Of Counsel
Chris Brewster’s wide-ranging practice before Congress and government agencies draws on his experience as legislative and committee counsel in the United States Senate, as a state assistant attorney general, as a senior official with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and over 30 years of private practice.
As a member of the National Security/CFIUS/Compliance Practice Group, Mr. Brewster represents foreign and domestic clients in acquisitions that affect U.S. national security; helps foreign-owned clients acquire and maintain security clearances; and advises on compliance with U.S. trade sanctions and embargoes, U.S. export control laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws.
He has represented clients in suspension and debarment proceedings before the Department of Defense, the Air Force, the Army, the U.S. Department of State, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and in export compliance matters before the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), including licensing proceedings, voluntary disclosures and the defense of government investigations and enforcement actions. His FCPA experience includes an internal investigation involving the United Nations Oil for Food program, defense of an SEC investigation involving bribery allegations in Eastern Europe, and the development of numerous corporate compliance policies and anti-bribery training programs.
He has advised clients on numerous legislative and regulatory matters, including representation before Congress on labor and employment, antitrust, tax, federal contracting and telecommunications legislation, and in drafting comments in federal regulatory proceedings. He has supported the defense of a Congressional investigation, developed federal and national lobbying campaigns, and advised on compliance with federal election, lobbying and ethics laws. A former radio and television broadcaster, he has also helped structure media campaigns and communications strategies.
Mr. Brewster also counsels and represents clients on consumer product safety, advertising and other consumer protection matters before state and federal agencies, including the FTC and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). He counsels clients on compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Consumer Product Safety Improvements Act and related statutes and regulations. He has counseled clients in product recalls and in a civil penalty proceeding before the CPSC, and has developed compliance programs, crisis management policies and public service campaigns. He also advises clients on advertising and marketing issues, including false advertising, warranties, testimonials, and new media campaigns, and has represented clients in enforcement matters and rulemakings before state attorneys general and the FTC. He has also helped develop numerous national and regional sweepstakes, contests and promotions.
Before joining Stroock, Mr. Brewster was counsel in a major international law firm. Before private practice, he was Associate Director for Marketing Practices in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, with principal responsibility for prosecution of consumer fraud warranties and defective products, among other matters.
Prior to joining the FTC, Mr. Brewster was a legislative assistant and committee counsel for U.S. Senator John C. Danforth (R-MO) and counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs (now the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs). He helped draft numerous federal laws, including the Ethics in Government Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act, which created the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
Mr. Brewster also served as a state assistant attorney general in Missouri, where he prosecuted consumer fraud cases and criminal appeals, and represented the state labor board.
Best Lawyers in America, International Trade and Finance Law, 2023
Mr. Brewster has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, which cites his experience in matters before CFIUS. He has also been identified by Chambers as a “Leading Individual for International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions.”
Mr. Brewster has lectured throughout the United States on FCPA compliance, as well as on legislative and regulatory issues. Select engagements include:
Select publications include:
District of Columbia
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Graduate Program for Senior Managers in Government, 1982
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1975
A.B., cum laude, with High Honors in Government, Dartmouth College, 1972
Chris Brewster’s wide-ranging practice before Congress and government agencies draws on his experience as legislative and committee counsel in the United States Senate, as a state assistant attorney general, as a senior official with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and over 30 years of private practice.
As a member of the National Security/CFIUS/Compliance Practice Group, Mr. Brewster represents foreign and domestic clients in acquisitions that affect U.S. national security; helps foreign-owned clients acquire and maintain security clearances; and advises on compliance with U.S. trade sanctions and embargoes, U.S. export control laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws.
He has represented clients in suspension and debarment proceedings before the Department of Defense, the Air Force, the Army, the U.S. Department of State, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and in export compliance matters before the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), including licensing proceedings, voluntary disclosures and the defense of government investigations and enforcement actions. His FCPA experience includes an internal investigation involving the United Nations Oil for Food program, defense of an SEC investigation involving bribery allegations in Eastern Europe, and the development of numerous corporate compliance policies and anti-bribery training programs.
He has advised clients on numerous legislative and regulatory matters, including representation before Congress on labor and employment, antitrust, tax, federal contracting and telecommunications legislation, and in drafting comments in federal regulatory proceedings. He has supported the defense of a Congressional investigation, developed federal and national lobbying campaigns, and advised on compliance with federal election, lobbying and ethics laws. A former radio and television broadcaster, he has also helped structure media campaigns and communications strategies.
Mr. Brewster also counsels and represents clients on consumer product safety, advertising and other consumer protection matters before state and federal agencies, including the FTC and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). He counsels clients on compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Consumer Product Safety Improvements Act and related statutes and regulations. He has counseled clients in product recalls and in a civil penalty proceeding before the CPSC, and has developed compliance programs, crisis management policies and public service campaigns. He also advises clients on advertising and marketing issues, including false advertising, warranties, testimonials, and new media campaigns, and has represented clients in enforcement matters and rulemakings before state attorneys general and the FTC. He has also helped develop numerous national and regional sweepstakes, contests and promotions.
Before joining Stroock, Mr. Brewster was counsel in a major international law firm. Before private practice, he was Associate Director for Marketing Practices in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, with principal responsibility for prosecution of consumer fraud warranties and defective products, among other matters.
Prior to joining the FTC, Mr. Brewster was a legislative assistant and committee counsel for U.S. Senator John C. Danforth (R-MO) and counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs (now the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs). He helped draft numerous federal laws, including the Ethics in Government Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act, which created the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
Mr. Brewster also served as a state assistant attorney general in Missouri, where he prosecuted consumer fraud cases and criminal appeals, and represented the state labor board.
Best Lawyers in America, International Trade and Finance Law, 2023
Mr. Brewster has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, which cites his experience in matters before CFIUS. He has also been identified by Chambers as a “Leading Individual for International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions.”
Mr. Brewster has lectured throughout the United States on FCPA compliance, as well as on legislative and regulatory issues. Select engagements include:
Select publications include:
District of Columbia
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Graduate Program for Senior Managers in Government, 1982
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1975
A.B., cum laude, with High Honors in Government, Dartmouth College, 1972
