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Dilan Wickrema

Associate | He/Him/His
Associate | He/Him/His
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VCard
VCard

Areas of Focus

Overview

Dilan Wickrema advises clients with respect to U.S. export controls, economic sanctions, the foreign military sales process, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and related investigations. Dilan leverages his experience from his various roles at the intersection of international trade and national security in the federal government to ensure clients meet their cross-border transaction goals while complying with the applicable laws and regulations. Previously, Dilan served in the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the International Trade Administration.

Most recently, while attending law school at night, Dilan was a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Regulatory and Multilateral Affairs Division of DDTC’s Office of Policy at the U.S. Department of State. At DDTC, Dilan was responsible for developing revisions to the ITAR, issuing authoritative interpretations of the ITAR (advisory opinions), supporting criminal prosecution of ITAR violations, CFIUS and export control integration efforts, and working with U.S. allies and partners to resolve defense trade matters of mutual concern.

While in law school, Dilan was the editor-in-chief of the National Security Law Journal.

Career & Education

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    • Department of State
      Foreign Affairs Officer, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, 2019 – 2023
    • Department of Commerce
      Analyst, Bureau of Industry and Security, 2018 – 2019
      Special Assistant to Under Secretary, International Trade Administration, 2018
      Analyst, International Trade Administration, 2016 – 2018
    • Department of State
      Foreign Affairs Officer, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, 2019 – 2023
    • Department of Commerce
      Analyst, Bureau of Industry and Security, 2018 – 2019
      Special Assistant to Under Secretary, International Trade Administration, 2018
      Analyst, International Trade Administration, 2016 – 2018

  • Representative Government Experience

    • Advised U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies, private entities, and academic institutions on interpreting and ensuring compliance with U.S. export controls.
    • Assisted and advised the United States Department of Justice, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls Office of Compliance, and federal law enforcement agencies on prosecuting ITAR and Arms Export Control Act violations.
    • Conducted week-long seminars to train thousands of U.S. and non-U.S. stakeholders on U.S. export controls and the foreign military sales process.
    • Represented the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce in bilateral and multilateral forums and at National Security Council Policy Coordination Committee meetings.
    • Led section 232 investigations on the effects of imports on national security.

    Representative Firm Experience

    • Seconded to a Fortune 15 U.S. technology company to serve as in-house export control counsel, providing daily guidance on export control compliance and investigation matters.
    • Supported internal investigation and subsequent voluntary disclosure to the Department of Commerce for unauthorized exports of U.S.-origin technology.
    • Regularly counsels large multinational companies with respect to cross-border sales of controlled goods and technologies, use of export control exemptions, and preparation of license applications.
    • Developed export compliance program for a Fortune 500 company that furnishes defense services.
    • Conducted buy-side government contract acquisition diligence for a private equity firm.

    Representative Government Experience

    • Advised U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies, private entities, and academic institutions on interpreting and ensuring compliance with U.S. export controls.
    • Assisted and advised the United States Department of Justice, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls Office of Compliance, and federal law enforcement agencies on prosecuting ITAR and Arms Export Control Act violations.
    • Conducted week-long seminars to train thousands of U.S. and non-U.S. stakeholders on U.S. export controls and the foreign military sales process.
    • Represented the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce in bilateral and multilateral forums and at National Security Council Policy Coordination Committee meetings.
    • Led section 232 investigations on the effects of imports on national security.

    Representative Firm Experience

    • Seconded to a Fortune 15 U.S. technology company to serve as in-house export control counsel, providing daily guidance on export control compliance and investigation matters.
    • Supported internal investigation and subsequent voluntary disclosure to the Department of Commerce for unauthorized exports of U.S.-origin technology.
    • Regularly counsels large multinational companies with respect to cross-border sales of controlled goods and technologies, use of export control exemptions, and preparation of license applications.
    • Developed export compliance program for a Fortune 500 company that furnishes defense services.
    • Conducted buy-side government contract acquisition diligence for a private equity firm.

    • George Mason University, B.A.
    • George Mason University, M.A.
    • George Mason University, J.D.
    • George Mason University, B.A.
    • George Mason University, M.A.
    • George Mason University, J.D.

