Clark Fonda

Originally from California, I joined Werther & Mills in 2022. My practice includes civil litigation, white-collar defense, trade and telecommunications regulatory compliance, government investigations, construction law, and transactional work. I also have experience advising clients with local land use and municipal appeals. Dispute resolution drives my practice, and my versatile experience allows me to advise clients across multiple disciplines.

Before entering private practice, I spent over a decade on Capitol Hill, including service as a Congressional Chief of Staff. While on the Hill, I was well known for my leadership on trade policy. I was an original co-author of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, which was signed into law in 2018 and modernized the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). I also owned and managed my own consulting firm, giving me experience as a small business entrepreneur.

In addition to my law practice, I am regarded as a national security policy expert with experience leading initiatives for senior Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and working as a professional staff in the Army’s acquisition, logistics, and technology office. I have spoken internationally on trade, security, and financial services issues on several occasions and guest lectured students at the National Defense University.

I am licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. I am also barred in several federal jurisdictions and authorized to submit CFIUS and export control filings before the Treasury and Commerce Departments. I obtained a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, an M.A. in Irregular Warfare from the U.S. Naval War College, and a B.A. from the University of Southern California. I am a former collegiate sailor and have been in a variety of local bands, both as a guitarist and keyboard player. I live in D.C. with my wife, Kathryn, and our little puppies, Bradley and Tilly.

Notable Congressional Positions

• Chief of Staff, 2016-2018
• Executive Director, Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, 2015-2018
• Staff Director, Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus, 2011-2012

Experience

Member of the Maryland and DC Bar Associations

Publications & References

• BldUp, “BLDUP Spotlight: Clark Fonda,” August 26, 2021
• Yahoo News, “Should the U.S. ban TikTok over security concerns?”, July 23, 2020
• Yahoo News, “Here’s how Trump could ban the Chinese-owned app TikTok,” July 17, 2020
• Roll Call, “Congress looks at taxes, oversight, crime in fintech bills,” February 4, 2020
• Roll Call, “Crypto enthusiasts say new products lend bitcoin credibility,” January 14, 2020
• The New York Times, “TikTok’s Chief Is on a Mission to Prove It’s Not a Menace,” November 18, 2019
• The China File, “How Should Europe Handle Relations with China?”, April 19, 2019
• Charlotte Observer, “Pittenger could face two strong challenges next year,” October 17, 2017
• Bloomberg, “More U.S. Lawmakers Call for Scrutiny of Chinese Takeovers,” October 6, 2016

Speaking Engagements

• Guest Lecturer, National Defense University, 2017-2019
• Presenter, Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forums in Austria, Latvia, Argentina, and Washington DC, 2015-2017
• Presenter, USC Alumni Association, April 28, 2021
• Presenter, U.S. Blockchain Advocacy Partners, 2018-2021
• Presenter, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Working Group on Israeli Import-Export Security, 2019-2020