Daniel S. Levien is Counsel at Simpson Thacher and focuses his practice on the intersection of international business, financial crime prevention, international regulation, national security, corporate social responsibility and public policy matters. He advises clients on regulatory, compliance and reputational risks related to corporate transactions and handles sensitive governmental inquiries, internal investigation and crisis scenarios. Daniel provides an integrated regulatory and compliance solution to leading private equity firms, financial institutions, corporations and non-profits. He has particular expertise counseling on anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, cannabis and controlled substances, digital assets, economic sanctions, export control, fraud, KYC and national security risks, as well as on other emerging regulatory and compliance issues.
On corporate transactions, he regularly leads due diligence exercises and works with clients at all stages of the investment life cycle to identify, mitigate and remediate financial crime, regulatory and other compliance risks. Daniel also offers practical regulatory and compliance guidance to in-house legal, compliance, business and operations teams and prepares and implements corporate compliance policies, procedures and risk mitigation measures.
On investigations, Daniel manages cross-border investigations, supervises teams in multiple jurisdictions, coordinates with local counsel and in-house teams and makes submissions and presentations to relevant governmental authorities. He also handles sensitive internal audits and risk assessments. Daniel is attuned to the litigation, public relations and government relations implications of investigations, regulatory developments and crisis scenarios.
Daniel’s engagements include:
- Private equity firms, multinational corporations and financial institutions in transactional due diligence and compliance risk mitigation in high-profile M&A, capital market, credit and real estate transactions with respect to sensitive regulatory and compliance risks including anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, cannabis and controlled substances, digital assets, economic sanctions, export controls, fraud, government and internal investigations and related issues
- Leading private equity firms and asset managers in investor onboarding and international regulatory compliance and financial crime reviews
- Leading private equity firms, asset managers and corporations in Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) compliance and assessments of reporting obligations under the Beneficial Ownership Information (“BOI”) rule
- Global security firm in review of compliance policies and procedures
- Global telecom firm in a multijurisdictional anti-corruption investigation
- Maritime firms in crisis scenarios
- Private equity firm in fraud review of vendors to portfolio company
- Fintech firm in assessment of corporate governance infrastructure
- For-profit and non-profit clients in responding to congressional inquiries
- Leading private equity firm in portfolio-wide review and assessment of Russia exposure
- Investment firm in sanctions related investigation
- Investment firm in a digital asset related investigations
- Multinational companies and nonprofits in other sensitive internal and governmental investigations
- Multinational companies, private equity firms and nonprofits in connection with developing international compliance policies and procedures
- Provided international regulatory and compliance training and presented CLE programs
Daniel is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is active in the American Bar Association’s International Law Section and serves as a Vice Chair of the International Anti-Money Laundering Committee and as a member of the Steering Committee of the Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee for the 2023-2024 Term. Daniel is also committed to community development and serves on the Advisory Council of the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
Daniel received his LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law, with distinction, from Georgetown University Law Center. He received his B.A. (Hons.) in Law and his M.Phil. in Development Studies, with distinction, from the University of Cambridge. Daniel received his A.B. from the School of Public & International Affairs at Princeton University, cum laude, where he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa.