Erich Ferrari

Introduction

Erich Ferrari is a leading authority on U.S. economic sanctions, recognised for guiding multinational companies, financial institutions, exporters, and individuals through the complex intersection of OFAC delisting, enforcement and licensing, as well as federal criminal defense relating to sanctions-adjacent prosecutions. Combining deep litigation experience with practical compliance counseling, Mr. Ferrari is routinely engaged on matters that require an OFAC lawyer who understands both administrative and criminal exposure. His stature in the field is reflected in his role as founder and managing shareholder of Ferrari & Associates, a Washington, D.C. firm focused on U.S. sanctions and related enforcement work.

Professional Background & Credentials

Mr. Ferrari earned his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and holds a B.A. from Purdue University, credentials that underpin more than a decade and a half of practice in national security‑adjacent trade law. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and is credentialed to appear in multiple federal courts and circuit courts of appeal, reflecting a practice that spans administrative advocacy before agencies and adversarial litigation in federal forums. His professional biography identifies him as the Founder and Managing Shareholder of Ferrari & Associates, where he focuses on sanctions, export controls, and federal investigations.

Career Milestones & Recognitions

Over his career Mr. Ferrari has handled high‑profile enforcement matters, administrative delisting and licensing petitions before OFAC, and criminal defense representations involving the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and related statutes. He has served as lead trial counsel in complex federal matters and secured favorable outcomes—including mistrials, acquittals, and appellate advocacy—in cases implicating export controls, sanctions, and related federal offenses. His practical commentary and analysis on sanctions law have been cited by practitioners and policy forums, and he is the author of Sanction Law, a focused blog on OFAC and U.S. sanctions developments.

International Trade Practice & Areas Of Expertise

As an an OFAC sanctions lawyer, Mr. Ferrari handles the full spectrum of OFAC-related matters: OFAC licensing and delisting petitions, internal investigations and voluntary self‑disclosures, sanctions compliance , responses to OFAC administrative subpoenas, and defense of federal criminal prosecutions arising from alleged sanctions or export violations. He advises clients across sectors—financial services, technology and manufacturing, energy, shipping and logistics, insurance, and multinational conglomerates—tailoring compliance programmes and transactional structures to mitigate risk in cross‑border trade. His practice emphasizes bridging transactional counseling with litigation readiness, ensuring clients are prepared for agency scrutiny or criminal referral.

Representative Matters & Notable Engagements

Mr. Ferrari’s representative matters include defense work in major sanctions prosecutions and administrative challenges to OFAC designations. His firm biography cites involvement in cases such as U.S. v. Zarrab and other matters that tested the boundaries of U.S. sanctions enforcement, as well as successful delisting efforts pursued through administrative reconsideration and litigation. He has also represented foreign government officials and corporations in challenges to sanctions designations and advised on matters involving Iran, Russia/Ukraine‑related programs, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, counter‑terrorism, and counter‑narcotics sanctions. These engagements demonstrate experience with both sensitive geopolitical designations and commercial compliance issues.

Publications, Speaking & Thought Leadership

Mr. Ferrari is an active commentator and educator on sanctions and export control topics. He founded and contributes to Sanction Law, a practitioner‑focused blog that provides legal analysis and practical guidance on OFAC and related regulatory developments. He has delivered briefings and presentations for legal, civil‑society, and industry audiences, including sector‑specific seminars and panel discussions on sanctions screening, delisting strategies, and compliance best practices. His writings and talks are regularly referenced by policy analysts and trade‑law practitioners as accessible, practice‑oriented resources.

Why Specialist OFAC Counsel Matters In The USA

The U.S. sanctions landscape has grown increasingly complex: expansive sanctions regimes, evolving export control rules, and aggressive enforcement posture mean that transactional errors can quickly become criminal or civil exposures. An OFAC lawyer in USA who combines administrative regulatory knowledge with courtroom experience helps clients structure compliant transactions, prepare persuasive licensing or delisting petitions, and, when necessary, mount robust defenses in enforcement proceedings. Specialist OFAC counsel is particularly important for cross‑border businesses and financial institutions that face multifaceted risks—regulatory, reputational, and operational—when engaging with embargoed jurisdictions or listed parties.

Who Should Consider Engaging Erich Ferrari

Businesses and individuals confronting sanctions exposure or OFAC inquiries—whether banks, exporters, insurers, multinational suppliers, or designated parties—will find Mr. Ferrari’s combined agency‑level and litigation experience valuable. He is frequently retained where administrative engagement must be coordinated with parallel criminal defense or civil litigation strategy, and where nuanced advocacy before OFAC is required to secure licenses or delistings. For clients that need an OFAC lawyer in USA who can move fluidly between compliance program design, administrative advocacy, and courtroom representation, his practice offers pragmatic, seasoned counsel.

Conclusion

Erich Ferrari’s practice sits at the crossroads of U.S. economic sanctions and criminal defense—making him a recognised choice for parties seeking experienced representation in sanctions, export controls, and related enforcement matters. His published commentary, speaking engagements, and a litigation track record complement a compliance‑first approach that helps clients navigate a fast‑moving regulatory environment. Businesses and individuals in need of an OFAC lawyer in USA who blends technical knowledge with courtroom experience will find his practice built to address the modern challenges of cross‑border trade and sanctions risk.