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Roya Motazedi

Senior Associate
Washington, DC

Senior Associate, Washington, DC

T: +1.202.663.8052
T: +1.202.663.8052

Areas of Focus

Roya Motazedi counsels global and U.S. companies on international trade matters, including OFAC sanctions, import/export regulations, and navigating the CFIUS review process.

Roya’s global experience is highlighted by her work helping clients understand sanctions against a number of countries whose sanctions are constantly evolving in today’s political atmosphere, including Iran, Russia, Cuba and Venezuela, among others. Further, she assists clients with obtaining licenses from governmental authorities, submitting export classifications and commodity jurisdiction determinations for ITAR- and EAR-controlled items, and reviewing potential investments under regulations administered by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

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Prior to joining Pillsbury, Roya represented individuals and corporations in international trade, government contracts, and white-collar defense matters at another law firm. Roya previously interned for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs in the Enforcement Division, where she worked on extraditions and mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) requests.

In law school, Roya interned for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of International Affairs, International Enforcement Division where she worked on enforcing U.S. civil judgments abroad. She also interned for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Law Development Program, where she contributed to creating a guide for the Afghan National Procurement Authority on awarding government contracts and created guidelines for the Afghan Supreme Court on enforcing arbitration and mediation decisions. She is proficient in Farsi and Japanese.

Roya also completed a two-year Princeton in Asia Fellowship in Yakage, Japan.

Representative Experience

CFIUS & Foreign Investment

  • Counseled U.S. and non-U.S.-based emerging technology companies on implications of new CFIUS pilot program.
  • Represented Italian company on CFIUS matters in connection with its acquisition of a U.S. testing company, including detailed analysis of potential application of the CFIUS pilot program.
  • Monitor and counsel major U.S. energy company regarding proposed legislative changes to CFIUS review process.

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  • Economic Sanctions & Embargoes
    • Evaluated whether certain activities may be in violation of U.S. secondary sanctions and risks related to SDN designation.
    • Advised foreign companies doing business in Cuba on potential risks due to the recently implemented Title III of the Helms-Burton Act.
    • Advised global satellite service providers on OFAC licensing and compliance.
    • Advised European air carriers with compliance and licensing issues in connection with proposed travel services to Iran and Cuba.
    • Advised travel service providers on compliance with the Cuba travel regulations.
  • Export & Technology Transfer Controls
    • Assisted clients in assessing export control requirements applicable to intelligence and surveillance products and technologies.
    • Advised European airline in connection with proposed wet lease to Cuban airline and assisted with BIS license application submission.

Professional Highlights

  • Named Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch in recognition of outstanding professional excellence; Administrative/Regulatory Law (2023 – 2024)
  • Board of Directors, Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project.
  • Received an award from the American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law Journal for the publication “The Long-Awaited Cuban Reunion: Public Procurement’s Role in U.S.-Cuba Relations”, 46 Pub. Cont. L.J. 135 (2016).

