Jamie A. Schafer

Partner

Jamie A. Schafer

Washington, D.C.
New York

Print bio

202.661.5863 direct

JSchafer@perkinscoie.com

Notice

Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Perkins Coie, please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers to be of a confidential or secret nature. Perkins Coie has no duty to keep confidential any of the information you provide. Neither the transmission nor receipt of your information is considered a request for legal advice, securing or retaining a lawyer. An attorney-client relationship with Perkins Coie or any lawyer at Perkins Coie is not established until and unless Perkins Coie agrees to such a relationship as memorialized in a separate writing.

vCard

Jamie represents clients in criminal and regulatory matters involving anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and U.S. economic sanctions, including internal investigations, enforcement inquiries, and implementation of compliance programs.

Jamie Schafer represents clients in complex domestic and international criminal and regulatory matters. She advises on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-money laundering laws and regulations, and embargoes administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). She is also the firmwide co-chair of the Sports Industry Group.

Jamie responds to enforcement inquiries before agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice, OFAC, Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of State, and the World Bank's Integrity Vice Presidency. She counsels on the design and implementation of compliance policies, procedures, and training, and conducts internal investigations, compliance reviews, and ethics and compliance risk assessments for both public and private companies.

A certified anti-money laundering specialist, Jamie is an active member of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists as well as the Women's White Collar Defense Association. She is also co-chair of the American Bar Association International Law Section Anti-Money Laundering Committee and chair of the Section's Beneficial Ownership Working Group. Jamie is a thought leader on developments in anti-money laundering regulation and economic sanctions, including regulatory expansion through the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, the Corporate Transparency Act, and the shifting landscape of economic sanctions.

In her pro bono practice, Jamie advocates for human rights involving economic sanctions and immigration. She received multiple pro bono awards including the 2022 Global Accountability Guardian Award by Human Rights First. She is a member of the National Women's Law Center Leadership Advisory Counsel and was a 2020 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity fellow.

Areas of focus

Industries

Energy Infrastructure & Clean Technology

Financial Services & Investments

Technology & Communications

Retail & Consumer Products

Regulated Gaming

Sports

Digital Media & Entertainment, Gaming & Sports

Interactive Entertainment

Services

Litigation

White Collar & Investigations

International Trade

Ethics & Compliance

Latin America Practice

Education & Credentials

Education

The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 2010
The University of Chicago, B.A., with honors, 2004

Bar and Court Admissions

District of Columbia
New York

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Related Employment

Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP, New York, NY, Partner, 2020; Associate, 2014-2020
Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, Washington, D.C., Associate, 2011-2014

Professional Recognition

Ranked in Chambers USA "America’s Leading Lawyers" for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2024.
Received the 2022 Global Accountability Guardian Award from Human Rights First.
Named a 2020 Woman Worth Watching by Diversity Journal.
Named to the 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019 Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll for her contribution of 100 hours or more to indigent clients and nonprofit organizations in need of legal representation.
Received the 2014 Safe Haven Award from Immigration Equality for excellence in pro bono representation of LGBTQ immigrants.

Impact

Professional Leadership

Women’s White Collar Defense Association, Member of D.C. Chapter and Rankings Initiative Committee
National Women’s Law Center, Leadership Advisory Committee, Co-Chair 2019-2020; Member, 2018-present
ABA International Law Section, Anti-Money Laundering Committee, Co-Chair and co-editor of 2022 AML Committee Year in Review
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, Member
2020 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow
Fordham University School of Law Master of Studies of Law (MSL) in Compliance Program, Guest Lecturer, 2020

Community Involvement

Executive Board Member, Scouts BSA National Capitol Area Council and Cub Scout Pack 1, Assistant Committee Chair

Professional Experience

Internal Investigations

Conducted an internal investigation on behalf of a multinational financial institution relating to anti-corruption and internal controls issues arising at a Latin American affiliate.*
Conducted internal investigation and provided advice to global organization with regard to voluntary disclosures to U.S. enforcement authorities in relation to corruption allegations involving Caribbean customs brokers.*

