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Scott Wise

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Areas of Focus

Overview

Scott Wise is a partner in Crowell’s Denver office and a member of the firm’s International Trade Group. His practice focuses on export controls, economic sanctions, and outbound investment issues across industries, with an emphasis on emerging technologies and the technology industry.

Working with established and start-up tech companies, Scott helps clients to develop unique compliance programs that are responsive to the full range of regulations governing the exports of goods and services. He also trains and counsels clients on compliance with relevant export control regulations such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In addition to technology companies, Scott advises companies in the aerospace and aviation, automotive, chemical, defense, electronics, energy, engineering, financial and insurance, manufacturing, professional services, security, and transportation industries, among others.

Prior to joining Crowell, Scott was the Assistant General Counsel for Global Trade at a multinational technology company where he led a consolidated team focusing on export controls, economic sanctions, and outbound investment. He was the lead export controls and economic sanctions attorney for key business groups ranging from emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to aerospace and defense contracts, and to commercial software and gaming. In that role, Scott developed the company’s compliance approach to new regulations governing the export of various  new technologies, including AI, integrated circuits and chips, and quantum computing, which involved coordination between senior government officials and business leaders. Scott also has prior law firm experience in the international trade practice area.

Career & Education

    • Assistant General Counsel, Global Trade, Microsoft, 2023-2025
    • Senior Counsel, Microsoft, 2021-2023
    • Assistant General Counsel, Global Trade, Microsoft, 2023-2025
    • Senior Counsel, Microsoft, 2021-2023

    • Georgetown University Law Center, LLM, International Business and Economic Law, 2012
    • American University Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2011
    • University of Oklahoma, B.A., 2007
      Phi Beta Kappa
    • Georgetown University Law Center, LLM, International Business and Economic Law, 2012
    • American University Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2011
    • University of Oklahoma, B.A., 2007
      Phi Beta Kappa

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

Scott's Insights

Client Alert | 6 min read | 08.12.25

Joint Criminal and Civil Export Controls Enforcement: Lessons from the Cadence Case

On July 28, 2025, Cadence Design Systems Inc. (“Cadence” or “the Company”), a global electronic design automation (“EDA”) technology company based in San Jose, California, agreed to plead guilty in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division (“NSD”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Through its guilty plea, Cadence agreed to resolve charges that it committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (“IP”) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (“NUDT”), a Chinese military university on the U.S. Entity List since 2015 due to its involvement in military and nuclear simulation activities. In addition, Cadence simultaneously resolved a civil enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) related to the same underlying conduct....

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Representative Matters

  • Led analysis of evolving export control regulations and implementation of compliance strategies related to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies for a major multinational company.
  • Led the development of a major multinational company’s EAR, ITAR, and sanctions compliance program. Oversaw the drafting and execution of internal processes and procedures.
  • Obtained licenses from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and Office of Foreign Assets Control to support critical business initiatives of large multinational entities.
  • Represented a large technology company in internal investigations and voluntary self-disclosures related to export controls and sanctions issues. Negotiated settlement agreement with BIS and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on behalf of major U.S. company.
  • Led the response to evolving sanctions and export controls against Russia for multinational companies.
  • Served as external monitor for a non-U.S. subsidiary of a U.S. technology company pursuant to a consent agreement with the U.S. Commerce and Justice Departments.
  • Led major international company’s analysis and response to the U.S. Outbound Investment Program restrictions.
  • Represented U.S. company in the divestiture of certain subsidiaries to China and Hong Kong purchasers under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) framework.

*Includes matters handled prior to joining Crowell & Moring.

Scott's Insights

Client Alert | 6 min read | 08.12.25

Joint Criminal and Civil Export Controls Enforcement: Lessons from the Cadence Case

On July 28, 2025, Cadence Design Systems Inc. (“Cadence” or “the Company”), a global electronic design automation (“EDA”) technology company based in San Jose, California, agreed to plead guilty in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division (“NSD”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Through its guilty plea, Cadence agreed to resolve charges that it committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (“IP”) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (“NUDT”), a Chinese military university on the U.S. Entity List since 2015 due to its involvement in military and nuclear simulation activities. In addition, Cadence simultaneously resolved a civil enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) related to the same underlying conduct....

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Recognition

  • Outstanding Contributor, Microsoft Corporate and Legal Affairs team, 2024
  • Outstanding Contributor, Microsoft U.S., Government Affairs team, 2022, 2023
  • Super Lawyers: Rising Star, Washington D.C., 2020

Scott's Insights

Client Alert | 6 min read | 08.12.25

Joint Criminal and Civil Export Controls Enforcement: Lessons from the Cadence Case

On July 28, 2025, Cadence Design Systems Inc. (“Cadence” or “the Company”), a global electronic design automation (“EDA”) technology company based in San Jose, California, agreed to plead guilty in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division (“NSD”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Through its guilty plea, Cadence agreed to resolve charges that it committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (“IP”) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (“NUDT”), a Chinese military university on the U.S. Entity List since 2015 due to its involvement in military and nuclear simulation activities. In addition, Cadence simultaneously resolved a civil enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) related to the same underlying conduct....

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Practices

Industries

Scott's Insights

Client Alert | 6 min read | 08.12.25

Joint Criminal and Civil Export Controls Enforcement: Lessons from the Cadence Case

On July 28, 2025, Cadence Design Systems Inc. (“Cadence” or “the Company”), a global electronic design automation (“EDA”) technology company based in San Jose, California, agreed to plead guilty in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division (“NSD”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Through its guilty plea, Cadence agreed to resolve charges that it committed criminal violations of export controls by selling EDA hardware, software, and semiconductor design intellectual property (“IP”) technology to the National University of Defense Technology (“NUDT”), a Chinese military university on the U.S. Entity List since 2015 due to its involvement in military and nuclear simulation activities. In addition, Cadence simultaneously resolved a civil enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) related to the same underlying conduct....

View All Insights