John E. Smith, former Director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), is co-head of Morrison Foerster’s National Security practice. Mr. Smith served as acting Under Secretary and Director, Deputy Director, and Associate Director of OFAC during his 11-year tenure at the Treasury Department. He also previously served as the only American on a UN Security Council panel of experts charged with monitoring the implementation of global terrorism sanctions and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Justice Department where he defended federal agencies including OFAC in challenges to significant government programs and statutes and acted as the lead trial counsel defending challenges to the terrorist asset freezing program implemented by OFAC following September 11, 2001.

Both in the United States and globally, clients turn to John for his deep experience and unique perspective on the complexities and escalating risk of U.S. and multilateral sanctions. He is a trusted advisor for clients navigating significant enforcement actions by U.S. and other government prosecutors and regulators.