrutiny, Administrative Obligations, and Penalties," Strafford Publications Webinar, August 17, 2023.
  • Speaker, “The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS): Executive Order and Outbound Screening Update,” Global Business Alliance, September 22, 2022.
  • Speaker, “The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS): Current Trends and Topics,” Global Business Alliance, June 8, 2022.
  • Speaker, “The Impact of FIRRMA on Private Equity Funds: Expanded CFIUS Review of Foreign Investments, Filing Requirements,” Strafford Publications Webinar, January 12, 2021.
  • Presenter, “Current CFIUS Trends & Final FIRRMA Implementation,” Organization for International Investment Issue Briefing on CFIUS & FIRRMA, Washington, D.C., January 22, 2020.
  • Speaker, “Cross-Border M&A: The U.S. Government Has a Seat at the Table,” Houston Bar Association M&A Section Meeting, Houston, Texas, November 21, 2019.
  • Presenter, “Collateral Damage: How are Canadian Businesses Impacted by US Trade Sanctions?,” Toronto, Canada, November 19, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Impact of FIRRMA on Private Equity Funds: Expanded CFIUS Review of Foreign Investments, New Filing Requirements,” Webinar, October 22, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Akin Gump’s Mid-Year Energy Briefing: CFIUS Developments Impacting Energy Companies,” hosted by Akin Gump, Houston, Texas, June 20, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Emerging Opportunities in Global Markets: Key Regulatory and Policy Trends in Biopharmaceutical Innovation,” BIO 2019: China Summit, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 3, 2019.
  • Presenter, “Doing Business in and with Emerging Markets 2019,” PLI, New York, New York, June 3, 2019.
  • Presenter, “Sailing Through Uncertainties – Views from Practitioners on Legal Issues Affecting Businesses in the Wake of China-U.S. Trade Tensions,” FangdaLaw, New York, New York, May 20, 2019.
  • Presenter, “How Sanctions and Export Controls are Being Used as a Major Part of the Overall U.S. Policy on China,” ACI’s Twelfth National Conference on Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance, Washington, D.C., May 3, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Update on U.S. – China Tensions: How the U.S. government is using various economic and national security measures to exert pressure on China,” hosted by Akin Gump, Hong Kong, April 25, 2019.
  • Speaker, “Update on U.S. Export Control Reform,” U.S.-China Business Council, January 8, 2019.
  • Presenter, “Responding to New Export and Investment Controls on Emerging and Foundational Technologies,” Webinar, January 8, 2019.
  • Presenter, “Impact of FIRRMA on Private Equity Funds: Expanded CFIUS Review of Foreign Investments, New Filing Requirements,” Federal Bar Association, December 14, 2018.
  • Speaker, “New CFIUS Law: Key Issues Affecting the Energy Sector,” Webinar, December 6, 2018.
  • Speaker, “Legal Developments Affecting Procurement, Foreign Investment and Trade with the United States,” The Canadian Bar Association, November 28, 2018.
  • Speaker, “Impact of FIRRMA on Private Equity Funds: Expanded CFIUS Review of Foreign Investments, New Filing Requirements, Structuring Investments to Minimize CFIUS Risk,” Webinar, October 17, 2018.
  • Speaker, “Impact of Trade Policy, Midterm Elections and Oil Prices,” hosted by Akin Gump, October 3, 2018.
  • Presenter, “Navigating CFIUS Reviews in the Trump Administration” and “Understanding Implications of Pending CFIUS Legislation on Cross-Border M&A,” Organization for International Investment Seminar on CFIUS.
  • Panelist, “Identifying and Mitigating Regulatory and Reputational Risk in Your Supply Chain,” hosted by Akin Gump and ACC National Capital Region, March 22, 2018.
  • Panelist, “Delays, Political Vacancies and Uncertainty: Practitioners Discuss Recent, ‘On the Ground’ Successes and Challenges to Obtaining CFIUS Approvals,” ACI’s Fourth National Forum on CFIUS and Team Telecom, Washington, D.C., January 31, 2018.
  • Speaker, “Navigating CFIUS Risks in the M&A Process: National Security Reviews of Foreign Investments in U.S. Business,” hosted by Akin Gump and National Capital Region, July 11, 2017.
  • Speaker, “The Pre-Filing Process and Delays: Key Considerations to Embed into Your Pre-Acquisition Planning and Decision to File,” ACI’s Third National Forum on CFIUS & Team Telecom, Washington, D.C., February 1, 2017.
  • Speaker, ECTI’s ITAR Enforcement Seminar, Alexandria, Virginia, November 1 and 2, 2016.
  • Speaker, ECTI’s ITAR Defense Trade Controls Seminar, Alexandria, Virginia, June 9, 2016.
  • Speaker, ECTI’s EAR/OFAC Export Controls Seminar, Alexandria, Virginia, June 7, 2016.
  • Speaker, “Export Control & Sanctions Enforcement: The Higher Walls that Come with This Smaller Backyard,” at Partnering for Compliance™ East Coast, Orlando, Florida, March 4, 2016.
  • Speaker, “Policy, Politics and Proliferation: Planning for the P5 +1 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Regarding Iran,” Webinar, April 21, 2015.
  • Speaker, “Successfully Navigating the CFIUS Process,” at the China State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) Event, sponsored by the International Law Institute, January 2015.

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