Laura M. Brank

Partner

Washington

Biography

Laura Brank is a corporate and finance lawyer focused on cross-border transactions. For more than 30 years, she has advised multinational corporations, investment funds, banks, multilateral institutions and high-net-worth individuals on complex cross-border corporate and finance matters, as well as on corporate governance and compliance issues, with a focus on economic sanctions and export controls. Her work spans emerging markets, particularly, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. She has extensive experience in the mining and energy, technology/media/telecommunications, life sciences, agribusiness, hospitality and manufacturing sectors. A highlight includes her representation of dozens of companies exiting the Russian market through third-party sales, management buyouts or asset liquidations.

Laura has been recognized by Chambers, IFLR1000, Best Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal, and was named to Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for her work in corporate governance, M&A, finance and compliance. She received the Commercial, Corporate and M&A Advisor of the Year — 2020 awards from both M&A Today and Lawyer International. Chambers Europe has praised her ability to “see things from the investor’s point of view” and her “pragmatic, business-oriented and astute advice,” noting she is “one of the best-known corporate lawyers in the market,” who is “quick and pragmatic, skillful at negotiating positions and good at proposing excellent solutions.” She has also been named to IFLR1000’s Women Leaders and recognized in Legal Media Group’s Banking, Finance and Transactional Guide and Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law. Laura was listed in Euromoney’s Expert Guides for Women in Business Law and Mergers and Acquisitions, and was included in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 list for M&A. Additionally, she received the Leadership Award from The M&A Advisor for her significant contributions to cross-border M&A.

Laura serves on several boards, including the Global Leaders Assembly Foundation, a nonprofit organization she co-founded with fellow graduates of Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service program to promote constructive engagement on global challenges. She is a member of the executive committee and board of directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia. From 2010 until the organization was dissolved in 2023, she also served on the board and executive committee of the U.S.-Russia Business Council. Laura also serves on the European Advisory Board of Georgetown University’s Law Center and the Advisory Board of its Master of Science in Foreign Service program. She also sits on the Advisory Board of the CEELI Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting the rule of law.

Prior to joining BCLP, Laura was partner at Dechert LLPand served as the managing partner of its Moscow office and was the head of their Russia practice.

Civic Involvement & Honors

China Law & Practice Honors Dechert's Asia Energy Team for Cross-border Deal Success, 2022
CEE Legal Matters Honors Dechert Corporate Team With Double Cross-Border Award Win, 2021
M&A Advisor Award for significant contributions to Cross-border M&A

Professional Affiliations

Member, Russian Arbitration Center at the Russian Institute of Modern Arbitration, Financial Disputes
Board of Directors and Executive Committee, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia

Admissions

District of Columbia, 2012
New York, 1992
Connecticut, 1991

Education

Georgetown University, M.S., 1991
Georgetown University, J.D., 1991
University of Maryland, B.A., Honors, 1986

Experience

Advised IPG Photonics Corporation on the sale of IRE-Polus, its wholly owned subsidiary in Russia, to a company owned by Softline Projects LLC and former management, which involved numerous regulatory approvals, both inside and outside of Russia.*
Represented Barn BV, a joint venture entity, on the sale of RN Bank to a Russian buyer which required approval by the Russian president.*
Advised RCI Bank & Services on the sale of its leasing operations in Russia to a Russian buyer.*
Represented PPG Industries on its divestiture of three companies in Russia manufacturing industrial paint products and on the sale of its architectural paint business, Tikkurila Oyj*
Advised Arconic, a US-listed light weight metals engineering and manufacturing company, on the sale of several Russian companies to a Russian buyer, the purchase price of which was guaranteed by a Swiss entity.*
Represented the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on numerous transactions over the years including its recent disposal of shares in a Dutch SPV and an investment in a Polish company.*
Represented Kinross Gold on numerous M&A deals in emerging markets in the Former Soviet Union and in South America with a combined total value of over US$4 billion, including its divestiture of all of its Russian holdings, one of the first transactions approved of by a newly formed Russian Government Commission.*
Advised Samsonite, a major US retailer and manufacturer, on its successful exit from the Russian market via a sale to management.*
Represented ABBYY Plc on its cross-border acquisition of TimelinePl Inc., a U.S. software company that provides a process intelligence platform empowering users to understand, optimize and monitor business processes.*
Represented a leading global business consulting firm on a highly complicated management buyout by partners in its Russian subsidiary.*
Represented an international business travel management company on the sale of its travel services business in Russia to a Russian buyer.*
Represented a leading European satellite provider on a joint venture with a Russian partner.*
Represented a private investment company on its divestiture of a significant stake in an oil and gas joint venture company.*
Represented PepsiCo and the Pepsi Bottling Group on several acquisitions, including on its US$1.4 billion acquisition of a 75.53% stake in JSC Lebedyansky, a juice producer in Russia.*
Advised Mechel, the Russian metals and mining conglomerate, on its sale of Bluestone Coal Corporation, a U. S. coal mining company.*
Advised dozens of clients on sanctions compliance matters, the acquisition of licenses from OFAC and other regulators, preparation and update of sanctions compliance manuals and enforcement matters.

