Sara L.Rafferty

Sara Rafferty concentrates her practice on strategic planning and compliance advice to clients navigating the complex U.S. regulatory regimes and the agencies administering these regulations.

Sara assists companies with compliance regarding U.S. export controls, U.S. sanctions, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), by determining and obtaining licenses, conducting internal investigations, negotiating with the government, and advocating for clients disclosing information.

She also has experience with complex internal investigations before various regulatory and enforcement agencies, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations involving disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice (DOJ), sanctions investigations and disclosures to OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control), and False Claims Act (FCA) investigations. These investigations involve witness interviews, collaborating with industry experts, drafting memos, drafting white papers, and other correspondence for submission to relevant government agencies.

In addition to investigations, Sara represents clients in rulemakings and consultations before regulatory authorities. Specifically, she has advised and crafted client communications through oral testimony and written submissions before the U.S. Trade Representative's Section 301 Committee. Sara's litigation practice has involved bid protests with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a cross-border investment dispute, and an arbitration under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act).

Prior to joining Jones Day, Sara served for four years as a staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives. After leaving government service she worked three years lobbying on national security issues while pursuing a law degree at Georgetown University.