Farhad R. Alavi

Farhad Alavi is a recognized authority on U.S. national security regulations. As managing partner of Akrivis Law Group and head of its internationally recognized National Security & Trade Compliance practice, Mr. Alavi regularly advises leading global businesses, financial institutions, investment funds, family offices, and ultra-high net worth individuals.  He brings over 20 years of experience in sanctions, export controls, customs, and related fields, with a track record that includes multiple delistings, releases of blocked funds, the securing of cautionary letters in lieu of sanctions penalties, and helping resolve national security (sanctions and export controls) related federal criminal and civil investigations with favorable outcomes.

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Mr. Alavi represents clients in matters involving the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Department of Justice (DOJ). He has extensive experience in sanctions and export controls compliance and enforcement, customs, and CFIUS.  Mr. Alavi has secured multiple removals from both the SDN List and the Entity List, a removal from the Unverified List, and the successful release of tens of shipments detained by CBP under a Withhold Release Order (WRO).  Mr. Alavi’s clients span the financial services, energy, technology, commodities, retail, textiles, trade, and manufacturing sectors.

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Known for his sharp analysis and strategic approach, Mr. Alavi regularly defends clients in high-stakes DOJ investigations involving sanctions and export control violations. He also helps multinationals build and audit compliance programs, secure licenses and delistings, and navigate disruptions caused by rapidly evolving regimes such as those targeting Russia, Iran, Venezuela, China, and North Korea.

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Mr. Alavi is the author of the Sanctions and Export Controls Practice Guide book, published by Practising Law Institute (PLI).  He speaks regularly at conferences and webinars, discussing sanctions and export controls, and his insights are frequently featured by global media outlets including The New York Times, Bloomberg, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, AFP, and Der Spiegel. He has appeared on BBC World, Al Jazeera, TRT World, and other international broadcasts.

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Before founding Akrivis, Mr. Alavi practiced at Baker & McKenzie LLP and Holland & Knight LLP, where he helped launch the firm’s Abu Dhabi office. He is an Adjunct Professor at Boston University School of Law, where he teaches National Security Trade & Banking Regulation, and previously taught as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

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Mr. Alavi is fluent in Persian and Spanish, and has basic competency in German, and has served on the board of the Iranian-American Bar Association.