*Includes matters handled prior to BCLP

Resources

Speaking Engagements

“Macro Sanctions Regulatory Update - Update on Recent US and UK Developments and Sanctions,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar (November 11, 2025)
“U.S. Sanctions Outlook,” AmCham Executives, GM Roundtable (October 1, 2025)
“Critical Minerals - Solving Supply Chain Challenges,” 6th Caspian Business Forum, (September 23, 2025)
“Energy Security and Diplomacy in a Multipolar World,” Tulane University’s Future of Energy Forum 2025 (September 11 2025)
“Macro Sanctions Regulatory Update - Update on Recent US and UK Developments and Sanctions,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar (August 7, 2025)
“Modern Silk Road: Opportunities and Challenges in Central Asia,” ABA (American Arbitration Association), 2025 ILS (International Centre for Dispute Resolution), Annual Conference (April 29, 2025)
“The Role of Sanctions in Ending the War,” Global Leaders Assembly Foundation (GLAF) & MSFS Spring Panel (April 24, 2025)
“Macro Sanctions Regulatory Update - Update on Recent US and UK Developments and Sanctions,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar (March 13, 2025)
“Sanctions Briefing,” AmCham (The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia), Webinar (January 15, 2025)
“Sanctions Briefing,” AmCham (The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia), Webinar (December 2, 2024)
“Overview of Recent EU and US Restrictions. What Business Needs to Know,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar (October 3, 2024)
“Evaluation of Past and Present Sanctions,” AmCham (The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia), Roundtable (September 30, 2024)
“Update on the Sanctions Landscape – Overview of Recent US and UK sanctions,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar (July 2, 2024)
“Sanctions Update,” AmCham (The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia), Webinar (June 18, 2024)
“Regulatory enforcement on Russia sanctions from an EU, UK and US perspective,” C5 European Forum on Global Economic Sanctions, (June 5, 2024)
“How to do business better along the Middle Corridor,” The 8th Annual Trans-Caspian Forum (May 21, 2024)
“Crisis update: Sanctions and Countermeasures. Update on the Sanctions Landscape,” “US Sanctions: Overview of Recent OFAC and BIS Actions,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar (March 27, 2024)
“Panel discussion: Freedom from Cultural Bias – From Cultural Competence to Cultural Humility?,” CPR Institute, 2024 Annual Meeting (March 6, 2024)
“Sanctions Update, Review of US and EU Sanctions - Update on US sanctions against Russia,” AmCham Russia in conjunction with CCI France Russie (March 4, 2024)
“Russia Sanctions and Exiting Russia - Navigating the complex and everchanging Russia sanctions landscape,” Joint seminar with Gorrissen Federspiel in Copenhagen (February 23, 2024)
“Crisis Update: Sanctions and Countermeasures - Latest US Sanctions,” AEB, Webinar (December 26, 2023)
“Sanctions Update, Latest US Sanctions,” AmCham Russia (November 22, 2023)
“Panel: De-Globalization Impacts on Dealmaking: Challenges and opportunities in cross-border M&A,” M&A Dealmakers Forum in New York (September 20, 2023)
“Sanctions Update: Latest US sanctions and comments on the Canadian sanctions,” AmCham Russia (August 3, 2023)
“Crisis update: Sanctions and Countermeasures. Update on the Sanctions Landscape,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar with Andris Ivanovs “US Sanctions: Overview of OFAC and BIS Latest Actions” (July 5, 2023)
“Sanctions Update, Russia Sanctions: Recent Developments,” AmCham Russia (June 5, 2023)
“Crisis update: Sanctions and Countermeasures. New in Presidential and Government Approvals,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar “OFAC View on Exit Tax” (April 26, 2023)
