Michael Wain serves as a senior policy advisor in Akin’s international trade practice, offering strategic guidance on global trade regulations, compliance frameworks, and enforcement matters tied to U.S. economic sanctions and export controls. His expertise particularly benefits clients in the maritime, energy, and financial industries, including those involved with digital assets and securities. Drawing from extensive government experience, Wain supports clients navigating complex regulatory landscapes, including legislative analysis and engagement with Capitol Hill, foreign governments, and industry stakeholders on issues involving anti-money laundering and trade policy.
Prior to joining Akin, Wain held the role of Deputy Assistant Director for Policy at the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), where he oversaw more than a dozen sanctions programs focused on regions including the Middle East and Asia, as well as transnational concerns like cyber threats. In that capacity, he developed advanced sanctions strategies and represented the agency on high-stakes national security and economic matters, particularly regarding China. He also served as a Senior Sanctions Policy Advisor, leading efforts to implement measures in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, crafting investment restrictions targeting Chinese military-affiliated firms, and contributing to initiatives such as Hong Kong-related sanctions and enhanced actions against North Korea and global corruption and human rights violations.
Earlier in his career, Wain worked as a Deputy Team Chief and Senior Advisor within the nonproliferation bureau at the U.S. Department of State. There, he helped launch technical initiatives to strengthen international enforcement of sanctions and negotiated agreements to promote bilateral and regional cooperation aimed at curbing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. His background in legislative affairs and high-level economic and security policy positions him as a trusted resource for organizations operating in regulated sectors.
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Michael Wain, Senior Policy Advisor, International Trade
Michael is a senior policy advisor in the firm’s international trade practice advising clients in various international trade, enforcement, and compliance issues related to U.S. economic sanctions and export controls, with a focus on the maritime, energy, and financial sectors, including digital assets and securities. At Akin, he draws on his deep experience developing and implementing U.S. economic sanctions and engaging with industry, foreign governments, and Capitol Hill to assist clients on matters involving sanctions as well as international trade policy and anti-money laundering, including through analysis of legislation. n nMichael previously served as Deputy Assistant Director for Policy at OFAC, where he managed over a dozen economic sanctions programs related to the Middle East, Asia, and global topics such as cyber threats, and designed complex sanctions options and represented the agency to advance strategy toward sensitive national security and economic issues related to China. He also previously served as a Senior Sanctions Policy Advisor where he implemented sanctions in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, novel and complex investment restrictions on Chinese military companies, and other initiatives such as developing Hong Kong-related sanctions and enhancing sanctions with respect to North Korea and global human rights abuse and corruption. n nEarlier in his career, he served as a Deputy Team Chief and Senior Advisor in the U.S. State Department’s nonproliferation bureau, overseeing the launch of technical programs to improve international sanctions implementation and new agreements to pursue bilateral and regional cooperation to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. His experience in sensitive international and economic policy and national security issues and legislative affairs make him a trusted advisor to clients navigating the U.S. sanctions and export control arena.