Josephine provides valuable advice on compliance and enforcement of U.S. export control regulations and economic sanctions, bringing a practical and detail-focused analysis to "bet-the-company" international transactions and enforcement matters, novel business prospects, and ongoing compliance-related issues.
Josephine has been ranked among the top international trade (Export Controls and Trade Sanctions) attorneys in the U.S. since 2010 in Chambers USA and a top practitioner in this area worldwide since 2012 as rated in Chambers Global.
Josephine often speaks on export control and trade sanctions topics and has chaired conferences focused on international technology transfers.
Josephine Aiello LeBeau is a partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's Washington, D.C., office, counseling domestic and foreign companies on issues related to compliance and enforcement of U.S. export control regulations and economic sanctions.
Josephine counsels clients on potential export control liabilities stemming from cross-border technology transfers, joint venture projects, mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment, foreign distributor agreements, and virtual delivery of products and services. She works closely with companies in designing and implementing internal compliance programs, conducting internal investigations and compliance assessments, training employees on regulatory compliance issues, preparing voluntary disclosures, and settling enforcement actions with U.S. government agencies.
Josephine’s practice is at the forefront in assisting clients with new regulatory challenges, including navigating the analysis of Huawei/ZTE transactions in light of changing regulations, classification of “critical technologies” as they may apply to CFIUS analyses, obtaining licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Controls related to Russian entities that have been sanctioned, and obtaining hundreds of “deemed export” licenses for clients that employ H-1B visa holders in export-controlled areas. She is an expert in commercial and dual-use controls promulgated under the Export Administration Regulations, military-specific controls administered under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and economic sanctions programs implemented by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Recognized as a top international trade attorney in various editions of Chambers USA, sources report that Josephine “is always on top of her game, reliable, and provides actionable advice in critical times” and what distinguishes her from others in the field is “her exceptional responsiveness, profound industry insight, and proven track record in navigating high stakes U.S. export control matters.” She has also been named among the country's top international trade attorneys in Chambers Global since 2012 and selected for inclusion in various publications including Washington DC Super Lawyers and the Women in Business Law Expert Guide.
Josephine frequently speaks on export control and trade sanctions issues and has chaired several conferences focusing on international technology transfers.
Josephine Aiello LeBeau is a partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's Washington, D.C., office, counseling domestic and foreign companies on issues related to compliance and enforcement of U.S. export control regulations and economic sanctions.
Josephine counsels clients on potential export control liabilities stemming from cross-border technology transfers, joint venture projects, mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment, foreign distributor agreements, and virtual delivery of products and services. She works closely with companies in designing and implementing internal compliance programs, conducting internal investigations and compliance assessments, training employees on regulatory compliance issues, preparing voluntary disclosures, and settling enforcement actions with U.S. government agencies.
Josephine’s practice is at the forefront in assisting clients with new regulatory challenges, including navigating the analysis of Huawei/ZTE transactions in light of changing regulations, classification of “critical technologies” as they may apply to CFIUS analyses, obtaining licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Controls related to Russian entities that have been sanctioned, and obtaining hundreds of “deemed export” licenses for clients that employ H-1B visa holders in export-controlled areas. She is an expert in commercial and dual-use controls promulgated under the Export Administration Regulations, military-specific controls administered under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and economic sanctions programs implemented by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Recognized as a top international trade attorney in various editions of Chambers USA, sources report that Josephine “is always on top of her game, reliable, and provides actionable advice in critical times” and what distinguishes her from others in the field is “her exceptional responsiveness, profound industry insight, and proven track record in navigating high stakes U.S. export control matters.” She has also been named among the country's top international trade attorneys in Chambers Global since 2012 and selected for inclusion in various publications including Washington DC Super Lawyers and the Women in Business Law Expert Guide.
Josephine frequently speaks on export control and trade sanctions issues and has chaired several conferences focusing on international technology transfers.
