Brussels – Global law firm K&L Gates welcomes Isabelle De Smedt back as a partner in its Brussels office. She rejoins the firm's White Collar Defense and Investigations practice from Alston & Bird.
De Smedt focuses her practice advising multinational companies on various anti-corruption and fraud matters, including matters related to sanctions and export control.
She has extensive experience working with clients in the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. De Smedt also advises clients on day-to-day compliance issues as they arise and works with them to develop and implement effective anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance programs.
"I am excited to welcome Isabelle back to the firm," said Michael Scanlon, a leader of K&L Gates' global Policy and Regulatory practice area. "She has a strong track record of guiding clients through the complexities of business operations in countries subject to sanctions and other enforcement actions from US and global authorities. She will further strengthen our abilities to provide advice to clients on anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance programs in the firm's European offices and globally."
De Smedt was an associate at K&L Gates for six years before becoming a partner in March 2017. Her return to the firm follows the addition of several new lawyers and policy professionals who have joined the firm's global Policy and Regulatory practice in the last year including public policy and law partners Marne Marotta and David Skillman, and the firm's first national security advisor Marissa Cloutier among others.
Tony Griffiths, managing partner of K&L Gates' European and Middle East offices, commented: "Isabelle has worked with multinational companies around the world on developing and enhancing anti-corruption compliance policies and procedures. She routinely navigates clients through regulatory trade and sanctions requirements such as obtaining licenses from EU and UK authorities. She is an asset not only to our Brussels office but to clients around the world."
The K&L Gates White Collar Defense and Investigations practice offers clients comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional advice in the most sensitive and high-visibility enforcement and regulatory matters worldwide, including state and federal investigations, grand jury proceedings, parallel civil and criminal proceedings, and criminal trials on behalf of corporations and individuals. The team conducts complex, cross-border internal investigations, represents clients in congressional investigations, provides compliance advice to corporations, and assists clients in matters that present complex reputation, financial, and operational risk.