Dilan Wickrema

Associate
About

Dilan Wickrema advises clients with respect to US export controls, economic sanctions, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and related investigations. Dilan leverages his experience from his various roles at the intersection of international trade and national security in the federal government to ensure clients meet their cross-border transaction goals while complying with the applicable laws and regulations. Previously, Dilan served in the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the International Trade Administration.

Most recently, while attending law school at night, Dilan was a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Regulatory and Multilateral Affairs Division of the DDTC's Office of Policy at the US Department of State. At the DDTC, Dilan was responsible for developing revisions to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), issuing authoritative interpretations of the ITAR (advisory opinions), supporting criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement of export control violations, CFIUS and export control integration efforts, and working with US allies and partners to resolve defense trade matters of mutual concern. Dilan started his law career at another Am Law 100 international law firm.

Bar AdmissionsDistrict of Columbia

EXPERIENCE

Representative Compliance Matters
  • Seconded to a Fortune 15 US technology company to serve as in-house export control counsel
  • Seconded to a Fortune 100 defense contractor to conduct internal investigations regarding export control compliance matters
  • Counseled large multinational entities, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and small entities with respect to cross-border sales of controlled goods, technology, and US person activities (defense services and brokering); use of export control exemptions and exceptions, export control classifications, and DDTC registration requirements
  • Prepared BIS, DDTC, and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license and agreement applications
  • Led and supported investigations and preparation of disclosures to BIS, DDTC, and OFAC
  • Prepared export control and sanctions compliance programs and technology control plans
  • Advised former military and government employees regarding Emoluments Clause post-employment restrictions
  • Prepared third-party transfer requests for defense articles originally purchased under the US foreign military sales program
Representative Transactional Matters
  • Counseled, and subsequently prepared, DDTC 60-day and 5-day notices for mergers and acquisitions relating to DDTC registered entities
  • Conducted buy-side due diligence for private equity firms regarding international trade legal risks
  • Supported efforts to obtain CFIUS clearance for acquisition of US companies
Government Experience
  • Developed and implemented revisions to the ITAR and Frequently Asked Questions, specifically regarding defense services, brokering, defense trade with the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS), and ITAR §126.1 country updates
  • Prepared advisory opinions providing formal interpretations of the ITAR
  • Supported law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of export control violations
  • Represented US Departments of State and Commerce in bilateral and multilateral forums and at National Security Council Policy Coordination Committee meetings
  • Led section 232 investigations regarding the effect of imports on US national security
Education
  • J.D., George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School
    Editor-in-Chief, National Security Law Journal
  • M.A., George Mason University
  • B.A., George Mason University

Seminars

  • Speaker, "International Trade Developments Affecting Contractors and their Supply Chains," OOPS 2025: Government Contractors Reacting and Adapting to the New Administration, Tyson's Corner, VA, May 13, 2025
  • Speaker, "Practitioner Perspectives on Proposed AUKUS ITAR Amendments from Australia, the UK, and the United States," Crowell & Moring Webinar, May 13, 2024
  • Speaker, "Cross-Border Considerations for Government Contractors," OOPS 2024: Government Contracts Weathering a Dynamic Forecast, Washington, DC, April 17, 2024
  • Speaker, "The FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act: Key Provisions for Government Contractors," Crowell & Moring Webinar, January 18, 2024
  • Speaker, "ITAR Brokering, Exemptions, and Open General License," American Conference Institute's Passport to Proficiency on the ITAR, Washington, DC, November 9, 2023
  • Speaker, "2023 ITAR and Defense Trade Year in Review," L3Harris Global Trade Summit, Washington, DC, July 12, 2023
  • Speaker, "AUKUS, Brokering, Open General License, and other ITAR and Defense Trade Hot Topics," National Council on International Trade Development, Washington, DC, April 12, 2023
  • Speaker, "ITAR Brokering," Firearms and Ammunition: Addressing the Import and Export Challenges through Compliance, F.A.I.R. Trade Group and Society for International Affairs, Washington, DC, March 28, 2023
  • Speaker, "U.S. Export Controls – Update 2023," Aussenwirtschafts‐Akademie (AWA) Foreign Trade Academy, March 20, 2023
  • Speaker, "U.S. Export Control Seminar for Australian, Canadian, and UK Government, Industry, and University Communities," Washington, DC, January – February 2023
  • Speaker, "Open General License, ITAR Reorganization, and Upcoming Rule Changes," US Census Bureau Industry Trade Compliance Seminar, Washington, DC, September 13, 2022
  • Speaker, "ITAR Reorganization Effort and Open General License," Society for International Affairs, Washington, DC, August 31, 2022
  • Speaker, "Recent ITAR Developments and What Comes Next: The Open General License Pilot Program, the Restructuring of Part 120, and More," Content Enablers, Washington, DC, August 22, 2022
  • Speaker, "U.S. Export Controls – Update 2022 (ITAR/DDC)," AWA Foreign Trade Academy, Washington, DC, July 2, 2022
  • Speaker, "U.S. Export Control Seminar for Australian, Canadian, and UK Government, Industry, and University Communities," Washington, DC, July 2022
  • Speaker, "U.S. Export Controls – Update 2022," AWA Foreign Trade Academy, February 7, 2022

Media Mentions

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Member, Society for International Affairs

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