Co-author, “BIS Ratchets Up Export Controls, Adopts 50 Percent Affiliate Rule,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 30, 2025
Co-author, “BIS Implements New Changes to Syria Export Control Regulations,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 2, 2025
Co-author, “Deal or No Deal: The Return of the Reciprocal Tariffs,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, August 8, 2025
Co-author, “From Embargo to Engagement: U.S. Reopens Doors to Syria,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 3, 2025
Co-author, “Off Again, On Again: Tariffs Continue Despite Trade Court Holding,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, June 2, 2025
Co-author, “Duty Calls . . . and It's Collect: President Trump Imposes Stiff New Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, February 3, 2025
Co-author, “International Trade and Business: U.S. Export Controls” section, The Complete Compliance and Ethics Manual, Cosmos, 2025
Co-author, “All is Fair in Love and Trade War: Valentine's Day Predictions for What Comes Next in U.S. National Security Law,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, January 30, 2025
Co-author, “Flurry of National Security Regulations Issued as Biden Administration Departs,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, January 22, 2025
Co-author, “BIS Expands Export Controls on Advanced Computing Integrated Circuits for Supercomputer and Semiconductor End Use, and on Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment and Related Equipment to China,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, October 20, 2023
Co-author with M. Casey, J. Hartwig, K. McDonough, and A. Seymour, "Biden Administration Implements Significant BIS Controls and Imposes Second Tranche of OFAC Sanctions in Russia-Ukraine Crisis," Wilson Sonsini Alert, February 25, 2022
Co-author with A. Seymour, "Intrusion Preclusion: BIS Issues Long-Awaited Controls on Cybersecurity Items, Creates New License Exception," Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report, February-March, 2022
Co-author with J. Hartwig, K. McDonough, and A. Seymour, "Know Your Customer: OFAC, BIS Penalize Companies for Sales of 'EAR99' Items and Services to Prohibited Parties Through Distributors," Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 21, 2021
Co-author with J. Hartwig, K. McDonough, and A. Seymour, “Electronics Testing Company Penalized $6.6 Million for Unauthorized Software Exports,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, August 19, 2021
Co-author with M. Mannino and A. Seymour, “Take Two: Another Executive Order Addresses U.S. Personal Data Concerns by Prohibiting Business with Companies that Develop or Control Eight Specified Applications with Connections to China,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, January 6, 2021
Co-author with M. Mannino and A. Seymour, “U.S. Government Authorization Now Required for Certain Business with SMIC and Over 70 Additional Entities in China," Wilson Sonsini Alert, December 19, 2020
Co-author with J. Gruenspecht, M. Mannino, and A. Seymour, “U.S. Department of Commerce Publishes Transactions with ByteDance and Tencent That are Prohibited Due to National Security Concerns Raised by TikTok and WeChat,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 18, 2020
Co-author with J. Davey, M. Mannino, and A. Seymour, “Expansion of U.S. Export Controls on Huawei-Designed or Produced Items,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, May 29, 2020
Co-author with J. Davey, M. Mannino, and A. Seymour, “License Requirements and U.S. Government Visibility into Exports to China, Russia, and Venezuela Will Increase, but Countries Remain Open for U.S Business,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, May 1, 2020
Co-author, “BIS Ratchets Up Export Controls, Adopts 50 Percent Affiliate Rule,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 30, 2025
Co-author, “BIS Implements New Changes to Syria Export Control Regulations,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 2, 2025
Co-author, “Deal or No Deal: The Return of the Reciprocal Tariffs,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, August 8, 2025
Co-author, “From Embargo to Engagement: U.S. Reopens Doors to Syria,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, July 3, 2025
Co-author, “Off Again, On Again: Tariffs Continue Despite Trade Court Holding,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, June 2, 2025
Co-author, “Duty Calls . . . and It's Collect: President Trump Imposes Stiff New Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, February 3, 2025
Co-author, “International Trade and Business: U.S. Export Controls” section, The Complete Compliance and Ethics Manual, Cosmos, 2025
Co-author, “All is Fair in Love and Trade War: Valentine's Day Predictions for What Comes Next in U.S. National Security Law,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, January 30, 2025
Co-author, “Flurry of National Security Regulations Issued as Biden Administration Departs,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, January 22, 2025
Co-author, “BIS Expands Export Controls on Advanced Computing Integrated Circuits for Supercomputer and Semiconductor End Use, and on Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment and Related Equipment to China,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, October 20, 2023
Co-author with M. Casey, J. Hartwig, K. McDonough, and A. Seymour, "Biden Administration Implements Significant BIS Controls and Imposes Second Tranche of OFAC Sanctions in Russia-Ukraine Crisis," Wilson Sonsini Alert, February 25, 2022
Co-author with A. Seymour, "Intrusion Preclusion: BIS Issues Long-Awaited Controls on Cybersecurity Items, Creates New License Exception," Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report, February-March, 2022
Co-author with J. Hartwig, K. McDonough, and A. Seymour, "Know Your Customer: OFAC, BIS Penalize Companies for Sales of 'EAR99' Items and Services to Prohibited Parties Through Distributors," Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 21, 2021
Co-author with J. Hartwig, K. McDonough, and A. Seymour, “Electronics Testing Company Penalized $6.6 Million for Unauthorized Software Exports,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, August 19, 2021
Co-author with M. Mannino and A. Seymour, “Take Two: Another Executive Order Addresses U.S. Personal Data Concerns by Prohibiting Business with Companies that Develop or Control Eight Specified Applications with Connections to China,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, January 6, 2021
Co-author with M. Mannino and A. Seymour, “U.S. Government Authorization Now Required for Certain Business with SMIC and Over 70 Additional Entities in China," Wilson Sonsini Alert, December 19, 2020
Co-author with J. Gruenspecht, M. Mannino, and A. Seymour, “U.S. Department of Commerce Publishes Transactions with ByteDance and Tencent That are Prohibited Due to National Security Concerns Raised by TikTok and WeChat,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, September 18, 2020
Co-author with J. Davey, M. Mannino, and A. Seymour, “Expansion of U.S. Export Controls on Huawei-Designed or Produced Items,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, May 29, 2020
Co-author with J. Davey, M. Mannino, and A. Seymour, “License Requirements and U.S. Government Visibility into Exports to China, Russia, and Venezuela Will Increase, but Countries Remain Open for U.S Business,” Wilson Sonsini Alert, May 1, 2020