Committed to bringing a personalized approach to each client
About
Ms. Al-Attar
Ms. Al-Attar started a law firm because she is passionate about providing high quality legal services in a personalized manner. She is fundamentally committed to advising corporations, individuals, and non-profit organizations on how to navigate the challenges presented by the ever-evolving set of U.S. laws and regulations affecting international trade, including U.S. economic sanctions laws.
Ms. Al-Attar is particularly interested in the intersection between U.S. economic sanctions, anti-money laundering laws, and the art and antiquities market. She is also keenly interested in assisting humanitarian and other non-profit organizations grapple with the challenges presented by cross-border operations. Ms. Al-Attar strives to bring an intellectual rigour and thoughtfulness to her approach, but also appreciates that advice must be practical and implementable to be valuable. Her goal is to bring a personalized approach to each client or matter, regardless of its size.
Following her graduation from Georgetown University Law Center, Ms. Al-Attar joined the law firm of Milbank LLP in the fall of 2007 as an associate. While there, she worked on a range of corporate law and regulatory issues, including advising on U.S. economic sanctions laws.
She then joined the Enforcement Division at the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in the fall of 2010 as an enforcement officer. In this role, Ms. Al-Attar investigated potential violations of U.S. economic sanctions laws involving a number of U.S. sanctions programs. She recommended enforcement responses where appropriate and coordinated resolution of these matters with investigation subjects and their counsel. Many of these investigations involved complex financial and trade matters. Ms. Al-Attar remained in this position until January 2014.
In June 2015, she joined the global law firm, Allen & Overy LLP, as an associate in its economic sanctions practice. Ms. Al-Attar had the opportunity to collaborate with the firm's attorneys in offices around the world on complex commercial and financial matters, refining her knowledge of many of the regulatory, investor, financial, and commercial considerations that can inform a transaction.
In May 2018, Ms. Al-Attar returned to OFAC as a section chief in the Licensing Division. In her new role, she was responsible for managing a team of licensing officers reviewing license applications and requests for interpretive guidance received under the Iran and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction sanctions programs. She began her position shortly after the United States announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the JCPOA) with respect to Iran. She left in May 2019 to open her own law firm.
The Law Office of Andrea T. Al-Attar, P.C. officially opened in January 2020.
Bar Admissions:
Ms. Al-Attar is admitted to practice only in the states listed below:
New York (January 30, 2008)
District of Columbia (November 7, 2008)
Virginia (May 1, 2014 (licensed to practice law in the State of Virginia); June 3, 2014 (admitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor at the bar of the Supreme Court of Virginia))
Maryland (October 2, 2019)
Education:
Georgetown University Law Center, Juris Doctor, cum laude, May 2007
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, magna cum laude, May 2002
Additional Educational Experience:
Georgetown University Law Center 2020 Executive Certificate Program in Art and Cultural Heritage, December 7–11, 2020
Professional Activities:
Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) International Law Section's Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee, August 2022-present
Member of the Steering Group of the ABA International Law Section's Art and Cultural Heritage Committee, August 2022-present
Co-Chair of the D.C. Bar International Law Community's Steering Committee, July 2023-present
Co-Chair of the D.C. Bar International Law Community’s International Trade Subcommittee, July 2021–July 2023
Program Coordinator for the D.C. Bar International Law Community’s International Trade Subcommittee, July 2020–July 2023
Vice Chair for the D.C. Bar International Law Community’s International Intellectual Property Subcommittee, July 2020–June 2021
Work Experience:
United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Section Chief, Licensing Division, May 2018–May 2019
Allen & Overy LLP, Associate, June 2015–May 2018
United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Enforcement Officer, September 2010–January 2014
Milbank LLP, Associate, October 2007–September 2010
