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Chris Griner
Partner
Chris Griner is a renowned partner in the Government Investigations & White Collar Practice Group, specializing in assisting both foreign and domestic companies in navigating the complex realm of government regulations associated with the acquisition or investment in entities deemed as US national security assets.
Chris is widely acknowledged as an expert in national security and matters relating to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), playing a pivotal role in shaping the Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI) mitigation arrangements currently used by the US government.
Chris’ clients rely on him for guidance throughout the entire CFIUS process, from evaluating potential national security concerns to preparing necessary filings and collaborating with government agencies to secure favorable outcomes. His extensive experience encompasses matters ranging from millions to billions of US dollars, involving CFIUS and other national security challenges, and he has a notable track record of crafting effective mitigation strategies.
Chris has been invited by the governments of the US, the UK and Italy to share his insights on CFIUS and other regulatory aspects of foreign direct investment in the US. He has also been quoted in prominent publications such as The Financial Times, The Washington Post, The Deal, China Legal Review, Reuters and American Law Daily.
Chris previously served as an attorney advisor in the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, and he holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired.
- Represented major global corporations in aerospace, defense and security sectors, providing advice and counsel concerning US national security regulatory approvals for acquisitions, including export control compliance matters before the Department of State and the Department of Commerce.
- Advised one of the largest investment groups in the world on a large number of CFIUS transactions, spanning a wide variety of industries, including oil and gas processing, mobile satellite services and telecom services, among others. The values of these deals range from the hundreds of millions into the billions of US dollars.
- Represented a multinational chemical company before CFIUS and with respect to FOCI mitigation relating to a US$75 billion business combination with another entity.
- Represented a multinational pharmaceutical company before CFIUS with respect to a US$62 billion acquisition.
- Represented a US human capital management (HCM) and employee experience solutions corporation before CFIUS on a US$11 billion transaction involving a consortium of acquirers.
- Obtained CFIUS clearance for a major Australian communications network regarding acquisition of a US digital infrastructure company focused on fiber optic network solutions.
- Counseled a provider of diffusion and thermal sprayed coatings for aerospace components in its sale to an Italian industrial coating equipment company.
- Provided CFIUS guidance for one of the world's largest private renewable energy companies in the acquisition of a clean energy company.
- Provided FOCI and other related national security guidance to a global investment banking and financial services group in a federal government technology services contract.
- Represented a global leader in engineering and manufacturing before CFIUS and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) in its sale of a subsidiary to a Japanese manufacturer of electric motors.
- Provided FOCI mitigation and National Industrial Security Program: Operating Manual (NISPOM) compliance counsel to a foreign-owned US electronics manufacturer following its successful completion of the CFIUS approval process.
- Established numerous FOCI mitigation arrangements in compliance with national industrial security regulations.
- Represented a major South Korean financial investment and banking company, providing CFIUS counsel for US investments.
- Provided Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), FOCI and other related national security guidance to an Irish engineering and design company and its telecommunications subsidiary doing business with the US military.
- Represented a UK-based investment holding company in a CFIUS acquisition of a multidisciplinary engineering, investigation and construction company.
- Obtained CFIUS clearance for an acquisition of an agricultural investment company.
- Guided a major renewable power producer in the acquisitions of several renewable energy projects in the US.
- Represented the world’s largest supplier of commercial airplane assemblies and components, providing advice and counsel on national security issues related to US$1.65 billion initial public offering and subsequent transactions.
- Represented a global leader in defense, security and infrastructure technology in the acquisition of a data analytics and cyber services provider to the US intelligence community.
- Provided FOCI mitigation counsel to a US$30 billion entity in preparation for its acquisition by a major investment firm.
- Represented a German multinational corporation before CFIUS and the DDTC in connection with the corporation’s US$5 billion acquisition by a Chinese corporation, the largest acquisition of a German company by a Chinese investor and the first Chinese corporate acquisition of a publicly traded German company.
- Represented a major UK electronics firm before CFIUS in its acquisition of several US defense businesses.
- Represented an Italian multinational electric power transmission and telecom cable manufacturer in a US$1.5 billion transaction before CFIUS and continue to counsel on a variety of matters involving export controls, general security, industrial security, US sanctions and FOCI compliance.
- Represented foreign creditors to US defense contractors going through bankruptcy, including required filings and negotiation of risk mitigation controls.
- Represented a major Italian industrial group operating globally in aerospace, defense and security sectors, providing advice and counsel concerning CFIUS and US national security regulatory approvals for acquisitions.
