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CBS News highlighted Akin national security & global investigations partner Ryan Fayhee's pro bono advocacy on behalf of Reza Valizadeh,...
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Akin Gump
Ryan Fayhee
Partner, Akin Gump
Washington, D.C., United States
About me
Address: Washington, D.C.: Robert S. Strauss Tower, 2001 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-1037
Areas of Focus: National Security; Anti-Money Laundering; International Trade; Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection; Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS); Export Controls; White Collar Defense & Government Investigations; Antibribery/Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); Crisis Management; Disputes & Investigations; False Claims Act/Qui Tam Defense; Government Contracts; Supply Chain Security for Government Contracts; Congressional Investigations; National Security & Global Investigations; Tariff Enforcement Defense; Economic Sanctions; Government Outreach Support
Biography:
Ryan draws upon a multidisciplinary skillset to assist corporations, boards of directors, audit committees and senior executives facing cross-border government investigations and other high-profile reputational risks, often involving U.S. and foreign regulators and enforcement authorities, political stakeholders and the media. He also advises clients on strategic opportunities, governance and compliance best practices, acquisition due diligence and national security reviews before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
An experienced trial lawyer and formal federal prosecutor, Ryan has successfully litigated and tried several cases to verdict across the country, with the unique ability to handle deeply regulatory matters and seamlessly transition to high profile enforcement actions and voluntary self-disclosures involving the Department of Justice (DOJ) as well as sanctions, export control and anti-money laundering (AML) regulators at the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).
Ryan has developed a Chambers -ranked sanctions and export control practice and has been named to Global Investigations Review ’s elite list of the most respected sanctions lawyers in Washington, D.C. The Legal 500 has recognized Ryan for “excel[ing] at leading and conducting investigatory work as a result of the ‘wealth of experience and insights’ he gained in his former position as a DOJ national security prosecutor.” Ryan has also been recognized in Lawdragon ’s 500 Leading Litigators in America Guide.
Ryan assists clients from varied industries, including financial services, private equity, technology, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, energy, mining, construction materials, logistics, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.
Ryan maintains an active pro bono practice and has extensive experience representing current and former hostages of foreign governments and transnational criminal organizations, as well as the unlawfully detained, with a focus on advocating for victim families, securing release and ensuring long term reintegration.
Prior to private practice, Ryan served for 11 years in the DOJ, where he was a leading prosecutor handling complex cross border investigations and prosecutions affecting the national security and foreign policy of the United States, including espionage, sanctions and embargoes, arms proliferation, trade secret theft, cybercrime, corruption and money laundering. Ryan also served in the National Security Division, where he most recently served as the principal DOJ attorney overseeing sanctions and export control prosecutions nationally. Previously, Ryan was an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago and a Trial Attorney in DOJ’s Civil Frauds Section, where he litigated matters arising under the Federal False Claims Act.
Ryan’s most notable investigations and prosecutions have received prominent national and international media coverage. Several were recognized with the DOJ’s highest awards. In 2010, Ryan was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security for his role in the prosecution and disruption of a vast international proliferation network responsible for smuggling electrical components from the U.S., which were ultimately used in improvised explosive devices targeting troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2009, Ryan received the Assistant Attorney General Award for Supporting the National Security Mission for his role in the investigation and prosecution of an espionage ring involving corrupt Department of Defense officials. Ryan has received numerous other awards from the DOJ and multiple recognitions from the law enforcement and intelligence communities.
Ryan began his legal career as a federal law clerk in the Central District of Illinois, his home district, prior to being recruited to DOJ through the prestigious Attorney General’s Honors Program.
Representative Work:
- Represented the board of directors of a multinational company in a high-profile internal investigation into allegations of terrorist financing, sanctions, and money laundering activities that led to enforcement actions in France and before DOJ, the latter concluded with pre-indictment resolution.
- Represented a multinational telecommunications company in connection with an investigation and independent review of a legacy legal representation before DOJ’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act unit, which concluded with a pre-indictment resolution and the successful completion of a DOJ imposed monitorship.