“Women, Influence & Power in Law UK (WIPL UK) Moderating Roundtable: Identifying and Developing M&A Soft Skills,” ALM and Law.com, International Conference (London) (March 8, 2023)
“Crisis update: Sanctions and Countermeasures. Update on the US and EU Sanctions Landscape,” AEB (Association of European Businesses), Webinar “US Sanctions: Overview of OFAC’s Latest Regulations” (January 20, 2023)
“Understanding Risks related to Sanctions against Russia,” The American Chamber of Commerce Uzbekistan (October 31, 2022)
“Decoding Washington: Update on the U.S. Policy Debate and Sanctions Towards Russia,” AEB Crisis Update: Sanctions and Countermeasures Webinar (October 26, 2022)
“Briefing on Russian related Sanctions and Exports,” U.S.-Turkey Business Council (October 6, 2022)
“Russian Related Sanctions and Export Controls,” The American Chamber of Commerce Legal Committee (October 4, 2022)
“Economic Review: Trends in the Current Reality / Russia's technical default: What does it mean?,” The American Chamber of Commerce (July 6, 2022)
“Navigating Russian Sanctions 2,” Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (June 24, 2022)
“Russia Sanctions Panel,” Women in Investigations Network (May 23, 2022)
“Economic Sanctions Course for Pericles Center,” International Legal Education (May - July 2022)
“Navigating Russian Sanctions,” Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (May 19, 2022)
“New sanctions against Russia,” The American Chamber of Commerce Sanctions Briefing (April 13, 2022)
“Sanctions Imposed on Russia,” Academy & Finance (April 12, 2022)
“Crisis Update: Sanctions and Countermeasures,” Association of European Businesses (March 25, 2022)
“Economic Sanctions: Russia-Ukraine Crisis,” MSFS & GLAF (March 22, 2022)
“Russia/Ukraine Briefing Call,” Business Council for International Understanding (March 3, 2022)
“The geopolitical uncertainty and its possible consequences,” Association of European Businesses, (February 4, 2022)
“U.S. Sanctions,” The American Chamber of Commerce Russian Briefing (January 19, 2022)
“New US/EU and UK Sanctions on Russia,” The American Chamber of Commerce Geopolitical & Sanctions Briefing (February 24, 2022)
“Economic Sanctions,” Pericles Center for International Legal Education (November 8, 2021)
“U.S. Sanctions,” The American Chamber of Commerce Russian Briefing (October 28, 2021)
“U.S. Sanctions,” The American Chamber of Commerce Russian Briefing (February 3, 2021)
“CBW Sanctions Round 2,” The American Chamber of Commerce Russian Briefing (August 2019)
“Compliance risk management in international trade and trade finance,” ICC Russia (June 20, 2019)
“Identifying the source of wealth in the Russian context and strategies to avoid sanctions and risks for banks,” Academy & Finance's Russia & CIS Private Clients Conference (May 9-10, 2019)
“Update on Sanctions,” The American Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Meeting (March 30, 2019)
“Business Briefing,” RBCC (February 26, 2019)
“Moderating Roundtable: Identifying and Developing M&A Soft Skills,” ALM and Law.com International Conference, WIOML Conference (June 27, 2018)
“Impact of recent U.S. sanctions on Russian oligarchs and top government officials, how to detect corruption and money laundering techniques used by PEPS, and U.S. and UK investigation on financial institutions,” Academy & Finance’s Russian PEPS and Oligarchs Seminar (June 19-20, 2018)
“Recent U.S. sanctions developments affecting Russian PEPs and oligarchs and what the consequences are in practice and what further steps are expected,” Academy & Finance's Russia & CIS Private Clients Conference (May 15-16, 2018)
“U.S. Sanctions,” The American Chamber of Commerce Russia Sanctions Briefing (April 11, 2018)
“U.S. Sanctions,” The American Chamber of Commerce Russia Sanctions Briefing (January 31, 2018)