WASHINGTON, DC (June 9, 2021) – Mercury, a leading global, bipartisan public strategy firm announced the addition of international trade policy and sanctions expert Peter Kucik as Managing Director to its Washington, DC office. Having spent seven years at the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) before joining the private legal sector, Kucik brings extensive experience in helping clients navigate sanctions policy and compliance, litigation, and regulatory matters.
“With geopolitical issues increasingly disrupting the global economy, affecting trade policy, and driving export controls and economic sanctions, Peter’s unique expertise is exactly what clients around the world are seeking,” said Mercury Partner Vin Weber. “Peter brings an unmatched combination of experience in international policy, legal issues, and business operations, having worked across the highest levels of economics and trade. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Mercury family as we continue to bolster our global practice.”
As Senior Sanctions Policy Advisor at OFAC, Kucik worked with the Director, the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI), and other senior government officials to develop and implement sanctions policies and establish new regulatory schemes across OFAC programs. In this role, he supported all aspects of OFAC’s work to craft new Executive Orders, sanctions regulations, license authorizations, and policy guidance in coordination with the National Security Council, Department of State, and Department of Commerce. Kucik played a key role in the implementation of federal sanctions policies for Libya and Myanmar, as well as President Obama’s changes to ease restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba.
“We are pleased to welcome Peter, whose track record of success in navigating the most complex regulatory landscapes makes him a natural fit for our team. Governments around the globe are reassessing how to treat each other’s large companies,” said Mercury Co-Chair Toby Moffett. “We look forward to opening new doors for our clients under his leadership.”
Kucik joins Mercury after an extensive career in consulting and the legal sector, where he worked with major Asian conglomerates and multinational corporations to fulfill international standards for transparency, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, and labor rights, as well as formulate effective corporate social responsibility programs. As partner at boutique Myanmar-centric business advisory firm Inle Advisory Group, he worked to develop business and promote trade relationships in Myanmar, the U.S., and throughout the Southeast Asian region. He has assisted companies across the world in understanding and navigating U.S. sanctions, providing risk assessments, conducting due diligence to ensure legal and regulatory compliance, and evaluating potential exposure to Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) sanctioned by OFAC.
“I am excited to join the team of experts at Mercury and leverage my experiences to bring world- class services to their clients,” said Kucik. “Increasing instability has created brand new challenges for countries, businesses, and people around the world, and I look forward to working hard to provide the strategic guidance, counsel, and solutions they need.”
Kucik has advised Congress and worked with foreign governments, international organizations, and the United Nations to provide information and technical advice regarding sanctions policy. He has appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box and CNN’s World Business Today and is a go-to resource for The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, Reuters, and Associated Press.
About Mercury
Mercury is a high-stakes, bipartisan public strategy firm. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services that includes federal government relations, international affairs, digital influence, public opinion research, media strategy and a bipartisan grassroots mobilization network in all 50 states. Our firm is not just led by top talent — we distinguish ourselves by having senior talent deeply engaged in each project from start to finish, a promise we keep to clients. The firm has an established global presence, with U.S. offices in Washington, D.C., New York, California, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Montana, Texas, Iowa, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as international offices in London and Mexico City.
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