- Represented a multinational technology company in a congressional investigation and subsequent constitutional litigation challenging novel government-wide debarment and suspension actions.
- Represented a multinational luxury goods company in a congressional investigation involving allegations of sanctions violations and related money-laundering activities of third parties.
- Represented a non-U.S. CEO under indictment by DOJ for sanctions violations.
Credentials:
Education: J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2003 (cum laude); B.A., Purdue University, 2000
Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, 2016; Illinois, 2003
Clerkships: U.S.D.C., Central District of Illinois
Recognitions:
- Lawdragon , 500 Leading Litigators in America Guide, 2022-2025.
- Chambers Global , International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions, 2024-2025.
- Bloomberg Law, Pro Bono Innovators, 2023.
- Chambers USA , International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions, 2023-2026.
- Lawdragon, Inaugural 500 Leading Litigators in America Guide, 2022.
- Financier Worldwide Magazine , International Trade & Sanctions, Distinguished Adviser, 2021.
- Global Investigations Review , 25 Most Respected Sanctions Lawyers in Washington, D.C., 2019.
- The Legal 500 US , Dispute Resolution: International Trade, 2019-2022; International Trade: Customs, Export Controls and Economic Sanctions, 2024.
- The Legal 500 US , Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2019-2021.
- Who's Who Legal, Trade & Customs: International Sanctions, 2022.
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2019.
Affiliations:
- Board of Directors, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation
- Advisory Council, McCain Institute Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative
- National Export Control Coordinator, National Security Division, Counterespionage Section, U.S. DOJ
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois
- Trial Attorney, Civil Division, Fraud Section, U.S. DOJ
- Law Clerk, Judge Michael M. Mihm, U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Insights:
- CryptoLink Newsletter - June 2026 Updates (July 28, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/newsletters/cryptolink-newsletter-june-2026
- CryptoLink Newsletter - May 2026 Updates (June 22, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/newsletters/cryptolink-newsletter-may-2026
- Ryan Fayhee Authors The Washington Post Article on Detained Americans in Iran (June 22, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/ryan-fayhee-authors-the-washington-post-article-on-detained-americans-in-iran
- Ryan Fayhee Appears on NBC News Calling for the Release of Wrongfully Detained Americans in Iran (June 15, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/ryan-fayhee-appears-on-nbc-news-calling-for-the-release-of-wrongfully-detained-americans-in-iran
- Ryan Fayhee Calls for Release of Wrongfully Detained American Journalist in Iran on CBS Evening News (June 5, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/ryan-fayhee-calls-for-release-of-wrongfully-detained-american-journalist-in-iran-on-cbs-evening-news
- 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
- New U.S. Terrorism Designations of Brazilian Criminal Organizations Raise Compliance Risks for Companies (June 1, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/new-us-terrorism-designations-of-brazilian-criminal-organizations-raise-compliance-risks-for-companies
- CryptoLink Newsletter - April 2026 Updates (May 15, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/newsletters/cryptolink-newsletter-april-2026
- CryptoLink Newsletter - March 2026 Updates (April 28, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/newsletters/cryptolink-newsletter-march-2026
- Ryan Fayhee Speaks with CNN, FOX News and NewsNation on Prioritizing the Release of the Wrongfully Detained as U.S. - Iran Negotiations Continue (April 21, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/ryan-fayhee-speaks-with-cnn-and-fox-news-on-prioritizing-the-release-of-the-wrongfully-detained-as-us-iran-negotiations-continue
- CryptoLink Newsletter - February 2026 Updates (April 3, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/newsletters/cryptolink-february-2026
- DOJ National Security Division Clarifies Voluntary Self-Disclosure Process Under New Department-Wide Corporate Enforcement Policy (April 1, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/doj-national-security-division-clarifies-voluntary-self-disclosure-process-under-new-department-wide-corporate-enforcement-policy