Jonathan Wakely practices at the intersection of national security and the private sector, advising clients on a range of significant cross-border investment, national security, cybersecurity, supply chain security, and public policy matters. He has particular expertise representing leading global investors and U.S. companies in securing U.S. national security-related regulatory approvals for foreign investments, and has advised on transactions with a combined value of over $250 billion.

Jonathan regularly represents clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (better known as “Team Telecom”), and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) in proceedings related to the mitigation of foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI). Clients regard Jonathan as “fantastic and a rising star,” commenting that he’s “an excellent lawyer” and applauding his “great understanding of CFIUS work” (Chambers USA).

Jonathan has represented clients on national security reviews in virtually all sectors, including semiconductors, telecommunications, financial services, software, IT services, energy, and real estate. His representations include, for example, the landmark CFIUS-based defense of Qualcomm against the attempted hostile takeover by Broadcom; representing Ford Motor Company before CFIUS in multiple strategic transactions, including the $2.6 billion investment by Volkswagen in Ford’s autonomous driving subsidiary, Argo AI; and securing approval from Team Telecom for Univision’s $4.8 billion merger with Televisa. He has also negotiated and advised companies on compliance with many of the most significant, complex, and sensitive national security agreements of the past decade.

Clients also turn to Jonathan for advice on strategic business and policy matters related to U.S.-China competition. He is regularly engaged by multinational businesses—including some of the world’s leading technology companies—to assist in developing legal and business strategies related to positioning with respect to China. He has recently advised clients on implementation of the CHIPS Act, the potential for regulation of outbound investment, and other economic “de-coupling” measures.

Jonathan has been recognized by various publications for his work on national security matters, including as one of the world’s leading foreign investment lawyers under 40 by Global Competition Review, as a “DC Rising Star” by The National Law Journal, as a “Rising Star” by Law360, and as a leading CFIUS expert by Chambers USA.

In addition to his legal practice, he is an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches a course on national security and the private sector. Jonathan has also published extensively on matters related to the regulation of foreign investment; his articles have appeared in the Harvard National Security Journal, The International Lawyer, and the Global Trade and Customs Journal.

Before joining Covington, he served as a political analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he provided strategic analysis to the President and other senior policymakers.