Nixon Peabody LLP

  • People
  • Capabilities
  • Insights
  • About

Trending Topics

    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni

    Practices

    View All

    • Affordable Housing
    • Community Development Finance
    • Corporate & Finance
    • Cybersecurity & Privacy
    • Environmental
    • Franchising & Distribution
    • Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
    • Healthcare
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Services
    • Labor & Employment
    • Litigation
    • Private Wealth & Advisory
    • Project Finance
    • Public Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Regulatory & Government Relations

    Industries

    View All

    • Cannabis
    • Consumer
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education
    • Infrastructure
    • Manufacturing
    • Non Profit
    • Real Estate
    • Technology

    Value-Added Services

    View All

    • Alternative Fee Arrangements

      Developing innovative pricing structures and alternative fee agreement models that deliver additional value for our clients.

    • Continuing Education

      Advancing professional knowledge and offering credits for attorneys, staff and other professionals.

    • Crisis Advisory

      Helping clients respond correctly when a crisis occurs.

    • DEI Strategic Services

      Providing our clients with legal, strategic, and practical advice to make transformational changes in their organizations.

    • eDiscovery

      Leveraging law and technology to deliver sound solutions.

    • Global Services

      Delivering seamless service through partnerships across the globe.

    • Innovation

      Leveraging leading-edge technology to guide change and create seamless, collaborative experiences for clients and attorneys.

    • IPED

      Industry-leading conferences focused on affordable housing, tax credits, and more.

    • Legal Project Management

      Providing actionable information to support strategic decision-making.

    • Legally Green

      Teaming with clients to advance sustainable projects, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our planet.

    • Nixon Peabody Trust Company

      Offering a range of investment management and fiduciary services.

    • NP Capital Connector

      Bringing together companies and investors for tomorrow’s new deals.

    • NP Second Opinion

      Offering fresh insights on cases that are delayed, over budget, or off-target from the desired resolution.

    • NP Trial

      Courtroom-ready lawyers who can resolve disputes early on clients’ terms or prevail at trial before a judge or jury.

    • Social Impact

      Creating positive impact in our communities through increasing equity, access, and opportunity.

    1. Home
    2. People
    3. John SandwegPeople
    1. Home
    2. People
    3. John SandwegPeople

    John Sandweg

    Partner


    • Washington, DC
    • Office202.585.8189
    • jsandweg@nixonpeabody.com
    • Download vCard
    • Share

    Introduction

    John Sandweg leads the Cross-Border Risks team focusing on complex international challenges involving issues related to cross-border business, immigration, and national security.

    Practice Areas

    Government Investigations & White Collar DefenseComplex DisputesImmigrationLitigationGlobal Compliance & InvestigationsCongressional InvestigationsCross-Border RisksSupply Chain Risks & Customs Seizures

    My focus

    As the leader of the Cross-Border Risks team, I focus on complex national security, immigration, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) compliance matters. I also assist with international criminal matters and independent compliance reviews for individuals and companies in the U.S. and abroad. In this capacity, I advise individuals, businesses, governments, and political leaders on how best to achieve their most important objectives.

    I tap into my years of experience in leadership positions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and DHS to provide my clients with a unique perspective and strategic advice to ensure compliance with cross-border laws and regulations. I also draw on this experience to help individuals and companies to achieve cross-border investment objectives and overcome barriers to market access.

    In my role as the Acting Director of ICE, I led approximately 20,000 employees in every state and 47 countries in the agency's mission to enhance public safety and border security through the enforcement of federal border control, customs, trade, and immigration laws. I prioritized ICE’s intellectual property enforcement and cybersecurity efforts and worked to improve statistical transparency regarding immigration enforcement.

    As the Acting General Counsel of DHS, I served as the chief legal officer for the Department, advising the Secretary and the Department’s senior leadership on all significant legal, policy, and operational issues. Prior to this role, I served as counselor where I provided strategic advice and counsel on operational and policy direction and was a principal architect of the DHS’s immigration, border security, and law enforcement policy.

    Admitted to practice

    District of Columbia

    Education

    Arizona State University, B.A.
    Arizona State University School of Law, J.D.

