Former OFAC Assistant Chief Counsel Andrea Delisi Joins Morrison & Foerster

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 10, 2021)—Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Andrea Delisi has joined its National Security and Global Risk + Crisis Management Groups as of counsel in Washington, D.C. Ms. Delisi joins from the general counsel’s office of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she most recently served as assistant chief counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control).

Ms. Delisi is the third government official to join the firm’s D.C. office in recent weeks, following Brandon L. Van Grack, former chief of the Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and Brian Kidd, former chief of the Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section at DOJ. These new additions reinforce Morrison & Foerster’s strategic commitment to offering clients unparalleled insider enforcement perspectives across a variety of issues, including investigations and white collar defense, sanctions and export controls, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and cybersecurity matters, among others. At Morrison & Foerster, Ms. Delisi is joining her former OFAC colleagues John Smith, former OFAC director, and Kristofer Readling, a former OFAC enforcement officer.

“Andrea’s extensive experience allows her to offer clients in the financial services, technology, trade, and energy sectors unique first-hand enforcement experience across U.S. sanctions, export controls, and other national security-related issues,” said John Smith, co-head of the firm’s National Security practice. “She will help clients peel back the curtain to better understand OFAC’s expectations and guidance.”

Ms. Delisi joined the Treasury Department’s Office of the Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control) in 2013, most recently serving as assistant chief counsel. In this role, Ms. Delisi advised OFAC and its leadership on complex legal issues regarding all of OFAC’s economic sanctions programs, including matters of national importance involving Venezuela, Syria, Iran, human rights, corruption, and terrorism. She provided legal review and counsel on a wide range of actions, including the drafting of presidential executive orders and publication of regulations and regulatory guidance. She interpreted statutes, legislative proposals, and judicial decisions relating to OFAC’s work, and she advised OFAC regarding enforcement and civil penalty actions, regulatory, licensing, and compliance matters, and sanctions listing and delisting actions. 

“I’m thrilled to join Morrison & Foerster’s leading National Security team to provide insight to investigations, litigation, and matters involving OFAC,” said Ms. Delisi. “I look forward to using my past experiences at OFAC to help clients navigate their most complex issues involving sanctions.”

Prior to her legal career, Ms. Delisi spent three years working in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Office of the High Representative, where she advised on issues of judicial reform, refugee return, and economic development. She earned her J.D. from the University of Texas Law School and her B.A. from the College of William and Mary.