Foley Hoag announced today that Sarah Oliai has joined the firm as a partner in the International Trade & National Security practice. Oliai, who will sit in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, brings nearly a decade of experience advising clients on U.S. regulatory regimes governing international trade and investments.

Oliai advises life sciences, AI, and high-tech companies at all stages of maturity on national security regulations that are critical to the growth of their businesses. Her practice covers Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). She also advises on sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as well as the Outbound Investment Security Program (OISP) and the Data Security Program (DSP).

“Sarah joins our team at a time when there is a growing demand from clients conducting international transactions,” said Adam Safwat, co-lead of the firm’s International Trade & National Security practice. “Her experience representing clients before CFIUS and advising clients on U.S. export controls and sanctions will bolster both our international trade compliance and enforcement and government investigations practices.”

Oliai joins Foley Hoag from an international law firm where her practice focused on export controls (ITAR and EAR), CFIUS, and OFAC sanctions matters. She previously served as a senior consultant in the Global Trade Advisory practice at a “Big Four” consulting firm, where she advised multinational companies on export controls, sanctions, and anti-corruption compliance issues. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Sarah to Foley Hoag," said Business Department Co-Chair Patrick Connolly. "Her deep expertise will be invaluable to our clients involved in international transactions and managing an increasingly complex and uncertain regulatory landscape."

"I am excited to join Foley Hoag. The firm's collaborative culture and commitment to serving innovative companies across all industries make it the ideal platform to grow my practice,” said Oliai. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to help our clients understand these increasingly challenging national security regimes to grow their businesses and facilitate their strategic investments and transactions."

Previously, Oliai clerked on the U.S. Court of International Trade and served as a fellow at the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia and a consultant for the World Bank Group.

She earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where she served as a contributing editor on the Michigan Journal of International Law. She holds a B.A. with Honors from Michigan State University's James Madison College of International and Public Affairs.

About Foley Hoag’s International Trade and National Security Practice
Foley Hoag’s International Trade and National Security practice routinely advises clients involved in international transactions and investments on issues relating to CFIUS and outbound investment controls, responding to the growing demand of its clients for assistance with issues concerning the evolving tariff landscape, U.S. and EU sanctions regulations, and U.S. export controls. The team is at the forefront in litigation challenging U.S. sanctions designations on behalf of individuals and groups.