Christian Ford

Partner

Litigation – White Collar, Investigations, and Government Enforcement

Maritime Lead – Transportation Practice

Emailchristian.ford@us.dlapiper.com

About

Christian Ford is recognized as a formidable advocate for companies facing government investigations and for delivering practical strategies to clients navigating the toughest regulatory challenges. With a sharp focus on high-stakes enforcement, he defends US and global companies in matters involving economic sanctions, export controls, environmental regulations, and anti-money laundering, among others. Renowned for his hands-on experience overseeing government enforcement and regulatory compliance, Christian is an invaluable ally to maritime and international trade clients navigating complex legal waters. He advises heavily regulated sectors — including chemicals, technology, energy, aerospace and defense, and financial services — on the full spectrum of regulatory compliance and national security issues.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Christian served as a federal prosecutor in the Department of Justice's National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, overseeing investigations and prosecutions focused on export controls, sanctions, money laundering, and other matters affecting US national security and foreign relations. During this time, Christian worked closely with a wide range of federal law enforcement agencies and key regulatory, national security and enforcement authorities, including but not limited to the United States Coast Guard, United States Navy, Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Homeland Security. This unique background and understanding of the interplay between civil, administrative and criminal investigations and enforcement — particularly involving the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and economic sanctions regulations — uniquely situates Christian to provide keen insights and counsel to his clients.

Christian later served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General, where he advised the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy on critical national security regulatory and law enforcement matters, shaping high-level strategies and policies in these areas.

Christian is a veteran and former Navy SEAL. He maintains an active pro bono practice advocating on behalf of military veterans.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations Regulatory and Government Affairs Space Exploration and Innovation Transport

Bar admissionsCaliforniaDistrict of ColumbiaTexas

EXPERIENCE

Select Government Experience

Lead prosecutor in the investigation and prosecution of foreign nationals and foreign companies indicted for violating IEEPA, sanctions regulations and money laundering
Oversaw criminal case involving more than two dozen foreign bankers accused of orchestrating an international money laundering scheme of over US$2.5 billion, in violation of US sanctions
Prosecuted an arms trafficker convicted of conspiring to use and transfer missiles designed to destroy aircraft, money laundering, and ITAR violations
Trained US and foreign law enforcement and custom agents in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe on investigative techniques and enforcement of export controls, economic sanctions, smuggling, and anti-money laundering

Maritime Experience

Served as the lead prosecutor in the seizure and forfeiture of a North Korean cargo vessel suspected of sanctions violations
Coordinated with the United States Coast Guard and United States Navy on maritime sanctions enforcement
Represented a secured creditor and mortgagee holding a preferred marine mortgage tied to a luxury catamaran that was the subject of a weeks-long bankruptcy (relief from stay) trial
Represented clients in complex maritime disputes, including vessel arrests and Jones Act claims
Provided strategic legal counsel on cutting-edge technological innovations operating in a maritime environment, including an experimental (R&D) vessel
Invited to deliver lectures on maritime sanctions enforcement at the United States Naval Academy, National Intelligence University, and by foreign governments, providing insights on compliance, enforcement strategies, and global security implications

Additional Experience

Represent clients from startups to global corporations facing state, federal, civil and criminal investigations involving BIS, OFAC, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security, military law enforcement agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, and state prosecutors
Draft sanctions, export control policies, and export classifications for global energy, industrial, chemical, technology, and space companies, and advise on the implementation of compliance procedures
Develop and implement law enforcement ("dawn raid") response protocols, including policy creation, procedural documentation, and staff training programs for multinational corporations. Lead hands-on training sessions to prepare teams for law enforcement visits
Oversee voluntary disclosures to BIS, OFAC, and DOJ for US and multinational corporations
Provide training to senior executives and corporations on sanctions and export control investigations and enforcement, compliance, responding to government inquiries and legal-investigative process, national security and related management of data
Conduct risk assessments of companies' customers, supply chains, intermediaries, and counterparties

Awards and Recognitions

The Legal 500 United States

Recommended, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, (2022 – 2023)

Additional Recognitions

Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service
FBI Director's Award for Outstanding Counterintelligence Investigation
National Intelligence Medallion
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Law Enforcement Award
National Security Division's Assistant Attorney General Award for Excellence, (2016 – 2017, 2019)

Education

J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

M.A., Political Science, University of California, Berkeley

M.A., International Relations, Yale University

Publications

Author, "Takeaways From Iran Missile Procurement Advisory," Law360, November 6, 2023
Author, "Spies among us: State-sponsored actors want to steal your sensitive information and company culture is your best defense," Culturati: Magazine, December 19, 2022

Seminars

Speaker, "Industrials — Latest sanctions and export controls on Russia and China," May 4, 2022
Speaker, "Sanctions and Export Controls on Russia: An International Perspective on What Canadian Companies Need to Know and How to Prepare," April 7, 2022
Speaker, "Sanctions and export controls targeting Russia: An international perspective on key issues and risk mitigation for the commodities sector," March 30, 2022
Speaker, "New Sanctions and Export Controls on Russia and China: What You Need to Know Now to Be Prepared for 'Cold War 2.0'," AGMA, March 16, 2022
Speaker, "Sanctions Enforcement at Sea," Stockton Center for International Law, U.S. Naval War College, January 19, 2022