Jonathan Gafni
About Jonathan Gafni
Jonathan Gafni serves as Senior Counsel and Head of U.S. Foreign Investment at Linklaters, bringing extensive experience in foreign investment regulations and national security. He has held significant roles in various organizations, including the U.S. Department of Justice and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and specializes in advising on national security reviews of foreign investments.
Work at Linklaters
Jonathan Gafni currently serves as Senior Counsel and Head of U.S. Foreign Investment at Linklaters, a position he has held since 2019. In this role, he focuses on navigating U.S. foreign investment regulations and advising clients on national security reviews of foreign investments in U.S. businesses. His expertise includes mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the context of cross-border investment controls.
Previous Experience in CFIUS
Prior to his current role, Gafni worked at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates as Counsel for CFIUS from 2014 to 2019. He also held positions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he served as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for CFIUS Support from 2008 to 2013, and as Senior Staff Officer for CFIUS Support in 2007. His extensive experience includes representing clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
Education and Expertise
Jonathan Gafni holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he studied Commercial Law. He also earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Georgetown University, focusing on International Business, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Strategic Intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College. Additionally, he obtained a Bachelor of Science (S.B.) in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Career Background
Gafni's career spans various roles in both the public and private sectors. He began as a Corporate/Securities Attorney at Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg & Ellers from 1988 to 1990. He has also worked at the U.S. Department of Justice in various capacities, including as a Forensic Financial Research Specialist and Program Manager in the Security Division. His experience includes positions at Tellium, Lucent Technologies, and Global Telesystems, where he focused on investor relations and business strategy.
Achievements in National Security and Foreign Investment
Throughout his career, Jonathan Gafni has developed a strategic approach to business, leveraging his background in economics and international business to inform his legal practice. He specializes in advising on national security reviews of foreign investments in U.S. businesses and has extensive experience representing clients before U.S. government authorities responsible for cross-border investment controls.