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Erik Woodhouse

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Areas of Focus

Overview

Erik Woodhouse is a partner in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm's International Trade and Financial Services groups, where he provides in-depth experience and practical solutions on sensitive economic sanctions and anti-money laundering matters, informed by his experience in private practice and in government at the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State.

Erik works with U.S. and foreign clients operating across borders on all aspects of these regimes, including developing and assessing compliance programs, advising on complex statutory and regulatory requirements, and leading companies through internal and government investigations. He has worked with major manufacturing and tech companies with global operations, multinational banks, investment funds and other financial services firms, and digital assets and virtual currency companies, collaborating with Crowell’s cross-disciplinary team that comprises former senior regulators, federal prosecutors, and in-house counsel.

Prior to joining Crowell, Erik served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions at the Department of State, where he played a key role in the Department’s policy development and implementation related to all U.S. country-based sanctions programs and a range of global programs. Erik worked with counterparts across the executive branch to establish and implement new sanctions programs, coordinated U.S. sanctions policy with foreign governments, and engaged with private sector stakeholders on a range of U.S. sanctions priorities. Erik’s prior government experience also includes service at the Department of the Treasury’s Office of International Affairs.

Earlier in his career, Erik worked as a project finance attorney and litigator, as a law clerk for the Honorable M. Margaret McKeown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and as a research fellow at Stanford University’s Program on Energy & Sustainable Development.

Career & Education

    • Department of State
      Deputy Assistant Secretary, Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions, Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs, 2021–2024
      Attorney-Adviser, Treaty Affairs, Office of the Legal Adviser, 2012–2014
      Attorney-Adviser, Human Rights and Refugee Affairs, Office of the Legal Adviser, 2009–2012
    • Department of the Treasury
      Counselor, Office of International Affairs, 2016–2017
      Senior Advisor to Under Secretary for International Affairs, Office of International Affairs, 2014–2016
    • Department of State
      Deputy Assistant Secretary, Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions, Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs, 2021–2024
      Attorney-Adviser, Treaty Affairs, Office of the Legal Adviser, 2012–2014
      Attorney-Adviser, Human Rights and Refugee Affairs, Office of the Legal Adviser, 2009–2012
    • Department of the Treasury
      Counselor, Office of International Affairs, 2016–2017
      Senior Advisor to Under Secretary for International Affairs, Office of International Affairs, 2014–2016

  • The George Washington University School of Law, Professional Lecturer in Law. Course: International Litigation, Spring 2019 and Spring 2020

    Stanford University, Program on Energy & Sustainable Development, Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2004-2005

    The George Washington University School of Law, Professional Lecturer in Law. Course: International Litigation, Spring 2019 and Spring 2020

    Stanford University, Program on Energy & Sustainable Development, Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2004-2005

    • Stanford Law School, J.D., with distinction, 2004
    • Emory University, B.A., 2000
    • Stanford Law School, J.D., with distinction, 2004
    • Emory University, B.A., 2000

    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    • District of Columbia
    • New York

    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • Clerk to Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown, 2005
    • Clerk to Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown, 2006
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • Clerk to Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown, 2005
    • Clerk to Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown, 2006

Erik's Insights

Client Alert | 9 min read | 07.18.25

U.S. Lifts Most Sanctions on Syria in Major Policy Development

On June 30, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14312 effectively lifting (or beginning the process of lifting) most of the sanctions on Syria. Executive Order 14312 cites the leadership changes and the policies of the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as the reasons for the removal of sanctions. On the same day, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of State took steps to implement the termination of the program by, among other actions, delisting appropriate individuals and entities from the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). These actions followed the initial sanctions relief provided on May 23, 2025 by OFAC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the State Department....

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Representative Matters

  • Advised major U.S. multinational company in responding to OFAC investigation and directly managed the internal investigation and team of associates that supported the client’s response.
  • Advised U.S., European and Latin American multinational companies, financial institutions, and insurers on U.S. sanctions rules.
  • Prepared and submitted voluntary self-disclosures and license requests to OFAC.
  • Advised major U.S./European banks, companies, and fintech clients on Bank Secrecy Act compliance, including customer due diligence rule and application of Bank Secrecy Act rules to money services businesses.

Erik's Insights

Client Alert | 9 min read | 07.18.25

U.S. Lifts Most Sanctions on Syria in Major Policy Development

On June 30, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14312 effectively lifting (or beginning the process of lifting) most of the sanctions on Syria. Executive Order 14312 cites the leadership changes and the policies of the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as the reasons for the removal of sanctions. On the same day, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of State took steps to implement the termination of the program by, among other actions, delisting appropriate individuals and entities from the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). These actions followed the initial sanctions relief provided on May 23, 2025 by OFAC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the State Department....

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Insights

Client Alert | 9 min read | 07.18.25

U.S. Lifts Most Sanctions on Syria in Major Policy Development

Client Alert | 10 min read | 07.03.25

Focus on Transnational Cartels Continues: FinCEN Targets Three Mexican Financial Institutions with Special Measures, Restricting Their Access to U.S. Financial System

Speaking Engagement | 06.05.25

"Trump 2.0 Sanctions Policy and Trade Posture, the Impact on European Multinationals and New Compliance Realities – What’s New and Next for Global Sanctions and Export Controls?," C5's European Forum on Global Economic Sanctions

Speaking Engagement | 06.03.25

Navigating U.S. & EU Sanctions and De-mystifying U.S. Tariffs for European Companies," Crowell & Moring Seminar, Brussels, Belgium.

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Practices

Erik's Insights

Client Alert | 9 min read | 07.18.25

U.S. Lifts Most Sanctions on Syria in Major Policy Development

On June 30, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14312 effectively lifting (or beginning the process of lifting) most of the sanctions on Syria. Executive Order 14312 cites the leadership changes and the policies of the new Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa as the reasons for the removal of sanctions. On the same day, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of State took steps to implement the termination of the program by, among other actions, delisting appropriate individuals and entities from the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). These actions followed the initial sanctions relief provided on May 23, 2025 by OFAC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the State Department....

View All Insights