Former Senior Counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce Jason Lebowitz Joins Morrison Foerster

(May 27, 2026) – Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the arrival of Jason Lebowitz* as of counsel in the firm’s National Security Group, in Washington, D.C. Lebowitz brings extensive and multifaceted government experience, most recently serving as Senior Counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCCIS) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he advised on complex export control and national security issues, including Section 232 investigations, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) supply chain matters. Lebowitz’s addition further strengthens the firm’s capabilities in export controls, trade enforcement, and national security matters.

In his role as Senior Counsel at OCCIS, Lebowitz played a significant role in BIS enforcement actions involving the semiconductor manufacturing industry, including matters implicating the de minimis rule and Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), and has substantial experience drafting charging letters and temporary denial orders, negotiating settlements, coordinating with BIS agents and DOJ prosecutors, and advising on complex EAR enforcement and regulatory issues.

The firm’s National Security practice has received numerous industry recognitions, including being named among The Elite in Chambers Global’s International Trade: Export Controls, and Economic Sanctions category and designated Experts in its International Trade and CFIUS category in 2025, and was listed under The Legal 500 US’s International Trade: Customs, Export Controls, and Sanctions category for the last five years in a row.

“Having seen Jason operate at an extremely high level when we worked together in government, I could not be more thrilled that he’s chosen MoFo’s National Security practice for this next chapter in his career,” said David Newman, a leader of Morrison Foerster National Security and chair of its interdisciplinary Government Strategies practice. “Our clients will benefit greatly from his insights and experience at the leading-edge of the administration’s export control and tariff policies, as well as from his strategic approach to lawyering.”

Lebowitz’s arrival further expands Morrison Foerster’s market-leading National Security platform and deep bench of leading practitioners advising clients on evolving geopolitical, trade, and enforcement risks. He is the latest former government official with cutting-edge export control experience to arrive at the Firm, joining Chris Chamberlain, former Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce; David Newman, former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security at DOJ; and Brandon Van Grack, former senior official at DOJ, among others. Paired with the deep experience that Charles Capito has brought advising clients on the front lines of export controls for more than a decade, the team is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate rapidly evolving regulatory and enforcement developments affecting critical technologies, semiconductors, supply chains, and cross-border business operations.

“Morrison Foerster’s unrivaled roster of former senior government officials was a major draw for me,” said Lebowitz. “The firm has built an elite national security and government team and is continuing to invest in that platform in meaningful ways. I’m excited to work with David and Chris again and join my new colleagues in helping clients navigate today’s increasingly complex and rapidly evolving national security landscape.”

*Not admitted in D.C. Practice supervised by principals of the firm admitted to the D.C. Bar.