Jonathan Gafni

Practice Areas

Jonathan heads Linklaters' U.S. foreign investment practice, advising domestic and international clients on national security reviews of foreign investments in U.S. businesses. He represents clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and other U.S. government authorities responsible for cross-border investment controls. He formerly led U.S. Intelligence Community support to the CFIUS process, directing the preparation of national security threat analyses of more than 500 cross-border transactions.

Professional Memberships

Foreign Investment and National Security committee of American Bar Association Antitrust Section

From 2020-2022, Jonathan served on the board of directors of Specially Adapted Resource Clubs (SPARC), which provides a club-based, community-oriented day support program for adults with developmental and physical disabilities.

Work Highlights

Jonathan has represented parties across the globe, advising them on CFIUS and other national security issues arising from transactions in a variety of industries, including the aerospace and defence, infrastructure, information and communications technology, manufacturing, real estate, financial services and food sectors. Examples include advising:

- Daimler AG (Germany) in its spinoff of its trucks and buses businesses to Daimler Truck Holding AG.

- Schaeffler AG (Germany): advising on its acquisition of Ewellix AB, a producer of linear motion and actuation solutions

- Dialog Semiconductor Plc (UK) in its €4.9bn acquisition by Renesas Electronics Corporation.

- CJ Cheiljedang (South Korea) in its acquisition of a majority interest in Batavia Biosciences B.V.

- Jagex Ltd. (UK): advising on its its acquisition of Pipeworks Studios, a U.S.-based game development studio, from Sumo Group.

- Covestro AG (Germany) in its €1.6bn acquisition of the resins and functional materials business of Royal DSM.

Experience

Jonathan was a member of the interagency committee that wrote new CFIUS regulations following the 2007 amendment of the law governing CFIUS. Jonathan has co-authored several articles on the implications of the CFIUS process and recent CFIUS reforms. He has been cited by Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reuters, The Deal, Foreign Investment Watch, and Law360, and has discussed CFIUS-related issues on Bloomberg TV and CCTV.

Jonathan’s professional experience before joining the U.S. government continues to help inform his understanding of clients’ strategic and financial objectives. After beginning his career as a corporate/securities attorney, Jonathan served as a senior manager of corporate development and business analysis for telecommunications equipment manufacturers and service providers, as principal of a consulting firm in which he evaluated strategic investments and as a senior analyst in an executive branch lobbying firm.

Jonathan's pro bono work has included estate planning for LGBTQ and HIV-positive individuals and advising parents of adult children with developmental disabilities on the process for obtaining Supplemental Security Income benefits. He was selected to be on the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, which recognizes the pro bono contributions made by members of the District of Columbia Bar. He also assisted a non-violent drug offender to obtain early release from prison under the Obama administration’s Clemency Initiative.