About me

Address: Washington, D.C.: Robert S. Strauss Tower, 2001 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-1037

Areas of Focus: Export Controls; International Trade; Sovereign & Government Investors; National Security; Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS); Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection; Supply Chain Security for Government Contracts; Mergers & Acquisitions; Projects & Energy Transition; National Security & Global Investigations; Government Contracts: Legislative & Policy Issues

Biography:
Christian leads Akin’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) practice. He advises clients on existing and emerging international trade and national security laws and policy affecting activities and transactions around the world, including on foreign investment, export controls, economic sanctions and Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS)/supply chain issues.
Christian represents global clients across sectors and navigates them through CFIUS risks at every stage of a transaction. He represents clients in the merger, acquisition and divestiture process before CFIUS and advises them in negotiating and implementing CFIUS mitigation agreements. Christian also counsels clients in developing and administering international trade compliance programs and conducting internal investigations.
Christian advises clients in a wide variety of industries, including:
- Aerospace
- Defense
- Technology
- Investment funds
- Sovereign wealth
- Engineering
- Nuclear power
- Oil & gas
- Energy & infrastructure
- Renewable energy.
He has also advised sovereign entities in the formation of law and policy.

Representative Work:
- Advising clients in the technology, energy, aerospace, defense and investment funds sectors regarding the CFIUS review process, including negotiating and implementing mitigation agreements to obtain CFIUS clearance.
- Advising clients in connection with actions and risks associated with the ICTS Supply Chain Regulations and associated executive actions, including responding to subpoenas, Commerce determinations and other U.S. government outreach.
- Counseled a large aerospace defense contractor in developing a comprehensive export and import compliance program covering its global supply chain, international customer base, aftermarket support services, human resources policy, information technology (IT) system and merger & acquisition (M&A) activities. This engagement included providing extensive on-site support to the client and working closely with in-house counsel and internal and external business personnel.
- Leading internal investigations for various clients, including drafting and submitting disclosures regarding violations of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Regulations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR).
- Analyzing the commodity jurisdiction and classification of various items for clients, including drafting and submitting Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) requests to the Department of State. These engagements have involved negotiating with various federal agencies.

Credentials:
Education: J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2008 (cum laude); B.A., University of Virginia, 2003
Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, 2009
Court Admissions: U.S.C.A., Federal Circuit, 2009; U.S. Court of International Trade, 2009

Recognitions:
- Foreign Investment Watch, Top Advisor, 2025-2026.
- Chambers Global , International Trade: CFIUS Experts: USA, 2024-2026.
- Chambers USA , International Trade: CFIUS Experts, 2021-2026 .
- Chambers USA , International Trade Law Firm of the Year Award, 2024.
- The Legal 500 US , International Trade, 2021-2023, and International Trade: CFIUS, 2023-2024.
- Law360 , International Trade Practice Group of the Year, 2021 and 2022.
- Law360 , Rising Star, International Trade, 2018 .
- Global Excellence Awards, Leading Advisor in International Trade Law, Washington, D.C., 2018.
- CorporateLiveWire, International Trade Lawyer of the Year, 2014-2016.

Affiliations:
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Insights:
- Foreign-Produced Power Inverters and Advanced Robotic Devices Added to FCC's Covered List and Designated as National Security Threats (August 4, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/foreign-produced-power-inverters-and-advanced-robotic-devices-added-to-fccs-covered-list-and-designated-as-national-security-threats
- Akin Advises ePointZero in $2.25 Billion Acquisition of Traverse Midstream Partners (July 28, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-epointzero-in-dollar225-billion-acquisition-of-traverse-midstream-partners
- Commerce Establishes Approved Supplier Registry Under Connected Vehicles Rule (July 22, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/alert-commerce-establishes-approved-supplier-registry-under-connected-vehicles-rule
- DoD Proposes to Expand FOCI Disclosure and Mitigation Requirements to Unclassified Contracts (June 12, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/dod-proposes-to-expand-foci-disclosure-and-mitigation-requirements-to-unclassified-contracts
- Congress Introduces Legislation to Bolster Connected Vehicle Regulatory Regime (June 11, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/congress-introduces-legislation-to-bolster-connected-vehicle-regulatory-regime
- Chambers USA 2026 Recognizes Akin Lawyers and Practices  (June 4, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-usa-2026-recognizes-akin-lawyers-and-practices
- FinCEN Proposes Rule Implementing Treasury Whistleblower Incentives and Anti-Retaliation Protections (April 2, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/fincen-proposes-rule-implementing-treasury-whistleblower-incentives-and-anti-retaliation-protections
- Akin Advises Igneo Infrastructure Partners in Acquisition of Mattingly Cold Storage (April 1, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-igneo-infrastructure-partners-in-acquisition-of-mattingly-cold-storage
- 2026 Perspectives in Private Equity: Antitrust, Competition & Cross-Border Investment  (March 31, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/articles/2026-perspectives-in-private-equity-antitrust-competition-and-cross-border-investment
- Christian Davis and Katherine Padgett Named 2026 ‘Top Advisors’ by Foreign Investment Watch  (March 25, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/christian-davis-and-katherine-padgett-named-2026-top-advisors-by-foreign-investment-watch
- Autonomous Akin Update - February 2026 (March 2, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/newsletters/autonomous-akin-update-february-2026
- CFIUS Seeks Input for Known Investor Program and Feedback on Broader Process (February 13, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/cfius-seeks-input-for-known-investor-program-and-feedback-on-broader-process