Dentons foreign trade practice provides counsel on investment control, sanctions, trade compliance, customs law and export control matters. The team brings particular expertise in cross-border FDI screenings across sensitive sectors such as defence, quantum computing, hydrogen technologies and critical infrastructure. The practice is led by Julia Pfeil and Maria Brakalova, who bring extensive experience with sanction matters related to Russia, Iran and China. Pfeil is also recognised for their knowledge regarding EU and US export controls, product regulations, compliance frameworks and public law contracts. Brakalova is often engaged in multinational investment projects, embargoes, anti-boycott and anti-coercion measures, as well as WTO and Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Great team with a strong knowledge base and capabilities that cover export control, defence, sanctions and customs questions.'
- 'Very experienced with investment control matters, great at handling multi-jurisdictional analysis and procedures.'
- 'Maria Brakalova is highly knowledgeable, with excellent legal and industry knowledge. She is very client focused and extremely responsive.'
- 'Dentons has an exquisite group of trade law experts covering the entire spectrum of export control, sanctions, customs, WTO and anti-dumping.'
- 'Stand-out partners include Maria Brakalova, Julia Pfeil and Christian Lau. They are extremely knowledgeable and great advisors always having the big picture in mind.'
- 'Maria Brakalova has extensive experience with investment control procedures, she is great at navigating challenging situations, keeping focus on the right spot. She is highly engaged and very responsive.'
Key clients
- Deutsche Bahn AG
- Flowserve
- Jacobs Solutions Inc. (USA)
- OC Oerlikon
- PlanQC GmbH
- Resonac-Gesellschaften in Deutschland
- AKA Ausfuhrkredit-Gesellschaft mbH
- Arevipharma GmbH
- Solvay (früher Cytec)
- Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA
- Air Liquide Global E&C Germany GmbH
- Focuslight Technologies
Work highlights
Advised Jacobs Solutions Inc on investment control law. Specifically, in a complex transaction that saw the company spin off its Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber & Intelligence businesses, and merge them with Amentum to create a new publicly traded government services company.
Advised the start-up PlanQC, which is researching the development of a quantum computer, on various projects and issues relating to EU and US export controls, sanctions and security-related issues. In its early days, Dentons advised the start-up on foreign trade law, public procurement law and IP law, when the German Aerospace Center awarded the contract for the construction of the first digital quantum computer based on neutral atoms in Europe.
Advised TUI AG on sanctions compliance under EU, UK, US and other sanctions law regimes. In particular relation to specific questions concerning the leisure and travel business.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Julia Pfeil; Maria Brakalova