Named an 'International Trade MVP'
- Law360
Mario Mancuso, P.C. leads the Firm’s International Trade and National Security practice. A former senior member of the President’s national security team, Mario provides strategic and legal advice to investment funds, public and private companies, and financial institutions operating or investing across international borders.
Since his return to private practice, Mario has been consistently recognized as a leading international practitioner by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Named an “International Trade MVP” by Law360, he is a leading advisor on matters involving the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS), U.S. Outbound Investment restrictions, economic sanctions (OFAC), export controls (ITAR, EAR), and other international risk matters, earning praise from boards, CEOs, and senior executives for his holistic and "very strategic" approach. Clients say he is “thoughtful, responsive and cuts right to the heart of the issue,” “very commercial, with excellent judgment and work product,” and enthusiastically applaud his work as "a highly skilled technician of the law and commercially savvy advisor."
During his tenure as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Mario was the lead U.S. official with immediate policy responsibility for matters involving U.S. industry and national security. In particular, he served as a senior CFIUS decision-maker and reviewed hundreds of CFIUS transactions as a regulator. As Under Secretary, he also participated in National Security Council decisions regarding foreign investment and economic sanctions (OFAC) programs; led the bilateral strategic technology dialogues for the United States, including the U.S.-China High Technology and Strategic Trade Working Group, the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group, and the U.S.-Israel High Technology Forum; and led and managed an agency of approximately 400 career civil servants in offices throughout the United States and in China, India, Hong Kong, the UAE and Russia. Mario’s extensive government experience includes:
- U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce, Industry and Security (confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate)
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism
- Special Counsel, Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Board Member, Global Markets Board, U.S. National Intelligence Council
- Board Member, CFIUS Advisory Board, U.S. National Intelligence Council
- U.S. Chair, U.S.-China High Technology and Strategic Trade Working Group
- U.S. Chair, U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group
- U.S. Chair, U.S.-Israel High Technology Forum
With his senior government, enforcement and international experience, he is particularly well-positioned to help clients through crises that involve national security-related regulatory enforcement actions or government investigations by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and/or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Mario has authored many articles and regularly contributes to leading U.S. and international media outlets about U.S. national security, international affairs, and global business. He is the author of the recently released, A Dealmaker’s Guide to CFIUS.
Prior to his presidential service, he was in private law practice and served as a forward deployed military officer during combat operations.
