Chandler S. Leonard

Associate | She/Her/Hers

Overview

Chandler S. Leonard is an associate in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm’s International Trade Group. Chandler’s practice focuses on export controls and economic sanctions issues, including voluntary disclosures and enforcement matters before the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury. Chandler has experience analyzing and advising U.S. and non-U.S. companies with respect to proposed transfers of U.S. origin technology, software, hardware, and services. She has performed jurisdictional and classification analyses under the ITAR and EAR, including drafting Commodity Jurisdiction requests and CJ Reconsideration requests. She assists in developing and/or reviewing U.S. export and sanctions compliance programs, including risk assessments. Chandler also has experience training a wide variety of audiences, both U.S. and foreign, on compliance with U.S. export control and sanctions requirements.

Chandler is a former compliance case officer with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) at the U.S. Department of State, where she managed politically high-profile and complex investigations of ITAR violations involving companies in a range of industries, from large defense contractors to small companies in the emerging technology field. While at DDTC, she oversaw a multinational conglomerate’s efforts to satisfy the requirements of an administrative settlement agreement and bring the consent agreement to conclusion. Chandler also participated in complicated regulatory and policy matters in the advisory opinion process, including issues related to defense services, mergers and acquisitions in foreign countries’ defense industry, and cloud computing. She also engaged in DDTC liaison with law enforcement agencies, federal prosecutors, and the intelligence community.

Chandler is most recently a former sanctions compliance officer with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the U.S. Treasury Department, where she lead complex and high-profile investigations of apparent sanctions violators within the regulated financial sector, including U.S. financial institutions and foreign financial institutions. Chandler also brings in-house experience with navigating complex export control issues, including internal investigations and audits, for a large defense contractor.

Career & Education

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    • Department of State
      Senior Compliance Specialist, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, 20162018
    • Department of the Treasury
      Sanctions Compliance Officer, Office of Foreign Assets Control, 20182020
    • Department of State
      Senior Compliance Specialist, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, 20162018
    • Department of the Treasury
      Sanctions Compliance Officer, Office of Foreign Assets Control, 20182020
    • Midwestern State University, B.A., magna cum laude, international studies and political science, 2008
    • George Mason University School of Law, J.D., 2013
    • Midwestern State University, B.A., magna cum laude, international studies and political science, 2008
    • George Mason University School of Law, J.D., 2013
    • District of Columbia
    • Maryland
    • District of Columbia
    • Maryland

Chandler's Insights

Client Alert | 6 min read | 05.02.24

DDTC Publishes Proposed ITAR Amendments to Enhance AUKUS Defense Trade

On May 1, 2024, the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published a proposed rule that, if implemented, would streamline defense trade between and among Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States in furtherance of the trilateral security partnership (the “AUKUS” partnership). DDTC issued the proposed rule pursuant to new authorities and requirements contained in Section 1343 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 which, in part, directs the Department of State to immediately implement an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) exemption, subject to certain statutory limitations, for the UK and Australia if State determines and certifies that each has implemented (1) a system of export controls comparable to those of the United States and (2) a comparable exemption from its export controls for the United States. According to DDTC, the proposed rule “prepare[s] for a future exemption” and solicits public feedback “to shape a final rule following any positive certification.”...

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Chandler's Insights

Client Alert | 6 min read | 05.02.24

DDTC Publishes Proposed ITAR Amendments to Enhance AUKUS Defense Trade

On May 1, 2024, the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published a proposed rule that, if implemented, would streamline defense trade between and among Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States in furtherance of the trilateral security partnership (the “AUKUS” partnership). DDTC issued the proposed rule pursuant to new authorities and requirements contained in Section 1343 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 which, in part, directs the Department of State to immediately implement an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) exemption, subject to certain statutory limitations, for the UK and Australia if State determines and certifies that each has implemented (1) a system of export controls comparable to those of the United States and (2) a comparable exemption from its export controls for the United States. According to DDTC, the proposed rule “prepare[s] for a future exemption” and solicits public feedback “to shape a final rule following any positive certification.”...