Alexander S. Birkhold

Partner

Alexander counsels clients on global ethics and compliance strategies, cross-border investigations, and white collar prosecutions.

Alexander Birkhold, Associate, Arent Fox

Alexander advises and supports international organizations to develop and implement effective anti-corruption compliance programs. He also conducts global investigations concerning a wide variety of matters, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), anti-money laundering laws, and securities regulations. He represents clients in connection with SEC investigations and enforcement actions, and individuals and corporations under investigation by the Department of Justice. Alexander also has substantial experience advising boards of directors on corporate governance and anti-corruption matters.

Currently, Alexander is a lead partner on the first multi-year DOJ/SEC FCPA compliance monitorship of a Russian company. He previously served on the team of a government-appointed independent consultant for one of the world’s largest financial institutions, where he reviewed the institution’s existing AML policies and recommended improvements to the corporate governance and compliance programs across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Alexander is a proud member of OutFox, ArentFox Schiff’s LGBTQ+ affinity group.

Professional Activities

  • Chair and Independent Member, USA Gymnastics Ethics & Grievance Committee

Clerkship

Before joining ArentFox Schiff, Alexander served as a law clerk to the Honorable Percy Anderson of the US District Court, Central District of California. 

Previous Work

Alex previously worked as an Associate at an international law firm in its New York office. During law school, Alexander spent a semester working at the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. 

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications & Presentations

  • “Recent Updates to the DOJ’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs,” Practitioner Insights Commentaries, Thomson Reuters, Co-author with Peter Unger and Elizabeth Satarov, December 6, 2024.
  • Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing, contributing writer with Karen Van Essen, et al., The Year in Review: An Annual Publication of the ABA/Section of International Law, Vol. No. 52 (2018)
  • Predicate Offenses, Foreign Convictions, and Trusting Tribal Courts, Mich. L. Rev. First Impressions (2016).
  • Rejecting the Ninth Circuit’s Distrust of Tribal Courts, Native Times, February 26, 2016.
  • The Problematic Extraterritorial Reach of U.S Regulators and Nonconventional Securities, 40 Yale J. Int’l L. Online 1 (2015).
  • Poking Holes in L.A.’s New Condom Requirement: Pornography, Barebacking, and Speech, 90 Wash. U. L. Rev. 1819 (2013).
  • America’s Next Top Model … Guidelines, Law á la Mode (2012).

Recognitions

Perspectives

Awards

JD Supra Readers Choice Top Author 2021