Erich Ferrari

Mr. Ferrari’s main areas of practice are assisting clients to comply with and address issues related to U.S. economic sanctions. In this capacity he works extensively on issues arising before the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). 

OFAC Representation

In his OFAC practice, Mr. Ferrari represents both private individuals and entities in various parts of the U.S. and in numerous countries around the world.

Mr. Ferrari’s representations before OFAC frequently involve licensing matters and investigations concerning the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, and the Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions Regulations. As part of these representations, Mr. Ferrari has worked to have individuals' names removed from OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals list, answer administrative subpoenas issued during the course of an OFAC investigation, procured OFAC specific licenses to engage in transactions prohibited by OFAC regulations, drafted voluntary self-disclosures to report OFAC violations, developed and implemented OFAC compliance programs for international trade companies, and provided general counseling on OFAC related issues.

Mr. Ferrari actively writes on OFAC administered trade sanctions and has been published on the matter. In addition, he is often called upon by media outlets to speak on U.S. trade sanctions issues. He has been interviewed on OFAC related issues by CNN, Time Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the BBC. He is the founder and author of a U.S. economic sanctions blog: .

Civil Litigation

Mr. Ferrari also has served as lead counsel in a number of civil litgation matters involving the federal government. Most notably, he has been involved in lawsuits against OFAC for SDN Reconsiderations, and for blocking of assets due to U.S. economic sanctions programs.  These representations include federal appeals of OFAC SDN designations under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.  In addition, he has represented parties whose assets have been seized for forfeiture in part because of their alleged connection to parties on the OFAC SDN List.

Federal Criminal Defense

Mr. Ferrari has served as lead trial counsel on a number of complex federal white collar defense cases. He is a seasoned litigator and also has a masterful understanding of both pre-trial and post-trial procedures.

Amongst other matters, Mr. Ferrari has successfully handled:

1. IEEPA (sanctions) Criminal Cases

2. Mail and Wire Fraud Cases

3. Export Control Violaitons under the Arms Control Export Act

4. Tax fraud

5. Money laundering

6. Drug trafficking/importation

7. Public corruption

8. Federal Appeals

Mr. Ferrari has handled matters throughout the United States, including Maryland, New York, Texas, North Dakota, Florida, California, Virginia and Washington D.C. He also assists clients in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Central and South America.

Bar Admissions and Associations

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Court of Appeals

United States District Court for the District of Columbia

United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

United States District Court for the District of North Dakota

Iranian American Bar Association-National Board of Directors (former)