William McGlone is of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins. He retired from the partnership in December 2020. He is former Co-Chair of the Export Controls, Economic Sanctions & Customs Practice, and has been a leading US practitioner in the field of export controls and economic sanctions. He advises clients on legal, policy, and enforcement issues arising under United States export controls, trade and economic sanctions, and other laws governing cross-border transactions.
William has counseled and represented clients on legal and policy issues arising under various legal regimes that govern international trade, technology transfers, investment, and cross-border business activities. He has advised on sanctions administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), US antiboycott laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and multilateral trade controls. William's work in these areas has involved analysis of proposed transactions and business relationships; securing government approvals; due diligence in mergers and acquisitions; design, implementation, and review of compliance programs; training; internal investigations and voluntary disclosures; and responding to government investigations and enforcement actions.
With a strong industry focus on aerospace, defense, energy, and high technology, William's practice included strategic analysis and advice on the extraterritorial reach of US laws. He and his team also helped clients to manage important ancillary issues, including corporate governance, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosures, risk management, and public relations that arise in connection with the work described above. These capabilities have become increasingly important in the present regulatory and enforcement climate, and they are enhanced by the depth of the firm's practices in related areas, including white collar, SEC disclosure and enforcement, government contracts, satellite and aerospace technology, and practice before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
William has been consistently recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, and Washingtonian as one of the top-tier lawyers in the areas of export controls, economic sanctions, and international trade. He is a former Chair of the Committee on Export Controls and Economic Sanctions of the American Bar Association's Section of International Law and Practice. He has written numerous articles on export controls, trade sanctions, the FCPA, and antiboycott laws. At the time of his retirement, William was a frequent speaker on these issues, and co-chaired the American Conference Institute's annual flagship conference on export controls for more than a decade.
He has authored several articles related to his practice. A selection of his works include:
- Co-author, “US Expands Venezuela Sanctions: Three Key Questions Answered,” Client Alert, August 2019
- Co-author, “OFAC’s 5 Essential Components of an Effective Sanctions Compliance Program,” Client Alert, May 2019
- Co-author, “10 Things to Know: US Allows Lawsuits Relating to ‘Trafficking’ in Confiscated Property in Cuba,” Client Alert, May 2019
- Co-author, “OFAC Imposes Comprehensive Sanctions on Venezuela's State Oil Company, PdVSA,” Client Alert, Jan. 2019
- Co-author, “OFAC Adds Venezuela Media Company and Others to US Sanctions List,” Client Alert, Jan. 2019
- Co-author, “Top 10 Things to Know About Expanded US Sanctions on Iran,” Client Alert, Nov. 2018
- Co-author, “EU Responds to the Snap-Back of US Sanctions Against Iran: Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” Client Alert, Aug. 2018
- Co-author, “Top 10 Things to Know About President Trump's Decision to Withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Agreement,” Client Alert, May 2018
- Co-author, “US Treasury Department’s New Designations Under the Russia-Related Sanctions: 3 Key Takeaways,” Client Alert, April 2018
- Co-author, “Venezuela Restructuring: A Long Road Ahead?,” Client Alert, Nov. 2017
- Co-author, “The Trump Administration's New Venezuela Sanctions: Top 10 Takeaways,” Client Alert, Aug. 2017
- Co-author, “Expanded Russia, Iran, and North Korea Sanctions: Top 10 Takeaways,” Client Alert, Aug. 2017
- Co-author, “Among Final Actions, Obama Administration Suspends Core of US Sanctions Against Sudan,” Client Alert, Jan. 2017
- Co-author, “Dangers of Dealing with Sanctioned Countries,” The Recorder (LECD/ALM), Oct. 2010
- “Avoiding Problems Under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, US Antiboycott Laws, OFAC Sanctions, Export Controls and the Economic Espionage Act,” International Quarterly, Jan. 2004
- Co-author, “United States Control of Domestic Technology Transfers - The Deemed Export Rule,” The California International Practitioner, 2003
- “International Legal Developments in Review: Economic Sanctions and Export Controls,” The International Lawyer, Summer 2001 and Summer 2000
- Co-author, “Learning All the Lessons of Export Controls,” The Journal of Commerce, March 2000
- “US Regulation of Overseas Business Activities,” International Quarterly, Jan. 1999
- Co-author, “Fighting Foreign Corruption: Multilateral Efforts Can Create Level Playing Field,” Washington Legal Foundation, March 1997