Nicholas advises clients on national security, global trade, and foreign investment regulatory, transactional, and policy matters. He counsels US and multinational companies across the aerospace and defense, industrials, technology, telecommunications, financial, energy, and other sectors on complex US export controls, economic sanctions, customs, and foreign investment issues.
Nicholas has extensive experience advising on US export controls administered by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and by the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). He also counsels clients on US economic sanctions administered by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) import and entry requirements.
In addition, Nicholas advises clients on foreign direct investment matters involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Outbound Investment Security Program (OISP). He regularly supports mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other strategic transactions and investments, including those involving private equity, by identifying and managing national security and regulatory risks related to CFIUS, the OISP, export controls, sanctions, and related regimes.
Nicholas conducts and guides internal investigations, compliance reviews, and assessments to identify risks and potential violations relating to export controls, sanctions, and customs laws. He assists clients with voluntary disclosures, remediation efforts, government engagement, and the development and implementation of effective internal controls and compliance programs.
Nicholas also counsels companies on matters arising under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP) overseen by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), including compliance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). He advises clients throughout the facility clearance (FCL) process and provides strategic guidance and advice on mitigating Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI), including the development, structuring, and implementation of required mitigation, including relevant agreements and corporate governance measures.
Latest Insights
- legal updatesNDAA 2026: New biotech restrictions and outbound investment controls
- legal updatesUS Department of Commerce issues milestone RFI for the American AI Export Program
- legal updates
- Represented IGM Financial, one of Canada's largest diversified wealth and asset management companies, in its purchase of an approximately 20.5 percent equity interest in Rockefeller Capital Management, for consideration of approximately $622 million.
- Named to the “Ones to Watch” list by Best Lawyers in the area of Energy Law (2026) and Environmental Law (2026)
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Society for International Affairs
- District of Columbia
- J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, American University Washington College of Law, Senior Symposium Editor, American University Law Review
- M.A., State University of New York at Buffalo
- B.A., magna cum laude, St. Bonaventure University