Jamie A. Schafer
- Firmwide Co-Chair, Regulatory Compliance & Disputes Practice
- Washington, D.C.
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Jamie represents clients in criminal and regulatory matters involving anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and U.S. economic sanctions.
Jamie Schafer represents clients in complex domestic and international criminal and regulatory matters, including internal investigations, enforcement inquiries, and implementation of compliance programs. 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. She also conducts internal investigations, compliance reviews, and ethics and compliance risk assessments for both public and private companies.
A sought-after commentator, Jamie's insights have been highlighted by Bloomberg Law, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, Law360, and the National Law Journal, among other publications and outlets.
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 also holds several leadership roles within the American Bar Association International Law Section, including chair of the Beneficial Ownership Working Group, chair of the Legal Practice, Ethics & Service Delivery Division, and as a senior advisor to the Anti-Money Laundering Committee.
Jamie is a thought leader on developments in anti-money laundering regulation and economic sanctions, including regulatory expansion under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, the Corporate Transparency Act, and the shifting landscape of economic sanctions. At American University Washington College of Law, Jamie taught a course on corruption, anti-money laundering, and economic sanctions in the cryptocurrency industry during the Spring 2025 semester. She has previously guest lectured at Fordham University's Master of Compliance Program and taught a certificate course on comparative EU, UK, and U.S. economic sanctions for the American Conference Institute.
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 from 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
Services
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
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District of Columbia
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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, 2024-2025
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
- American University Washington College of Law, Guest Lecturer, 2025
- ABA International Law Section, Anti-Money Laundering Committee, Senior Advisor (present), Co-Chair 2023-2025 and co-editor of 2022 AML Committee Year in Review
- ABA International Law Section, Legal Practice, Ethics & Service Delivery Division, Division Chair
- 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, Vice-President of Program Impact, 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 multi-national financial institution relating to anti-corruption and internal controls issues arising at a Latin American affiliate.*
- Conducted an internal investigation and provided advice to a 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 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 the 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 multi-national, 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 U.S. Department of Justice.*
- 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 a 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
- Provided 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.*
- Submitted license application to OFAC for foreign financial institution to collect an outstanding loan from a customer designated as a Specially Designated National & Blocked Person.*
- Provided 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.*
- Assisted clients in design and enhancement of business ethics and compliance programs in preparation of initial public offering.
- Developed comprehensive compliance program in relation to U.S. anti-corruption, economic sanctions, and anti-money laundering laws and regulations for a well-known U.S. company expanding into foreign markets.*
- Conducted due diligence and provided advice on integration for a global oil and gas company in relation to acquisition of a UK 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.*
- Provided regular pro bono advice to leading non-governmental organization in relation to advocacy to the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury supporting application of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.*
*Prior experience
