Senior Trade & National Security Attorney

DLA Piper; Tacoma (WA); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

DLA Piper seeks a senior attorney to join its National Security Global Trade practice in our Washington, DC office. The ideal candidate has 4–7 years of relevant legal experience in international trade compliance, export controls, or sanctions, and will work on due diligence for corporate transactions.

This non-partner track role emphasizes regulatory analysis, cross-functional collaboration with deal teams, and the development of trade diligence playbooks in a hybrid in-office environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4–7 years of relevant legal experience in international trade compliance, export controls, economic sanctions, or a closely related practice area.
• Demonstrated experience conducting trade compliance due diligence in the context of M&A or other corporate transactions.
• Strong working knowledge of the EAR, ITAR, OFAC sanctions regulations, and customs laws.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deliver high-quality work product under demanding deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable advice.

Responsibilities

• Trade Diligence: Lead and support due diligence reviews for corporate transactions (M&A, EGVC, PE, Investment Funds) involving global trade compliance risks, including export controls (EAR, ITAR), economic sanctions (OFAC), and customs regulations.
• Risk Assessment: Identify, analyze, and communicate trade compliance risks and liabilities uncovered during diligence, and develop practical remediation strategies for integration planning; seek specialist input as needed.
• Corporate Workflow Support: Assist with broader corporate transactional workflow, including drafting and reviewing transaction documents, disclosure schedules, representations and warranties, and compliance-related provisions.
• Regulatory Analysis: Monitor and advise on developments in U.S. and international trade and enforcement trends that may affect ongoing transactions or portfolio companies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with deal teams and outside counsel to ensure seamless execution of trade diligence workstreams within broader transaction timelines.
• Policy & Process Development: Contribute to the development and refinement of trade diligence playbooks, checklists, templates, and standard operating procedures to enhance team efficiency and consistency.

Skills

International trade compliance

Export controls

Economic sanctions

Due diligence

Regulatory analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

JD from an accredited law school

Job description

DLA Piper seeks a senior attorney to join its National Security Global Trade practice in our Washington, DC office. The ideal candidate has 4–7 years of relevant legal experience in international trade compliance, export controls, or sanctions, and will work on due diligence for corporate transactions.

This non-partner track role emphasizes regulatory analysis, cross-functional collaboration with deal teams, and the development of trade diligence playbooks in a hybrid in-office environment.