Leah Moushey
Member
Practice Lead, Africa
Leah's practice focuses on internal and government investigations, regulatory defense, and compliance advice on a range of issues, including foreign bribery, money laundering, sanctions and export controls violations, and fraud. She has counseled clients in the context of multi-jurisdictional internal and government-facing investigations, pre- and post-initial public offerings (IPOs), compliance audits, third party due diligence, and M&A due diligence. Leah has extensive experience advising clients across various industries but devotes a substantial portion of her practice to representing companies in the technology and fintech sectors.
Leah has particular experience in counseling clients on issues arising in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, having lived and worked in both regions. She is fluent in Portuguese and proficient in Spanish.
Prior to law school, Leah lived in Maputo, Mozambique, where she interned at a non-governmental organization, focusing on issues related to gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. During law school, Leah served as a legal extern in the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division's Fraud Section, a legal intern at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and an extern at the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project.
Representative Engagements
Government Inquiries & Corporate Investigations
- Served as a core member of a team that secured a declination from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a cross-border corruption investigation of a multi-national food processing company in Latin America
- Represented a publicly listed, global financial technology company in connection with cross-border investigation matters, including complex anti-corruption, anti-money laundering (AML), economic sanctions, and securities enforcement matters
- Served as a core member of a team that represented a global telecommunications company in a resolution with DOJ regarding non-criminal breaches of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA)
- Represented a publicly traded petrochemical company conducting an investigation into alleged diversion of product to Russia via third-party countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine
- Represented a global oil and gas company in connection with an investigation into allegations of corruption and kickbacks in Angola
- Served as a core member of a team that advised a Latin American oil and gas company in connection with investigations into allegations of corruption and transport of contraband
- Represented a multinational, publicly traded consumer health client in connection with investigations into whistleblower complaints in Brazil
Compliance Counseling
- Served as a core team member of a Monitor team tasked by the DOJ and SEC with carrying out an anti-corruption compliance review and assessment of a company pursuant to FCPA enforcement resolutions
- Advised a global mining company in connection with a compliance program review and risk mitigation measures with respect to a joint venture in Brazil
- Conducted various integrated risk assessments of operations and due diligence of local partners and third-party providers for multinational corporations in Angola
- Represented late-stage private technology company in connection with third-party risk management issues in preparation of an IPO
- Advised international companies in the fintech, telecommunications, manufacturing, and non-profit sectors on AML compliance matters, including trade-based money laundering, related to operations in various countries in Africa including Angola, Egypt, and South Sudan, as well as across Latin America
- Conducted an AML risk assessment for a global entertainment company
- Conducted an AML/countering the financing of terrorism (CFT)/sanctions gap analysis of the cross-border division of a global e-commerce company
- Conducted training sessions on U.S. AML/CFT and sanctions regulations for financial service providers, as well as companies in the automotive, e-commerce, and precious metal sectors
- Advised companies across various industries on enhancements to AML/CFT, anti- corruption, and sanctions policies and accompanying controls
Individual Representations
- Represented an employee of a major defense contractor in connection with an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Part 130 investigation led by DOJ's National Security Division
- Represented an individual and related energy company in defending against federal criminal charges alleging violations of U.S. sanctions, money laundering, and bank fraud laws
- Represented an individual involving a petition to revoke a red notice related to alleged money laundering and corruption charges
Government Experience
- Extern, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, 2015
- Intern, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 2014
Rankings and Recognition
- Latinvex Latin America's Top 100 Female Lawyers: FCPA & Fraud, 2020 - 2024
- Latinvex Top 50 Rising Legal Star, 2018
- Legal 500 Latin America: International Firms: Compliance and Investigations, Rising Star, 2022 - 2024; Leading Associate, 2025
- Who's Who Legal: Investigations - Future Leaders: Non-Partners, 2022, 2024
- DC Bar Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2018, 2020
- DC Bar Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017, 2019
- Phi Delta Phi Award for Excellence in Professional Responsibility, Ethics, and Jurisprudence, The George Washington University Law School, 2016
Admissions
State Admissions
- District of Columbia
News and Events
Events
Speaking Engagement
GIR Live: Women in Investigations 2025
Speaking Engagement
12th Annual LEC International Compliance Conference
Speaking Engagement
EU and U.S. Approaches to Artificial Intelligence Risk
Speaking Engagement
Special Update on U.S. and Brazilian Compliance Program Expectations: New Risks to Flag for 2025 and Beyond
Speaking Engagement
Compliance Expectations for Mobile Device Data
Publications
Internal Publication
FinCEN Prohibits Transmittals of Funds with Three Mexican Financial Institutions
Internal Publication
Treasury Targets Crude Oil Smuggling by Mexican Cartels: Key Takeaways for Energy Companies
Internal Publication