Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro is a partner in Crowell & Moring's Washington, D.C. office. Jana counsels clients with respect to U.S. export controls and economic sanctions, with a focus on technology and software transfers. She works with U.S. and non-U.S. clients on all aspects of export compliance, including day-to-day compliance counseling, developing compliance programs, completing commodity jurisdiction and classification analysis, conducting export trainings, and performing M&A due diligence and coordinating related regulatory submissions. Jana works with clients across a broad range of industries, from traditional aerospace and defense manufacturers and multi-national software companies, to start-ups in the technology sector, and she regularly represents them before the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury in responding to government inquiries, conducting internal investigations, and in voluntary disclosures and enforcement proceedings.
As part of her practice, Jana regularly:
- Analyzes and advises U.S. and non-U.S. companies with respect to proposed transfers of U.S. origin technology, software, or hardware.
- Performs jurisdictional and classification analyses under the ITAR and EAR, including drafting and submission of CJ and CCATS requests.
- Develops and/or reviews U.S. export and sanctions compliance programs.
- Represents clients with respect to voluntary self-disclosures to the Departments of State, Commerce, and Treasury, as well as EAR 764.5 waiver requests.
- Performs M&A trade due diligence for both buy side and sell side clients, specifically on issues related to compliance with U.S. export controls and sanctions programs.
- Counsels ITAR-registered companies on M&A regulatory requirements (60-day and five-day notices to DDTC under the ITAR) and transfer of DDTC and BIS authorizations.
Representative Matters
- Regularly performs encryption classification analyses, submits commodity classification requests, oversees submission of license applications, and counsels on compliance with Department of Commerce encryption reporting requirements for Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 software and technology companies.
- Regularly counsels large multinational software developers with respect to cross-border sales of software and the provision of cloud-based software services in compliance with U.S. export controls and sanctions laws, and successfully obtained Department of Commerce export licenses to support non-U.S. customer activity.
- Developed global sanctions and export compliance programs for distributed database technology company, including procedures for determining applicability of U.S. encryption controls and for controlling technology and source code transfers.
- Represented Fortune 100 information technology company in voluntary disclosure to the Department of Commerce for unauthorized exports of U.S. origin software.
- Assisted international consulting and professional services company with classification of cyber security software solutions, with a focus on USML Category XIII(b) and encryption controls under the EAR, and drafted tailored compliance policies and training.
- Prepared commodity classification request for forensic software company, and prepared related voluntary disclosure and waiver request to BIS.
- Analyzed export classification and submitted commodity jurisdiction requests for defense simulation, training, and modeling software.
- Analyzed export classification of multi-axis rate tables and prepared successful commodity classification request for reclassification of rate tables and related technology, and provided general export compliance counseling regarding exports of rates tables in compliance with EAR Part 744 restrictions.
- Developed export compliance program for international methanol and petrochemical manufacturers with U.S. operations, and provided counseling on compliance with U.S. export and sanctions requirements.
Jana received a B.A. in history from the University of Virginia. She graduated with honors from the American University's Washington College of Law and received an M.A. in international affairs from the School of International Service.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, Virginia
Recent Highlights, News & Knowledge
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"White House Issues Executive Order Prohibiting Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies,"
International Trade Bulletin
(November 17, 2020).
Contacts: Caroline E. Brown, Evan Y. Chuck, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Robert Holleyman, David (Dj) Wolff
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Client Alert / Newsletter |
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"International Trade and M&A: Due Diligence Considerations," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(October 29, 2020).
Presenters: Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, David (Dj) Wolff, Chandler S. Leonard, Nimrah Najeeb, and Maria Vanikiotis.
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Speech/Presentation |
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"Supply Chain Matters and Globalization in the Time of Continuing Trade Wars," OOPS 20/20 - Setting Your Sights
(October 19, 2020).
Presenters: Adelicia R. Cliffe, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, and Himamauli Das.
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Speech/Presentation |
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Commerce Expands Export License Human Rights Criteria
— Law360 (October 6, 2020)
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Media Mentions |
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"CFIUS Mandatory Declarations – Bye, Bye NAICS Codes; Hello "Regulatory Authorizations","
Government Contracts Bullet Points
(September 15, 2020).
Contacts: Alan W. H. Gourley, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Adelicia R. Cliffe, Caroline E. Brown
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Client Alert / Newsletter |
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"Export Controls for Government Contractors," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(September 15, 2020).
Presenters: Adelicia R. Cliffe, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Stephanie L. Crawford, and Chandler S. Leonard.
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Speech/Presentation |
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"How To Prepare For CFIUS-Related Questions From Potential Investors,"
Foreign Investment Watch
(September 1, 2020).
Authors: Adelicia R. Cliffe, and Maria Alejandra del-Cerro.
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Publication |
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"Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Launches the "Foundational Technologies" Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR),"
International Trade Bulletin
(August 31, 2020).
Contacts: Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Alan W. H. Gourley, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Chandler S. Leonard
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Client Alert / Newsletter |
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"BIS Publishes Final "Direct Product" Rule for Huawei and Entity List Compliance Obligation Clarifications,"
International Trade Bulletin
(August 21, 2020).
Contacts: Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Alan W. H. Gourley, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Brian McGrath
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Client Alert / Newsletter |
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"Handling Violations & Voluntary Disclosures," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(August 18, 2020).
Presenters: Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Robert Clifton Burns, and Chandler S. Leonard.
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Speech/Presentation |