Jo Ritcey-Donohue has been an advisor and counsel for two decades on the most complex of international business risks. She has advised multinational corporations and governments in matters related to good governance, risk management and strategic investment. Her extensive experience with both corporate and government enforcement matters enables clients to have confidence in the face of challenging circumstances. Jo has worked in the private sector, in government and for a multinational organization. She has conducted numerous management seminars, presentations and trainings.
She represents clients with respect to national security agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN); U.S. Department of State; U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Jo also regularly advises clients on disclosures to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding global risks.
Representative Matters
Jo Ritcey-Donohue has been the lead cross-border risk and compliance counsel for some of the world’s largest companies and most sophisticated transactions, such as the following:
NASDAQ-listed, US headquartered multinational wholesale materials company internal investigation and governmental disclosure under US sanctions laws and regulations
Foreign sovereign pension fund compliance, investment diligence and contract negotiation
Private equity owned, EU headquartered air cargo global company compliance and integration diligence
NYSE-listed, US headquartered multinational construction and agriculture company $5 billion acquisition of a European-headquartered multi-national
Global investment banks underwriting a $2 billion Global Offering of one of China’s largest asset managers on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
European public company conglomerate multi-jurisdictional internal investigation and successful voluntary disclosure to US and non-US export control governmental enforcement agencies
US subsidiary of a non-US retail company resolution of a $60 million penalty from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and further enabling a global company sale to proceed
Foreign sovereign uranium trading entity import enforcement actions, government settlement and U.S. Supreme Court appeal
Global banks underwriting a $1 billion Initial Public Offering a Chinese technology company on the New York Stock Exchange
US cybersecurity technology company $800 million acquisition by a non-US sovereign telecommunications entity
Multinational solar company global regulatory risk disclosures to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
US private equity firm $750 million acquisition of a non-US offshore oil multinational company
Global investment bank underwriting a $1.5 billion Global Offering of one of China’s oil & gas state owned entities
Worldwide aviation services company managing over $1 billion in freight services acquisition by a US private equity firm
China railway industry entity $1.4 billion Global Offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
European aerospace multinational company $600 million acquisition of a non-US aerospace and defense company and its US subsidiaries
Other Distinctions
Legal 500 US, International Trade Group
Law360 International Trade Group of the Year
Co-Chair (2019-2020), International Anti-Money Laundering Committee and Steering Committee (2019-2020, Economic Sanctions and Export Controls Committee, American Bar Association (ABA)
Steering Committee, Annual Conference, Section International Law, ABA, April 2020
Editor, Year-In-Review, International Anti-Money Laundering, ABA (2018-2019)
Publications
Corporate Counsel, US Business Can Mitigate Risks Posed By Growing Venezuela Crisis, June 2019
Forbes, Timing is Everything When you Decide to Make a Career Leap, November 2018
The National Law Journal, Kirkland Partner Ditches Big Law for Solo Practice, October 2018
Corporate Counsel, Disclose to OFAC Voluntarily? Tips for Legal and Compliance Pros, October 2018
Bloomberg BNA’s Corporate Law Resource Center, U.S. Targets Putin’s Inner Circle: Five Takeaways for Companies and Investors, April 2018
Bloomberg Law’s Corporate Law & Accountability Report, Economic Sanctions and Export Controls Enforcement Update Q4 2017, March 2018
Bloomberg Law’s Corporate Law & Accountability Report, Building an Effective ‘Risk-Based’ Compliance Program to Address International Risks, Even if You Already Have One, February 2018
Bloomberg Law’s Corporate Law & Accountability Report, Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Enforcement Update Q317, November 2017
Thomson Reuters Westlaw, The effects of the Trump Administration on international trade: three days in the life of a Washington, DC international trade lawyer, March 2017
Admission & Qualifications
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of International Trade
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Supreme Court of Virginia
DC Bar
Virginia State Bar