Former OFAC Official Kuang Chiang Joins Morrison Foerster

(October 28, 2025) – Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the arrival of Kuang Chiang as of counsel in the firm’s National Security Group based in the Washington, DC office. Chiang brings to the firm more than 15 years of combined government and private practice experience in sanctions, export controls, and other trade restrictions, with a particular emphasis on economic sanctions as implemented and enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Prior to her most recent private sector role, Chiang served for several years at OFAC as an official in its Licensing Division, and her arrival makes her the fourth OFAC alumni within the Firm’s market-leading National Security Group.

Chiang joins Morrison Foerster from another leading global firm, where she advised U.S. and international companies and financial institutions on a broad spectrum of compliance and enforcement matters, including licensing requests, voluntary self-disclosures, internal investigations, and compliance assessments.

“Kuang brings a significant amount of OFAC experience, encompassing a deep understanding of economic sanctions and export controls law and practices, along with substantial private practice experience. This combination will greatly benefit our global clients as they navigate complex national security and foreign policy matters,” commented John Smith, former OFAC Director and co-leader of Morrison Foerster’s National Security Group. “Kuang joins a strong team of former OFAC, Justice Department, and other agency officials at MoFo, further bolstering the firm’s reputation as a leader in national security matters.”

In addition to Smith and Chiang, MoFo’s sanctions practice includes two additional OFAC veterans: partner Rachel Fiorill, former OFAC Enforcement Section Chief, and of counsel Elyse B. Martin, former OFAC Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs and OFAC Compliance Section Chief. Together with Smith, the MoFo National Security practice is co-headed by Brandon Van Grack and David Newman, each of whom served in senior roles at the Department of Justice (DOJ) overseeing high stakes criminal sanctions investigations and prosecutions. The National Security Group also includes partner Nathanael Kurcab, who formerly served in the Intelligence Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and whose practice focuses on economic sanctions and foreign direct investment issues, as well as counsel Margot Benedict, who served previously as Senior Counselor to the Attorney General and a DOJ trial attorney in the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

"I am excited to become part of Morrison Foerster’s distinguished National Security practice," said Chiang. "I look forward to working alongside MoFo’s outstanding group of attorneys, while contributing my private practice and OFAC experience to help clients navigate complex sanctions challenges, to provide investigative expertise for their most difficult enforcement challenges, and to support them in implementing effective, risk-based strategies for their multifaceted sanctions matters."

MoFo is one of only five firms ranked in all of the following national security categories by The Legal 500 US, including for National Security; International Trade, CFIUS; and International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions, and by Chambers USA for International Trade: CFIUS Experts and International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions – Elite. In addition, members of MoFo’s sanctions team are individually recognized by both publications, including John Smith, who is ranked Band 1 by Chambers in the International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions category.