Global law firm Orrick has grown its international trade team with the addition of Jeanine McGuinness as a partner in Washington this month.

McGuinness joins from international law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, where she held the position of counsel for seven years and prior to this was an associate for seven years.

Her practice areas include US trade and investment laws impacting cross-border transactions, with a focus on US economic sanctions, anti-money laundering laws and transaction reviews by US national security agencies, including the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS).

McGuinness reports to Harry Clark, head of Orrick’s international trade and compliance group.

“Intensification of the challenges presented by national security regulation of international trade and investment has gone from gradual to acute in recent years. We are delighted to add a top talent like Jeanine to our International trade and compliance team as clients need ever more sophisticated, authoritative support in this area,” says Clark.

Orrick is focused on serving the energy and infrastructure, finance and technology sectors globally, with more than 25 offices worldwide.

US sanctions on international trade are at an all-time high. The US’ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned almost 40% more entities – which include people, companies and geographies – compared to five years ago, finds research by financial compliance software provider Accuity. Data from November 2019 shows there were 8,957 entities included on the OFAC list. This high figure no doubt proves challenging to US firms looking to move products across borders, particularly as any entities owned 50% or more by a sanctioned entity must also be blocked, according to OFAC.