*Prior experience

Government and Regulatory Investigations and Enforcement

Represented major manufacturing client in Oregon in investigating allegations regarding the company’s third-party payment practices. The matter was resolved in October 2023 with a nonprosecution agreement. The company admitted to aiding and abetting an unlicensed money transmitting business in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1960 relating to the company’s acceptance of payments for products sold to two Nigerian distributors through a Nigeria-based black market currency exchange network linked to a trade-based money laundering scheme in Nigeria. The resolution required the company to forfeit approximately $1.7 million but did not impose any penalty or monitorship requirements on the company.
Secured urgent Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license in a matter of weeks for well-known global transportation manufacturing company. Addressed full production stop due to inadvertent inclusion of Cuban origin components, working closely with Perkins Coie’s strategic communications group to ensure appropriate Congressional and White House attention to critical infrastructure issues raised by the production stop while awaiting OFAC licensing.
Obtained one of OFAC’s first-ever “assurances letters” on behalf of African bank seeking to satisfy a debt with property belonging to a former loan recipient who had been sanctioned for financing Hezbollah. Working with OFAC, the bank was able to seize property and the firm was able to achieve delisting of a sanctioned vessel so the bank could sell the vessel to recoup its debt.
Advised offshore trustee companies in U.S. enforcement proceedings, document production, and related litigation regarding allegations of securities and tax fraud involving multiple regulators across several jurisdictions.*
Represented multinational, publicly traded financial institution in cross-border investigation and enforcement action relating to allegations of corruption and money laundering involving conduct in the United States, China, and Mexico.*
Advised international organization on response to subpoena received from U.S. enforcement agency in relation to multinational fraud scheme.*
Represented multiple global companies in implementing compliance and reporting commitments under Deferred Prosecution Agreements with the DOJ.*
Advised financial services client in OFAC inquiry relating to transaction by non-U.S. portfolio company with counterparty alleged to be a front for a sanctioned Iranian entity.*
Represented federal criminal defendant in connection with fraud charges relating to an international investment scheme through the pro bono counsel program with the Office of the Federal Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia, including successfully briefing and arguing during the sentencing hearing for a significant variance from the applicable federal sentencing guidelines.*

*Prior experience

Compliance Advising

Provide regular and real-time trading advice to financial services clients regarding application of emerging sanctions to securities and bond transactions, particularly with respect to Russian and Venezuelan sanctions.*
Submission of license application to OFAC for foreign financial institution to collect outstanding loan from a customer designated as a Specially Designated National & Blocked Person.*
Provide ongoing advice to various multilateral development banks in relation to governance issues and the development of compliance procedures to address a variety of risks facing international organizations.*
Conducted global risk assessments on behalf of the boards of directors for multiple publicly traded companies and proposed compliance enhancements to mitigate identified risks.*
Assist clients in design and enhancement of business ethics and compliance programs in preparation of IPO.
Developed comprehensive compliance program in relation to U.S. anti-corruption, economic sanctions, and anti-money laundering laws and regulations for well-known U.S. company expanding into foreign markets.*
Conducted due diligence and provided advice on integration for global oil and gas company in relation to acquisition of U.K. subsidiary with global sales, including in many relatively high-risk jurisdictions.*
Conducted third-party due diligence and advised on transactional safeguards for real estate investment firm in relation to foreign partners and consultants in various Eastern European jurisdictions.*
Advised multiple investment management firms in relation to anti-corruption, economic sanctions, and anti-money laundering risks in complex cross-border transactions, including a lending deal with a Latin American pharmaceutical distributor and an option and joint venture agreement involving Argentinian mining concessions.*
Provide regular pro bono advice to leading non-governmental organization (NGO) in relation to advocacy to the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury supporting application of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.*

*Prior experience