Damara L Chambers

Damara Chambers' practice focuses on international trade and investment, international arbitration and litigation. In the area of international trade and investment, Ms. Chambers counsels clients on a broad range of compliance requirements involving questions of national security. Ms. Chambers represents foreign and domestic clients seeking national security approval for foreign investments before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and clients seeking to mitigate foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI) under applicable national industrial security regulations. She also counsels companies on US foreign trade controls and export regulations, providing advice on compliance, licensing, and enforcement actions. Ms. Chambers’ practice has also included international and antitrust litigation matters before US federal courts and arbitration matters before tribunals constituted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS Selected CFIUS and FOCI Representations: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) (acquisition of a tolling arrangement in the electric power industry), British Telecommunications (acquisition of International Network Services), Check Point Software Technologies (proposed acquisition of Sourcefire), e2v technologies (acquisition of QP Semiconductor), Energy Future Holdings (investment in Oncor Electric Delivery Company by an investor group led by Canadian and Singaporean investors), FastenTech (acquisition by Doncasters/Dubai International Capital), Oregon Steel (acquisition by Evraz Group), Stanley, Inc. (acquisition by CGI Group), Temasek (investment in Merrill Lynch), The Carlyle Group (acquisition of Standard Aero and Landmark Aviation by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise). Assisted various companies in conducting internal investigations into foreign trade control violations, filing voluntary self-disclosures with the Departments of State and Commerce, and implementing corrective compliance measures. Advised numerous companies with respect to the filing of license applications, proposed technical assistance and manufacturing license agreements, commodity jurisdiction ruling requests, and registrations with the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Advised major international exchange on trade policy issues. Representation of subsidiaries of ExxonMobil Corporation in pending ICSID and ICC arbitration proceedings involving disputes arising from investments in Venezuela. Representation of JPMorgan Chase in antitrust treble damages action brought by American Express in the Southern District of New York. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE U.S. Department of Energy, Special Assistant to the Secretary (2001) Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Headquarters, U.S. Naval Officer (1996-2000) U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, Legislative Fellow (1995) PRO BONO Representation of a Mexican family before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in connection with their applications for nonimmigrant visa status pursuant to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. Representation of victims of a terrorist bombing in litigation against Hamas, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Iran’s Ministry of Information and Security. MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS Executive Committee of the Yale Law School Association, Term Member PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES "Developments in U.S. Sanctions Against Iran and Satellite Export Control Reform," Covington E-Alert (1/4/2013), Co-Author "CFIUS 2011 Annual Report to Congress," Covington E-Alert (12/27/2012), Co-Author "CFIUS 2010 Annual Report to Congress," Covington E-Alert (12/13/2011), Co-Author