WASHINGTON (September 4, 2025) – Stephanie Connor, a former senior official at the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has joined Holland & Knight's International Trade Group as a partner in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Connor served in leading legal and policy roles at OFAC, developing key sanctions policies and advising the Treasury Department with respect to regulatory, enforcement, compliance and regulatory matters. As the assistant director of policy at OFAC, Ms. Connor managed a team of policy advisors, coordinated with other U.S. government agencies and developed sanctions policies across administrations. As OFAC's assistant chief counsel, Ms. Connor advised on enforcement, compliance and targeting matters. Prior to government service, Ms. Connor spent more than 10 years in private practice and co-authored a treatise on U.S., European Union and United Nations sanctions.
Over the past nine months, Holland & Knight's market-leading International Trade Group has seen unprecedented growth as it welcomed a number of high-profile partners from the executive branch and top private sector law firms, including Patrick Childress, Christopher Stagg, Tahlia Townsend and Daniel Goren.
"Stephanie's experience as a senior official leading both legal and policy teams at OFAC, as well as developing key sanctions programs, will enable her to provide sophisticated guidance to our clients seeking to navigate complex trade regulations and execute international business transactions, while helping her establish a premier trade practice at Holland & Knight," said Robert Friedman, co-head of Holland & Knight's International Trade Group. "Her deep institutional knowledge of OFAC policy, enforcement and licensing processes will enhance our team's capabilities and provide steady counsel to our clients as they face new areas of risk in global trade."
At Holland & Knight, Ms. Connor will advise multinational clients on matters arising under OFAC sanctions, U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regulations. She will also use her experience to help companies implement corporate compliance programs and, when necessary, defend clients in government enforcement matters.
"Holland & Knight has built a market-leading international trade practice with a deep bench of advisors who I respect and admire," said Ms. Connor. "Sanctions compliance is a top concern for most multinational companies, and it's critically important for them to engage strategically with regulators on this issue. Clients can expect to receive an insider's perspective on a variety of policy areas from our team so they can effectively mitigate their risk."
Ms. Connor earned her J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. degree from American University. Before law school, Ms. Connor lived and worked in Africa, Asia and Europe.