    • District of Columbia
    • District of Columbia

Dilan 's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.26.24

CFIUS Proposes Enhanced Enforcement and Mitigation Rules and Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

On April 11, 2024, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS” or the “Committee”) announced proposed amendments to its enforcement and mitigation regulations, marking the first substantive update to CFIUS’s mitigation and enforcement provisions since the enactment of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018.  The Committee issued a notice of proposed rulemaking ("NPRM”) that would modify the regulations that apply to certain investments and acquisitions, as well as real estate transactions, by foreign persons as follows:...

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Representative Matters

Representative Government Experience

  • Advised U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies, private entities, and academic institutions on interpreting and ensuring compliance with U.S. export controls.
  • Assisted and advised the United States Department of Justice, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls Office of Compliance, and federal law enforcement agencies on prosecuting ITAR and Arms Export Control Act violations.
  • Conducted week-long seminars to train thousands of U.S. and non-U.S. stakeholders on U.S. export controls and the foreign military sales process.
  • Represented the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce in bilateral and multilateral forums and at National Security Council Policy Coordination Committee meetings.
  • Led section 232 investigations on the effects of imports on national security.

Representative Firm Experience

  • Seconded to a Fortune 15 U.S. technology company to serve as in-house export control counsel, providing daily guidance on export control compliance and investigation matters.
  • Supported internal investigation and subsequent voluntary disclosure to the Department of Commerce for unauthorized exports of U.S.-origin technology.
  • Regularly counsels large multinational companies with respect to cross-border sales of controlled goods and technologies, use of export control exemptions, and preparation of license applications.
  • Developed export compliance program for a Fortune 500 company that furnishes defense services.
  • Regularly counsels entities on ITAR brokering registration and authorization requirements.
  • Conducted buy-side government contract acquisition diligence for a private equity firm.

Dilan 's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.26.24

CFIUS Proposes Enhanced Enforcement and Mitigation Rules and Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

On April 11, 2024, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS” or the “Committee”) announced proposed amendments to its enforcement and mitigation regulations, marking the first substantive update to CFIUS’s mitigation and enforcement provisions since the enactment of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018.  The Committee issued a notice of proposed rulemaking ("NPRM”) that would modify the regulations that apply to certain investments and acquisitions, as well as real estate transactions, by foreign persons as follows:...

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Recognition

  • Superior Honor Award, United States Department of State (2023)
  • Meritorious Honor Award, United States Department of State (2016, 2019 – 2022)
  • Gold Medal, United States Department of Commerce (2018)
  • Charles Meissner Award, United States International Trade Administration (2018)

Dilan 's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.26.24

CFIUS Proposes Enhanced Enforcement and Mitigation Rules and Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

On April 11, 2024, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS” or the “Committee”) announced proposed amendments to its enforcement and mitigation regulations, marking the first substantive update to CFIUS’s mitigation and enforcement provisions since the enactment of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018.  The Committee issued a notice of proposed rulemaking ("NPRM”) that would modify the regulations that apply to certain investments and acquisitions, as well as real estate transactions, by foreign persons as follows:...

View All Insights

Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.26.24

CFIUS Proposes Enhanced Enforcement and Mitigation Rules and Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

Blog Post | 04.22.24

BIS Streamlines Export Controls for Transfers to and Among Australia and the UK

Speaking Engagement | 04.17.24

"Cross-Border Considerations for Government Contractors," OOPS 2024: Government Contracts Weathering a Dynamic Forecast, Washington, D.C.

Blog Post | 03.19.24

BIS and DDTC Amendments Add Nicaragua to EAR Country Group D and ITAR § 126.1
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Practices

Dilan 's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.26.24

CFIUS Proposes Enhanced Enforcement and Mitigation Rules and Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

On April 11, 2024, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS” or the “Committee”) announced proposed amendments to its enforcement and mitigation regulations, marking the first substantive update to CFIUS’s mitigation and enforcement provisions since the enactment of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018.  The Committee issued a notice of proposed rulemaking ("NPRM”) that would modify the regulations that apply to certain investments and acquisitions, as well as real estate transactions, by foreign persons as follows:...

View All Insights