Section Events

What Business Lawyers Need to Know About the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
Co-Hosted by the OSB Business Law Section and the OSB International Law Section
Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Noon–1:15 p.m.
In-person at Stoel Rives LLP, 760 SW 9th Ave, 30th Floor, Portland or online via Zoom
CLE Credits: 1 General (pending)

Learn about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and when a filing with CFIUS is mandatory. This program will include case studies illustrating the kinds of issues that will trigger a CFIUS review in seemingly ordinary M&A and corporate finance transactions, and provide practical tips to help business lawyers identify CFIUS issues early and address them proactively.

CFIUS is an inter-agency committee within the executive branch of the U.S. government that reviews foreign investments in U.S. businesses and real estate for national security risks. The Committee has the power to impose mitigation measures and recommend that the President prohibit transactions that threaten national security. Under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA), filing with CFIUS is now mandatory in certain circumstances. Determining whether a CFIUS filing is mandatory is an important diligence step for any transaction in which an investor or acquiring party may be a “foreign person” (including U.S. entities controlled by foreign persons), as CFIUS can impose civil penalties of up to the value of the transaction against each party that fails to file when mandatory. If not formally notified of a transaction by either a mandatory or voluntary filing, the Committee retains the power to investigate and potentially unwind a transaction at any time, including after the transaction has been completed. 

This presentation is designed to provide business practitioners with essential knowledge and tools to spot potential CFIUS issues and address them when appropriate. 

There is no cost to attend the event, but registration is required.
Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees, courtesy of Stoel Rives LLP. 

Click here to register for the in-person event at Stoel Rives. Limited to 50 in-person attendees.

 Click here to register for the online event. Please note: The Zoom presentation begins at 12:15 p.m.

(Participants must register by noon on Friday, April 14. The meeting link will be emailed to online participants the afternoon of April 17.) For questions regarding the meeting link, please contact Melissa Jaffe.

Note: Make sure to click “Register” then click on “View Cart” at the top right of your screen, then click “Checkout” in order to make sure your registration is complete. If you do not receive an automated email confirmation and receipt then you did not register correctly, contact the CLE service center for assistance.

For registration questions, please contact the OSB CLE Service Center at (503) 431-6413, (800) 452-8260, ext. 413, or via email.

About the Presenter:
Kassim Ferris is a partner at Stoel Rives with over 25 years of experience handling intellectual property and international trade regulation matters. Mr. Ferris represents clients in connection with national security reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), intellectual property issues in government contracting, and compliance with U.S. export controls. His intellectual property practice includes domestic and international patent procurement, patent opinions, technology licensing, patent enforcement and defense, and intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions. He holds his J.D. from Willamette University College of Law and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Executive Committee Meetings

The EC will meet on the first Thursday of each month. (It will not meet in August and December.) The meetings will be a hybrid format where EC members may join by Zoom or in person. Each meeting will be hosted by an EC member at his or her office.

2023 Schedule
Thursday March 2, 2023 at 12:00–1:00: Sussman Shank / Melanie Choch
Thursday April 6, 2023 at 12:00–1:00: Lane Powell / Joe Cerne
Thursday May 4, 2023 at 12:00–1:00: Black Helterline / Tim Crippen
Thursday June 1, 2023 at 4:00–5:00; followed by an EC happy hour 5:00–6:00: Stoel Rives / Will Goodling
Thursday July 6, 2023 at 12:00–1:00: Emerge Law Group / Kaci Hohmann
Thursday September 7, 2023 at 12:00–1:00: Miller Nash / Ben Pirie
Thursday October 5, 2023 at 12:00–1:00: Hathaway Larson / Matt Larson 
Thursday November 2, 2023 at 12:00–1:00: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt / Blake Bowman

Newsletter Committee Meetings
The committee meets via Zoom.

2023 Schedule:
March 7
April 4
May 2
June 6
August 1
September 5
October 3
November 7
December 5

Past Events:

Recent Developments in Business Law 2021
Thursday, December 16, 2021/ 9:00 AM –4:15 PM
Live Webcast
5 General CLE credits and 1 Ethics credit

Topics:

Beyond the Pandemic: Workplace Considerations for Post-COVID Reopening
Thursday, October 21, 2021/8:30 –-9:30 AM
Online Via Zoom

The Business Law Section was pleased to be joined by Natalie Pattison of Barran Liebman. During this one hour virtual presentation Natalie discussed a wide range of timely topics including returning to the workplace, vaccine and mask mandates, Oregon OSHA’s recent rule updates on heat and wildfire smoke, and other important legislative updates.

Natalie represents employers on a wide range of employment and labor matters, including defending employers against claims for discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour violations, as well as developing effective workplace policies. She routinely advises clients on compliance with Oregon Health Authority and Oregon OSHA rules and regulations, including those for COVID-19.

OSB Business Law Section 2020 Annual Meeting
November 5, 2020