    In the News

    • Global News (Canada)

      Global migrant crisis worsens during the pandemic

      This broadcast report on refugee crisis areas around the globe quotes Washington, DC Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner and former acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Sandweg on resources that are needed at the US-Mexico border and the need for countries to work together.
      Jan 2, 2022
    • NBC News

      'I wish I could switch places with you': By text U.S. veteran tries to help Afghan friend escape Kabul

      This article about an Afghan interpreter who worked with the U.S. and is stranded with his family in Kabul quotes Washington, DC Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner John Sandweg, who formerly served as acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and acting General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, on documentation for vetting and approving individuals who get on flights to the U.S.
      Aug 19, 2021
    • CNN

      New Day with John Berman and Brianna Keilar

      Washington, DC Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner John Sandweg, who formerly served as acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and acting General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, joined the program to discuss the U.S.-Mexico border crisis, after more than 200,000 migrants were taken into U.S. custody in July.
      Aug 13, 2021
    • SC Magazine

      ‘We desperately need a director’: Cyber advocates sound off as senator delays CISA confirmation

      Washington, DC Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner John Sandweg, leader of NP’s Cross-Border Risks team, is quoted in this article covering the delayed confirmation of Jen Easterly to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
      June 24, 2021
    • Government Executive

      Biden's DHS Pick Defends Ethics Record, Promises Morale Boost for Workforce

      This article on Biden’s pick to lead the U.S. Homeland Security Department quotes Washington, D.C. Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense partner and former acting General Counsel for DHS John Sandweg on how DHS career workers know it’s their job to help the president execute policies, regardless of their political views.
      Jan 19, 2021
    • Law360

      Nixon Peabody snags former DHS official to lead new team

      This article quotes CEO and Managing Partner Andrew Glincher and Washington, D.C., Government Investigations and White Collar Defense partner John Sandweg, discussing John’s arrival at Nixon Peabody to head up the firm’s new cross-border risks team.
      Sep 11, 2019
    • Reuters Legal

      Career tracker Lawyers on the move

      This roundup of key personnel moves in the legal industry features the addition of Washington, DC, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner John Sandweg and his legal team. They are spearheading NP’s new Cross-Border Risks team.
      Sep 9, 2019
    • Bloomberg Law

      Nixon Peabody adds ex-ICE director amid white collar swoon

      This article highlights the arrival of Washington DC Government Investigations and White Collar Defense partner John Sandweg, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

      John comes to NP after leading his own boutique firm, Frontier Solutions. He joins NP along with five team members: counsel Rachel Winkler, associate Catherine Ingram Hunstad, legal assistant Tracey Ford, and investigative directors Jerry Robinette and Miguel Unzueta. John and his five colleagues will spearhead our firm’s new Cross-Border Risks team.

      This article also quotes Washington DC Government Investigations and White Collar Defense partner Adam Tarosky on current trends in False Claims Act prosecutions.

      Sep 4, 2019

    Insights And Happenings

    View All
    • Alert

      China unveils new export control framework

      Oct 21, 2020
    • Alert

      Administration’s attempt to delete TikTok and WeChat: Latest trade tiff or new battle

      Aug 7, 2020
    • Alert

      U.S. places new export restrictions on Hong Kong

      June 30, 2020
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Robert Fisher

      Partner / Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
      • Boston
      • Office:617.345.1335
      • rfisher@nixonpeabody.com
      Robert Fisher
    • Hannah Bornstein

      Partner / Deputy Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
      • Boston
      • Office:617.345.1217
      • hbornstein@nixonpeabody.com
      Hannah Bornstein
    • Brian T. Kelly

      Partner
      • Boston
      • Office:617.345.1065
      • bkelly@nixonpeabody.com
      Brian T. Kelly
    • David A. Vicinanzo

      Partner
      • Boston
      • Office:617.345.1177
      • dvicinanzo@nixonpeabody.com
      David A. Vicinanzo
    • Christopher P. Hotaling

      Partner
      • Chicago
      • Office:312.977.4418
      • chotaling@nixonpeabody.com
      Christopher P. Hotaling
    View All

    Subscribe to stay informed of the latest legal news, alerts, and business trends.Subscribe

    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    • © 2023 Nixon Peabody. All rights reserved
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Statement of Client Rights
    • Supplier Diversity Program
    • Nixon Peabody International LLC
    • PAL