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US Commerce Department names Raj Parekh as Chief of Corporate Enforcement

He will lead corporate investigations, advancing enforcement of U.S. export regulations and compliance oversight.

Raj Parekh. / Image - GW Alumni association

The U.S. Department of Commerce has appointed  Indian-American attorney Raj Parekh as its first-ever Chief of Corporate Enforcement, a newly created role within the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). 

Parekh’s appointment is part of the department’s broader efforts to enhance its export enforcement program, reflecting an ongoing commitment to strengthening oversight of U.S. export regulations.

Parekh will lead corporate investigations, serving as a key interface between BIS’s special agents, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Chief Counsel for Industry and Security, and the Department of Justice. His responsibilities will include advancing significant investigations into corporate violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), helping to ensure compliance with national security-related export controls.

Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, welcomed the appointment, saying, “Today’s appointment of Raj Parekh as Chief of Corporate Enforcement are important steps in institutionalizing the progress we’ve made over the past three years to strengthen our administrative enforcement program.” He emphasized that robust enforcement mechanisms are critical to deterring export violations and holding violators accountable.

Parekh brings extensive experience to the position, having previously served as Acting United States Attorney and First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). In these roles, he led more than 300 federal prosecutors and civil litigators, and oversaw numerous high-profile cases. 

Parekh has tried over 40 cases to verdict during his career and has held senior positions at the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Central Intelligence Agency.

This appointment coincides with recent regulatory changes announced by BIS, including updates to the voluntary self-disclosure process and revised penalty guidelines, all aimed at streamlining compliance and enhancing enforcement outcomes.
 

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