Mike and Brent propose a new framework for post-resolution third-party independent consultants imposed under corporate resolutions with the U.S. Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS) or monitors imposed under resolutions with the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) National Security Division (NSD) that best promotes underlying national security objectives while also minimizing the impact on the resolving company’s business. Their proposal is based on their prior “Fresh Looks” article with the NYU Law School’s Program on Corporate Compliance & Enforcement (PCCE), “Monitoring What Matters: A Fresh Look Proposal to Government and Industry for How Post-Resolution Oversight Can Best Deny Hostile Actors the Means to Cause Deadly Harm,” from March 28, 2024.

Mike and Brent introduce their prior “Monitoring What Matters” article (00:37), contrast the needs of post-resolution oversight under U.S. export controls with those under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) (01:52), and then explain why traditional concepts of what a post-resolution independent monitor or consultant should do miss the mark (02:38), how the compelling need to move quickly could justify imposing key milestones at just 3 and 6 months, with completion in one year (04:56), that this shortened timeframe can be achieved by leveraging the “awareness of a high probability” standard of knowledge under the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (05:56), how battlefield risks should drive prioritization (09:28), how third-part independent consultants should be leveraging what is likely, for many companies already on the front lines of U.S. export controls (e.g., by being part of the leading-edge AI ecosystem), a robust compliance program that was likely further enhanced during the preceding government investigation (11:11), how companies and any post-resolution independent consultant or monitor should think about where and how to draw due diligence lines regarding multi-tier distributor and reseller networks (12:57), the importance in the national security context of thinking about third-party consultant and monitor independence not just in terms of independence from direct client relationships with the subject company but also in terms of independence from the relevant foreign country’s military or intelligence agencies, including prior engagements to lobby the U.S. government (16:38), and the three key takeaways from their prior article (22:04). They conclude with Brent’s ever-popular segment, “Managing Up” (28:08).

The prior “Monitoring What Matters” article: https://wp.nyu.edu/compliance_enforcement/2024/03/28/monitoring-what-matters-a-fresh-look-proposal-to-government-and-industry-for-how-post-resolution-oversight-can-best-deny-hostile-actors-the-means-to-cause-deadly-harm/

The rest of the “Fresh Looks” series with NYU: www.hugheshubbard.com/fresh-looks

More about Brent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-carlson-41ba692/

More about Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhuneke/

Mike & Brent welcome Erika Trujillo, Managing Director of SEIA (“say-a”), who with her company brings advanced data analytics solutions to solving trade compliance problems. Mike and Brent discuss Erika’s background and the services SEIA provides (00:14); how advanced data analytics can help with export controls risk assessments by, among other things, bringing to bear data from across multiple departments (which is particularly important under U.S. law’s collective knowledge doctrine and the “high probability” standard) (02:10); the importance of differentiating between your company’s “internal data” and the “external data” and of identifying and leveraging what internal data might be sitting within reach (05:03); the importance of contextualization, i.e., taking a holistic perspective at potentially interesting data points that only become informative in the context of other data points, for example data suggesting that EAR99 items that otherwise would not require an export license might be exported for prohibited end-uses or to prohibited end-users (06:53); the need for companies to have the courage to engage with their own data, especially since they are making statements to various governments in any case about their trade flows (09:21); how small- and medium-sized companies can start, step-by-step, to get a handle on their internal data (10:53); how to respond to reports or allegations (i.e., “red flags”) of potential export control violations (12:18); common data pitfalls to avoid (13:51); the importance of prioritization not just in terms of data cleanup projects (14:28); why praying to the accounting platform gods and hoping everything is OK is not sufficient (16:00); the full definition of knowledge (including an awareness of a high probability) and what opportunities that presents for risk-based approaches to trade compliance (16:35); how a data-driven approach to trade compliance can help improve relationships with colleagues in sales and operational functions (18:39); how to overcome the fear of what you might find by taking a deeper dive into your company’s data (19:28); and how a data-driven approach can help with c-suites and boards of directors (20:13). We conclude with a surprise twist in the ever-popular segment, Brent Carlson’s “Managing Up” in exploring Erika’s mission and purpose in co-founding SEIA.

More about SEIA: https://www.seiatech.com/aboutseia

Contact or Book a Demo with SEIA: https://www.seiatech.com/contact

Contact Erika: etrujillo@seiatech.com

More about Brent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-carlson-41ba692/

More about Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhuneke/

Mike & Brent’s “Fresh Looks” series: www.hugheshubbard.com/fresh-looks

Mike and Brent follow-up on Mike’s being quoted in Dow Jones Risk Journal regarding the unexpected export control consequences of the Israel-Iran conflict. They discuss the geopolitical context (00:39), the article by Richard Vanderford and Mengqi Sun (01:22), the risk that Iran tries to evade U.S. export controls (and sanctions) by procuring replacement parts and equipment through third-party intermediaries (02:12), the cautionary tale of an Alabama resident sentenced to five years in U.S. federal prison for diverting items to Iran (03:29), the need to be cognizant of “catch-all” U.S. export controls related to ballistic missiles and WMD programs (including nuclear) and those controls reliance on the full definition of “knowledge” to include “an awareness of a high probability” (04:42), increased tracking and investigative activity by the U.S. government (06:19), how companies need to think about responding to “red flags” (06:45), the likely impact of forensic review of battlefield recoveries on requests by Israel and NGOs to companies for assistance in tracing item or component flows to Iran (07:44), and the likelihood of increased, rather than decreased, activity by U.S. agencies as a result of the conflict (09:52). They conclude with another segment of Brent Carlson’s “Managing Up” (12:26).

The Dow Jones Risk Journal article (June 13, 2025) (subscription req.): https://article.dowjones.com/djriskjournal/articles/israel-attack-could-bring-new-business-risks-even-if-not-followed-by-more-sanctions-9f0dab93?mod=risk-compliance_feat1_dow-jones-risk-journal_pos4&_gl=1*eca83t*_gcl_au*OTM2NjQxODc2LjE3NDI1ODkxNDI.*_ga*MTQ0NTg1NTk4LjE3NDI1ODkxNDI.*_ga_K2H7B9JRSS*czE3NTAyMTQ5MjgkbzMxJGcxJHQxNzUwMjE0OTQ4JGo0MCRsMSRoNTM5NTk0NjQx

The Wall Street Journal Morning Risk Report (June 16, 2025): https://createsend.com/t/d-3CAD0099A1F7C65A2540EF23F30FEDED

More about Brent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-carlson-41ba692/

More about Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhuneke/

Brent & Mike’s “Fresh Looks” Series: www.hugheshubbard.com/fresh-looks