CELIS LEADERS DC
Investment Screening and Economic Security in the US and Key International Markets
The third edition of Leaders DC will focus on investment screening and economic security in the US and key international markets. The convening on May 6, 2026 will gather senior US government officials, representatives from key foreign jurisdictions, and leaders from business, private practice, and academia. Leaders DC provides a high-level forum for strategic exchange, gathering both practical insights and long-term perspectives on the future of investment screening policy in the US and key foreign jurisdictions.
An evening reception and guest speaker will take place on May 5, kindly hosted by Skadden. The reception will provide an opportunity for participants to connect and exchange views in an informal setting ahead of the programme.
Participation will be limited to 50 senior stakeholders (invitation only), and discussions will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule to facilitate candid and constructive dialogue in a high-trust environment.
Attendance is free of charge but requires prior registration and confirmation by CELIS. Applications are reviewed to ensure a balanced representation of perspectives across government, industry, legal practice, and academia.
Topics
This year’s edition focuses on two technical key issues in contemporary investment screening.
Topic 1: As cross-border transactions increasingly undergo parallel screening in multiple jurisdictions, differences in legal frameworks, risk thresholds, procedures, and mitigation expectations can create significant uncertainty for investors and authorities alike. The session examines how these divergences affect transaction planning and outcomes in practice, and where and how greater coordination across jurisdictions may help reduce regulatory risk.
Topic 2: Access to sensitive data has become a central factor in screening decisions, shaping risk assessments and mitigation measures, while also affecting the commercial viability and integration of investments. Discussions will examine how authorities assess data-related national security risks, how mitigation measures are designed and implemented, and how companies can structure data governance and cybersecurity frameworks to address these concerns.
What sets Leaders DC apart
A Trusted Transatlantic Network
Over time, DC Leaders has built a lasting transatlantic network of economic security and investment screening experts across disciplines.
Best Practice Exchange
Leaders DC provides a place for regulators, practitioners, and industry leaders to exchange emerging best practices in the design and implementation of investment screening and economic security policy.
Independent, Non-Partisan Platform
Leaders DC is an independent platform not owned by any single stakeholder group, ensuring balanced perspectives and an open, trusted environment for dialogue.
Meet the speakers (confirmed)
Carl Johan Wieslander
Director-General and Head of the Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP), Sweden
Andrew Fair
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington D.C.
Mitsutoshi Kajikawa
Deputy Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Japan
Meena Sharma
Director, Office of Investment Security Policy and International Relations, at U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington D.C
Paul Telleen
Director Office of Foreign Investment and National Security U.S. Department of Energy
Jonas Wendel
Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Sweden to US
Ryan Stoner
Deputy Director, Office of Investment Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.
Evan Sills
Partner, Kirkland & Ellis, Washington D.C.
Jason Hewitt
Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, London
Michael Considine
Senior Advisor, FGS Global, Washington D.C.
Jennifer Danner Riccardi
Senior Trade Adviser, European External Action Service, European Commission, Washington D.C.
Danielle Myles
Senior Editor, fDi Intelligence, Milan
Ana-Maria Belacurencu
Case Handler, Foreign Investment Department, Romanian Foreign Direct Investment Screening Commission, Bucharest
John Carlin
Partner, Paul, Weiss, Washington D.C.
Jeffrey Dressler
Managing Partner and Head of Global Government Affairs Softbank Group
Steffen Hindelang
Professor of International Investment and Trade Law, Uppsala University; Executive Director, CELIS Institute, Berlin
Become Part of the CELIS Leaders DC Community
Ministries & Government Authorities
- Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
- Department for Business and Trade (UK)
- Department of Commerce (US)
- Department of Energy (US)
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
- Department of State (US)
- Department of War (US)
- Economic Resilience Unit, Ministry of Industry and Trade (Czech Republic)
- EU Commission, DG FISMA
- EU Commission, DG TRADE
- EU Parliament
- European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO)
- General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (France)
- Homeland Security (US)
- Inspectorate for Strategic Products (Sweden)
- Interfederal Screening Commission (Belgium)
- International Trade Administration (US)
- Ministry of Economic Affairs (The Netherlands)
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany)
- Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business (Spain)
- Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (France)
- Ministère des Armées (France)
- Office for the Protection of Competition and Consumers (Poland)
- Permanent Representation of the EU to the US
- Secretariat of the Romanian FDI Screening Commission (CEISD) (Romania)
Private Sector
- Airbus
- Anduril
- Axon
- Axxin
- Econergy Renewable Energy Ltd.
- European Investment Bank
- HENRO – Hydrogen and New Energy Romanian Association
- Kostal Group
- Lockheed Martin
- L3Harris Technologies
- Public Investment Fund
- RTX
- Telenet Group
Academia
- Atlantic Council
- Georgetown University
- Indiana University
- University of Virginia School of Law
- Johns Hopkins University
- Hudson Institute
- Uppsala University
- University of Antwerp
- Indiana University
- Sciences Po
- King’s College London
- Liverpool University
Law Firms
- Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider
- Baker Hostetler
- Blomstein
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore
- Goodwin Procter
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- Latham & Watkins
- Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch
- Simpson Thacher
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
CELIS Leaders DC 26 Patrons
Support our Mission
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If you have any questions about participation and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Joanna K Thomsen at jkt@celis.institute.
Impressions of the last year’s event
