Matthew Larson

Matt Larson is an Associate in the National Security and Global Trade group at DLA Piper, where he advises clients on complex legal matters relating to U.S. trade laws and regulations. Matt has specialized experience and knowledge relating to U.S. sanctions, having counselled several clients on how to navigate the ever-increasing and complex number of regulations and restrictions implemented by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). His sanctions practice includes the design and enforcement of compliance policies and procedures, engaging in counterparty and end-user diligence (including via preparing and reviewing appropriate "Know Your Customer" (KYC) protocols), and coordinating internal investigations into potential violations of U.S. sanctions. Matt is also experienced in guiding clients through direct engagement with the U.S. government on sanctions matters, having prepared and submitted numerous sanctions-related filings, including license requests, disclosures, and petitions. A Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Matt complements his U.S. sanctions work with knowledge of U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) laws and regulations.

Matt is a seasoned transactional practitioner who has advised dozens of companies on U.S. sanctions risks in time-intensive, high-stakes negotiations on both the buy-side and the sell-side. His deep familiarity with the transactional process gives him unique insight on how to advise clients on sanctions diligence, sanctions representations in purchase agreements, and assessing sanctions exposure in a counterparty. Matt is regularly entrusted by colleagues to coordinate and align the National Security and Global Trade group’s review of new transactions, as sanctions risks often overlap with export and import risks.

Drawing on his transactional expertise, Matt is well-versed in the rules and regulations governing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). His ability to identify and assess national security risks in transactions and investments enables him to guide clients to favorable outcomes when a CFIUS review is implicated, and Matt has coordinated several CFIUS filings. Matt was recognized as a key lawyer in DLA Piper's CFIUS practice in its 2026 ranking by The Legal 500 United States.

Matt earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into the Georgetown chapter of the Order of the Coif. While in law school, Matt interned at the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil and Civil Rights Divisions. Prior to law school, Matt graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown University with a degree in government.