Foreign Agents Registration Act: New Enforcement Priorities, Increased DOJ Scrutiny, Proposed Rule, Regulatory Update

This CLE webinar will examine the current Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) landscape, including possible changes under the new administration. After an initial overview of key provisions and compliance considerations under FARA, the expert panel will explore notable recent enforcement actions as well as the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) proposed rulemaking and new guidance to assess what to expect in 2025 and beyond under FARA. The panel will also offer best practices for mitigating risk of enforcement action.

The past year has seen no slowdown in DOJ's focus on the robust administration and enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) which requires that anyone acting as an "agent of a foreign principal," as defined by the statute, register with DOJ unless an exemption applies.

On Jan. 2, 2025, DOJ published its highly anticipated proposed changes to FARA's implementing regulations, including significant changes to the registration exemptions under FARA. Shortly thereafter, Attorney General Bondi published guidance related to criminal enforcement priorities under FARA.

Moreover, recent enforcement activity and increased congressional attention on foreign influence in certain sectors, such as on college campuses and within U.S. trade associations, reinforce the importance of understanding the FARA legal triggers and having a robust compliance program in place.

Listen as our expert panel provides a FARA update on these and other key developments. The panel will examine lessons learned from notable 2024 enforcement actions and what we may expect under the new administration. The panel will also offer best practices for FARA compliance.