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  • Blog Posts
    • Closing the Loopholes: Additional Export Controls Issued on Advanced Computing and Semiconductor Manufacturing Items, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Zachary C. Rozen, Roya Motazedi, Samantha Franks, Arielle R. Heffez, Ata A. Akiner and Erin Kwiatkowski, 11/7/2023
    • Additional Sanctions and Export Control Restrictions Imposed on One-Year Anniversary of Russia-Ukraine Conflict, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Luke Wochensky, Roya Motazedi, Ata A. Akiner, Iris Karaman and Samantha Franks, 2/28/2023
    • Russia Sanctions Year in Review: Impact on Aviation Sector, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Steven Farmer, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Luke Wochensky, Oleg Khokhlov, Roya Motazedi, Mark Booth, Ata A. Akiner and Iris Karaman, 2/23/2023
    • Russia Sanctions Year in Review: Impact on Energy Sector, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Steven Farmer, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Luke Wochensky, Oleg Khokhlov, Roya Motazedi, Zachary C. Rozen, Mark Booth and Iris Karaman, 2/14/2023
    • Russia Sanctions Year in Review: Impact on Financial Services Sector, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Steven Farmer, Aaron R. Hutman, Luke Wochensky, Oleg Khokhlov, Roya Motazedi, Mark Booth and Iris Karaman, 2/9/2023
    • Navigating Russia Sanctions: Strategies for Companies to Mitigate Supply Chain Risks, Authors: Nancy A. Fischer, Roya Motazedi, Ata Akiner, 10/6/2022
    • State Department Issues Two Open General Licenses Authorizing Reexports and Retransfers of Certain Defense Articles for Australia, Canada and the UK, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Benjamin J. Cote, Roya Motazedi, Zachary C. Rozen, Ata Akiner, Samantha Franks, 7/27/2022
    • Further Sanctions Issued Against Russia: Services, Export Controls and Visa Restrictions, Authors: Nancy A. Fischer, Stephan E. Becker, Aaron R. Hutman, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Roya Motazedi, Samantha Franks, 5/17/2022
    • Recent U.S. Sanctions and Export Control Measures Imposed Against Russia, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Benjamin J. Cote, Moushami P. Joshi, Roya Motazedi, Samantha Franks, 4/8/2022
    • BIS Hits Russia and Belarus with Sweeping New Export Control Restrictions, Authors Christopher R. Wall, Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Roya Motazedi, Zachary C. Rozen, Samantha Franks, 3/3/2022
    • Expanded U.S. Sanctions Targeting Russia’s Financial Sector, Authors: Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Roya Motazedi, Zachary C. Rozen, Samantha Franks, 2/24/2022
    • Russia Invades and the West Reacts: U.S. Government Intensifies Sanctions and Export Controls Against Russia, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Benjamin J. Cote, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Roya Motazedi, Zachary C. Rozen, Toochi L. Ngwangwa, Samantha Franks, 2/24/2022
    • S. Government Continues to Ratchet Up Pressure Against Myanmar – The Latest Steps, Authors: Christopher R. Wall, Stephan E. Becker, Aaron R. Hutman, Roya Motazedi, Zachary C. Rozen, 3/12/2021
    • China Tensions Persevere: Trump Issues Executive Order Prohibiting U.S. Investments in Chinese Companies, Authors: By Christopher R. Wall, Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Roya Motazedi, 11/15/2020
    • U.S. Steps Up Pressure on Iran with Sanctions on Additional Financial Institutions and Continuation of Arms Embargo, Authors: Christopher R. Wall, Nancy A. Fischer, Stephan E. Becker, Aaron R. Hutman, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Sahar J. Hafeez, Roya Motazedi, Toochi L. Ngwangwa, 10/12/2020
    • House and Senate pass NDAA bills that include expanded U.S. sanctions on Nord Stream 2 pipeline construction and State Department expands CAATSA Section 232 guidance on export energy pipelines, Authors: Christopher R. Wall, Nancy A. Fischer, Stephan E. Becker, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Roya Motazedi, Stephanie T. Rosenberg, 8/12/2020
    • The United States No Longer Considers Hong Kong Autonomous from China, Setting the Stage for Rule Changes that Could Disrupt Trade and Economic Relations, Authors: Christopher R. Wall, Stephan E. Becker; Aaron R. Hutman, Benjamin J. Cote, Roya Motazedi, 5/29/2020
    • Key Takeaways from CFIUS Final Rules Implementing FIRRMA, Authors: Christopher R. Wall, Nancy A. Fischer, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Roya Motazedi, Zachary C. Rozen, 1/15/2020
    • New Proposed CFIUS Regulations Implementing FIRRMA, Authors: Christopher R. Wall, Nancy A. Fischer, Aaron R. Hutman, Matthew R. Rabinowitz, Jorge Vera, Roya Motazedi, 9/23/2019
    • U.S. and EU Propose Steep Tariffs in Connection with Long-Running Parallel Disputes over Disputed Subsidies to Airbus and Boeing, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Nancy A. Fischer, Sahar J. Hafeez, Roya Motazedi, 4/30/2019
    • U.S. State Department Implements Title III of Helms-Burton Act Permitting Lawsuits Over Seized Properties in Cuba, Authors: Stephan E. Becker, Christopher R. Wall, Nancy A. Fischer, Sahar J. Hafeez, Roya Motazedi, 4/18/2019

Education

  • J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2017

    B.A., International Relations, University of Maryland, 2012

Admissions

  • Virginia

    District of Columbia

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Languages

  • Japanese

    Farsi

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