- Represented a major British defense company in numerous acquisitions of US national security contractors, including a US$1.8 billion acquisition.
- Represented a major Italian industrial group in the US$5.2 billion acquisition of a major US defense contractor requiring CFIUS approval.
- Provided CFIUS counsel to a major UK defense contractor for its purchase of a naval systems business.
- Represented one of the world’s most prominent national pension plans, involving dozens of CFIUS and US national security regulatory approvals for a variety of acquisitions.
- Represented a multinational information and analytics company in connection with national security matters.
- Represented a company engaged in research, development and production of launch vehicles and rocket systems in connection with national security matters.
- Advised a major European company engaged in the defense contractor market in the US on matters of national security, foreign ownership, control and influence, export control compliance, government contracts, intellectual property, and corporate and employment issues.
- Represented a large UK defense contractor in reorganization efforts for its US businesses, streamlining compliance requirements, consolidating FOCI mitigation and reducing duplicative costs.
- Represented one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense electronics companies, providing advice and counsel in CFIUS and national security issues related to strategic foreign direct investment (FDI) acquisitions in the US.
- Represented a private equity investor to structure control of portfolio companies to limit FOCI mitigation restrictions.
Education
- Rutgers University School of Law - Camden, J.D., 1973
- Lehigh University, B.A., 1971
Admissions
- District of Columbia, 1976
- Ranked for Foreign Investment Control by Who’s Who Legal 2024.
- Ranked as Band 1 for International Trade: CFIUS Experts by Chambers USA 2008-2024.
- Listed to Top Advisors by Foreign Investment Watch 2023.
- Recognized by Super Lawyers 2015-2023 for International, Government Contracts, Aviation and Aerospace, Government Relations, Technology Transactions.
- Named a Distinguished Faculty Member by the American Conference Institute during the 7th National Conference on CFIUS in 2021.
- Ranked for Foreign Investment Review by Who’s Who Legal 2019 and 2020.
- Recognized as the International Trade MVP by Law360 in 2019.
- Recipient of the Arthur E. Armitage Sr. Distinguished Alumni Award by Rutgers Law School in 2017.
- Named Star of the Bar by Washingtonian Magazine.
- Recipient of the World Affairs Council Founders Award.
- Author, "Understanding changes in FOCI scrutiny, mitigation, enforcement," Foreign Investment Watch, October 29, 2023.
- Quoted, “Bill wants CFIUS to presume ‘non-resolvability’ in certain transactions,” Foreign Investment Watch, July 13, 2023.
- Quoted, “CFIUS Clearance Likely for Acquisition of Petroteq,” The Deal, April 22, 2022.
- Speaker, "Company Leaders Discuss the Implications of FOCI on Corporate Goals, Tactics and Risk Mitigation," American Conference Institute’s 6th National Forum on FOCI, September 21, 2023.
- Speaker, CFIUS Speaker Hall of Fame, American Conference Institute’s 8th National Conference on CFIUS.
- Speaker, National Security Studies Forum, The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, May 18, 2022.
- Panelist, "The Security of Defense Trade with Allies," The Atlantic Council, May 26, 2021.
- Speaker, IDEEA’S Common Defense Network Interviews Series, Common Defense Network, April 9, 2021.
- Chair, American Conference Institute’s National Forum on FOCI, Washington DC, July 14, 2020.
- Speaker, “New CFIUS Regulations and Foreign Investment in US Real Estate,” November 14, 2019.
- Speaker, “FIRRMA: Foreign Investment Impact,” November 13, 2019.
- Speaker, “Special Briefing: FIRRMA Effects on Foreign Real Estate Investors,” November 12, 2019.
- Co-chair and speaker, "The Annual Aerospace & Defense Acquisitions Roundtable," Washington DC, April 29, 2019.
- Co-chair and Keynote Speaker, ACI’s National Forum on FOCI, Washington DC, April 23, 2019.
- Speaker, “CFIUS and FOCI Roundtable,” November 30, 2018.
- Co-chair and Speaker, “The Annual Aerospace & Defense Acquisitions Roundtable,” Washington DC, April 24, 2018.
- Speaker, “FDI in the US,” 4th Industrial Revolution for Education Forum, Darussalem, Brunei, March 21, 2018.
- Speaker, “Navigating CFIUS for Chinese Investors,” Understanding China, New York, NY, January 18, 2018.