Robert Clifton Burns is a senior counsel in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office. Clif focuses his practice on export controls, economic sanctions, customs, national security, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He represents clients in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States.
His clients are in a broad range of industries including medical devices, military equipment, financial services, travel and hospitality, and agriculture. Clif counsels clients on compliance matters as well as, in handling internal investigations, voluntary disclosures, and criminal defense. In addition, he represents M&A clients in international transactions with national security implications before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
Clif’s export control work encompasses a broad range of areas and includes matters involving the Export Administration Regulations administered by the Department of Commerce, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations administered by the State Department, and the country-based economic sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury Department. He also has experience in developing compliance programs for each of these three regulatory schemes, conducting due diligence for compliance with these schemes, and submitting voluntary disclosures of prior unlicensed exports.
Clif was an adjunct professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center from 2004 until 2016. He was editor-in-chief of the Northwestern University Law Review and a law clerk for the Honorable Robert A. Sprecher with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
He speaks fluent French.
Speeches & Presentations
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"Analysis of the Evolving US Sanctions on Russia and the Impact on the Loan Market," LSTA University Webinar 2022.
(March 9, 2022).
Speakers: Caroline E. Brown, Dj Wolff, Carlton Greene, Nicole Sayegh Succar, Anand Sithian, and Robert Clifton Burns.
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"Export Controls Year in Review 2021," Crowell & Moring Webinar, 2022.
(February 2, 2022).
Speakers: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Robert Clifton Burns, Nimrah Najeeb, Chandler S. Leonard, Brian McGrath, Laurel Saito, Rachel Schumacher
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"(Supply) Chain Reaction: Preparing for and Mitigating the Impacts of Supply Chain Delays: International Trade," Crowell & Moring Webinar, 2022.
(January 26, 2022).
Speakers: Nicole Simonian, Clif Burns, Michelle Linderman, Jackson Pai, Maria Vanikiotis, Frances Hadfield, and Chandler Leonard.
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"Anti-Corruption & Sanctions Investigations," Investigations: Readiness and Response Webinar Series
(April 29, 2021).
Presenters: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Thomas A. Hanusik, Michelle J. Linderman, Warrington Parker, and Robert Clifton Burns.
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"International Trade in 2021: What’s Ahead," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(February 17, 2021).
Presenters: Vassilis Akritidis, Caroline E. Brown, Michelle J. Linderman, Joshua Pond, Nicole Janigian Simonian, David R. Stepp, Robert Clifton Burns, Carina C. Federico, Jackson C. Pai, Nicole Sayegh Succar, Michael Bowen, Chandler S. Leonard, Brian McGrath, Nimrah Najeeb, and Joshua Boswell.
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"Export Control Risk Assessments," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(December 17, 2020).
Presenters: Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Robert Clifton Burns, and Chandler S. Leonard.
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"Global Cross-Border Data Transfers (Part 2)," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(December 3, 2020).
Presenters: Kate M. Growley, Ambassador Robert Holleyman, Maarten Stassen, Jarno Vanto, Robert Clifton Burns and Zhiwei Chen.
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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.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"UPDATE: [Close of Comments on Commerce Cyber Rule],"
International Trade Bulletin
(January 20, 2022).
Contacts: Alexander Urbelis, Robert Clifton Burns, Chandler S. Leonard, Rachel Schumacher
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"Close of Comments on Commerce Cyber Rule,"
Privacy Law Alert
(December 6, 2021).
Contacts: Alexander Urbelis, Robert Clifton Burns, Chandler S. Leonard, Rachel Schumacher
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"President Biden Imposes Additional Sanctions on Russia,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 16, 2021).
Contacts: David (Dj) Wolff, Carlton Greene, Caroline E. Brown, Robert Clifton Burns, Nicole Sayegh Succar, Laurel Saito
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"Remote Working Abroad: 10 Tips for Global Employers,"
Labor & Employment Law Alert - US
(November 30, 2020).
Contacts: Nicole Janigian Simonian, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Maarten Stassen, S. Starling Marshall, Robert Clifton Burns, Evelien Jamaels, Jackson C. Pai, Yi Huang
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"US Export Controls and Hong Kong – Change Underway,"
International Trade Bulletin
(July 2, 2020).
Contacts: Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Robert Clifton Burns, Chandler S. Leonard
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"OFAC Issues Fact Sheet Regarding Humanitarian Trade Involving Sanctioned Countries and Provides COVID-19 Guidance,"
International Trade Bulletin
(April 24, 2020).
Contacts: Caroline E. Brown, Carlton Greene, Jeffrey L. Snyder, David (Dj) Wolff, Robert Clifton Burns, Nimrah Najeeb, Nicole Sayegh Succar
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"Congress Passes New Russia and Venezuela Sanctions and Advances New Russia & Turkey Sanctions,"
International Trade Bulletin
(December 27, 2019).
Contacts: David (Dj) Wolff, Carlton Greene, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Adelicia R. Cliffe, Robert Clifton Burns, Nicole Sayegh Succar, Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro, Nimrah Najeeb
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"The Month in International Trade – April 2019,"
International Trade Bulletin
(May 13, 2019).
Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Edward Goetz, John B. Brew, Robert Clifton Burns, David (Dj) Wolff, Alexander H. Schaefer, Jason M. Crawford
Press Coverage
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Russia Sanctions Led American Express To Cut Financial Lifeline In Ukraine
April 22, 2022 — Wall Street Journal
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Labor of Law: How Can Companies Pay Employees in Russia?
March 31, 2022 — Law.com
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Speed, Complexity of Russia Sanctions Regime Unprecedented, Lawyers Say
March 3, 2022 — Export Compliance Daily
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Could Bitcoin Be Putin’s Economic Savior? That’s Unlikely, Experts Say
February 25, 2022 — NBC News
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Millions of Euros From The EU Are Ending Up In Tajeddine Network Bank Accounts
November 24, 2021 — L'Orient Today
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PMI Wraps Up Successful Virtual Conference
January 11, 2021 — Plumbing & Mechanical
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PMI20 Manufacturing Success Conference Held Virtually
November 23, 2020 — Contractor Magazine
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New DOJ Voluntary Disclosure Policies May Create Complications For Industry, Lawyer Says
August 19, 2020 — Export Compliance Daily
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How WeChat Crackdown Threatens US Companies
August 9, 2020 — Financial Review
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Banning Tencent's WeChat Would Hit Both Chinese And US Businesses
August 7, 2020 — Financial Times
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Defense Industry Not Sold On Trump's Drone Export Deregulation Efforts
July 31, 2020 — Inside Defense
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Companies Caught In EU-US Sanctions Crossfire
January 30, 2020 — Financial Times
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What In-House Counsel Need To Know About New Export Control On Al
January 9, 2020 — Corporate Counsel
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U.S. May Release More Guidance Alongside Sanctions Following Court Ruling, Experts Say
January 6, 2020 — Kharon
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US Exporters Reveal Impact Of Sanctions
October 24, 2019 — The Herald
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OFAC's '50% Rule' Challenges Compliance
October 22, 2019 — American Shipper
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Lawsuit Questions Constitution Of U.S. Treasury's '50 Percent' Sanctions Rule
July 15, 2019 — Kharon Brief
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Iranian Biologists Face US Trial For Trying To Take Proteins Out Of The Country
June 24, 2019 — Nature Research
Firm News & Announcements