Squire Patton Boggs is pleased to announce that Tyler Wood has joined the firm as a partner in its International Trade and Foreign Investment Practice and Government Investigations and White Collar Groups in Washington DC. He joins the firm after serving as Deputy Chief of Compliance and Enforcement in the Foreign Investment Review Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Security Division.
Mr. Wood brings more than two decades of public and private sector legal experience focused on national security, foreign investment review, and enforcement. As Deputy Chief of Compliance and Enforcement in the DOJ’s National Security Division, Foreign Investment Review Section, he helped shape the Department’s priorities for Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and Team Telecom matters, served as a principal DOJ representative on foreign investment issues, and oversaw investigations and penalty actions involving violations of CFIUS mitigation agreements. Mr. Wood played a role in nearly every significant CFIUS penalty issued since FIRRMA was passed, including the largest CFIUS penalty to date. He also led National Security Division teams defending significant national security issues, including cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Before joining DOJ, Mr. Wood spent nearly a decade at the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), where he served as General Counsel and advised on regulatory and litigation matters affecting the global maritime transportation and logistics industries. His experience also includes Team Telecom reviews and enforcement, and advising regulatory officials in the shipping, logistics and telecommunications sectors. Earlier in his career, he practiced law in the private sector and served as a federal judicial law clerk.
“As national security issues play an increasingly important role in transactions, investments, supply chains, and regulatory matters, clients need counsel with firsthand government experience and a deep understanding of the evolving enforcement landscape,” said George Grammas, Chair of the firm’s International Trade and Foreign Investment Group. “Tyler brings exceptional CFIUS and national security experience, having worked on some of the government’s most significant compliance, enforcement, and litigation matters. He joins a team with deep roots in the CFIUS process dating to its inception, further strengthening our ability to advise clients on critical foreign investment and national security matters.”
Tom Firestone, Chair of the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Group said: “The Department of Justice and other agencies are clearly prioritizing investigations related to national security and foreign investment in the U.S. Having Tyler at the firm really strengthens our ability to represent clients in these complicated and high-stakes matters. His addition could not come at a better time.”
Michael Kaye, U.S. lead of the firm’s Commodities & Shipping industry group added: “Having served as General Counsel of the Federal Maritime Commission, Tyler offers a unique combination of government leadership and maritime regulatory experience. He advised on key legal and policy matters and developed a deep understanding of the forces shaping global shipping and supply chains. His experience will be invaluable to our maritime, logistics and transportation clients.”
Commenting on his addition to the firm, Mr. Wood said: “Squire Patton Boggs’ global platform and deep regulatory capabilities make it an exceptional place to serve clients. As the CFIUS, national security, and supply chain landscape continues to evolve, businesses face increasingly complex challenges, and I look forward to bringing my government experience to help them navigate those issues. The firm’s strength across these areas allows us to help clients address a wide range of global business and regulatory challenges.”