Tatman R. Savio is a partner with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (a limited liability partnership registered under the laws of Texas, U.S.A.). Following almost nine years in the firm’s Washington D.C. office, she has been based in Akin Gump’s Hong Kong office since 2015.Tatman focuses her practice on the application of U.S. law to non-U.S. entities and operations, particularly with respect to global investigations and compliance with U.S. sanctions, export controls and anticorruption laws.
Tatman provides compliance counseling and support to clients on a range of issues related to export control, sanctions, and anticorruption laws. In this regard, she helps clients evaluate and meet their compliance obligations by analyzing legal requirements and trade policy initiatives that intersect with her clients’ business interests.
She also assists clients with preparing license applications, advisory opinion requests, classification requests and commodity jurisdiction requests to relevant U.S. government agencies.In addition, Tatman has significant experience conducting compliance reviews to assess the exposure of companies in relation to international trade laws. In connection with undertaking compliance assessments, Tatman works with both U.S. and non-U.S. companies to design, build, improve, and implement compliance programs that are tailored to address the areas of legal risk presented by their business operations.
She also develops training presentations and seminars on a variety of international trade control topics, which she has delivered throughout the Asia Pacific region, including in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. A key focus of Tatman’s practice is representing companies and individuals in government and corporate internal investigations.
She has conducted dozens of internal investigations, many of which have resulted in voluntary self-disclosures to relevant government agencies. Specifically, she has experience representing clients in investigations and enforcement proceedings involving the following U.S. government agencies:
- Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
- Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)
- Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
- Department of Justice (DOJ).
Tatman also manages national security reviews conducted by CFIUS under the Exon-Florio law and advises on the impact of CFIUS reforms under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA). Moreover, she assists clients with cross-border transactions by conducting due diligence and developing strategies to mitigate international trade compliance liabilities.
Prior to joining Akin Gump, Tatman clerked for the Honorable Lawrence E. Meyers of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. She also served as a summer law clerk on the House Committee on Homeland Security and worked as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency.
Experience:
- Represents clients in U.S. government investigations, internal investigations, and compliance matters, including with respect to U.S. sanctions, export controls and anti-corruption issues.
- Manages national security reviews by the Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
- Counsels clients on the extra-territorial impact of U.S. law and policy affecting international trade and business.
Representative Work:
- Analyzed potential CFIUS implications and successfully managed CFIUS review of various mergers and divestitures in a range of industries, including the aerospace, defense, oil and gas, and technology sectors.
- For private equity firms, conducted due diligence concerning anticorruption and trade-related matters for potential investments in China, India and South Korea. Also evaluated and developed compliance policies for the firms’ portfolio companies.
- Represented a non-U.S. energy and infrastructure company in connection with a World Bank investigation related to a contract for a project in an African nation.
- Represented a senior executive in a Chinese company as part of an ongoing investigation by the DOJ, BIS and OFAC.
- Provided on-site legal support on international trade issues to a Fortune 50 technology company at its Hong Kong office, with responsibility for a range of issues, including licensing, audit and general compliance program management in jurisdictions throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Affiliations:
- Mentor, The Women’s Foundation’s Mentoring Program.
- Curation Committee, Tedx Tin Hau Women Hong Kong
- International Pro Bono Committee, Akin Gump.
- Steering Committee of Women’s Professional Development Initiative, Akin Gump.
- Member, Association of Women in International Trade.
- Vice-Chair, Trade and Investment Committee, American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Hong Kong.
- Women of Influence Committee, American Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong.
Education:
- J.D., University of Texas School of Law, with honors, 2005
- B.A., University of Virginia, with highest distinction, 2000
Clerkships:
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeal
Bar Admissions:
- District of Columbia
- Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong
Cost
Rate : $$$
