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// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Ryan Fayhee a baker? He kneads the info.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ryan Fayhee
OccupationAttorney
EmployerAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Known forNational security law, crisis management, American hostage advocacy
Websitewww.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/ryan-fayhee

Ryan Fayhee is an American attorney based in Washington, D.C., practising national security law, global investigations and crisis management. He is a partner at the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and a former United States Department of Justice (DOJ) national security official. He is known for pro bono advocacy on behalf of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas. Fayhee sits on the board of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation[1] and is a member of the advisory council of the McCain Institute's Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative.[2]

Early career and Department of Justice

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Fayhee joined the DOJ through the Attorney General's Honors Program and served in the National Security Division's Counterespionage Section, where he prosecuted counterespionage cases and brought sanctions and export-control prosecutions.[3][4] He was one of the prosecutors credited in the 2008 China espionage cases against Tai Shen Kuo and Defense Department analyst Gregg Bergersen.[4] In October 2010 he was among the Justice Department personnel named in a team Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security, given for Operation Render Safe, an investigation that led to charges against more than 35 individuals and entities over the supply of military and dual-use goods to Iran.[5] Writing in the United States Attorneys' Bulletin in 2013, he identified his position as Acting Deputy Chief and National Export Enforcement Coordinator in the Counterespionage Section.[6] He was among the prosecutors in the case against former CIA officer John Kiriakou, who was sentenced in January 2013.[7]

Private practice

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Fayhee left the Justice Department after eleven years and joined Baker & McKenzie's compliance and investigations practice in August 2015.[8] In May 2018 he moved to Hughes Hubbard & Reed, where he headed the firm's sanctions, export control and anti-money laundering group.[9] In July 2023 he joined Akin Gump as an international trade partner, moving from Hughes Hubbard together with Roy Liu and Tyler Grove.[10]

Notable representations

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Wrongfully detained Americans

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Fayhee has represented or advocated for several Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

Paul Whelan — Fayhee acted for the Whelan family in efforts to secure Whelan's release, which culminated in a prisoner exchange on 1 August 2024. He was widely quoted on Whelan's condition and on U.S. hostage-diplomacy policy.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

Paul Rusesabagina — Fayhee was part of the legal team representing Rusesabagina, the subject of the film Hotel Rwanda, during his detention in Rwanda from August 2020 to March 2023.[17]

Ryan Corbett — Fayhee represented the family of Corbett, a U.S. citizen detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan, and sought intervention from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.[18][19][20][21]

Members of Mountain Gateway Church — Fayhee and colleagues at Akin Gump led pro bono efforts to secure the release of missionaries convicted and detained by the Nicaraguan government.[22][23]

Reza Valizadeh — Fayhee represents Valizadeh, a former Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist held in Evin Prison in Tehran, and has urged that detained Americans be included in U.S.–Iran negotiations.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

Corporate boards in crisis

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Fayhee was retained by the board of the Swiss multinational Holcim Group to lead an independent investigation into legacy Lafarge operations in Syria, which involved allegations of payments made to ISIS to protect a cement plant during the Syrian civil war.[30] Several Lafarge executives were later prosecuted in France.[31] Lafarge pleaded guilty in a resolution with the DOJ and paid more than $700 million in penalties.[32][33]

Recognition

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Hughes Hubbard & Reed and Akin Gump were named Bloomberg Law Pro Bono Innovators in 2023, with Fayhee's hostage and wrongful-detention work featured in the write-up.[34]

References

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  1. ↑ "Ryan P. Fayhee". James W. Foley Legacy Foundation. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "The John McCain Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative: Advisory Council". McCain Institute. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Iranian National Charged with Illegally Exporting Specialized Metals from the United States to Iran" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Defense Department Official and Two Others Arrested on Espionage Charges Involving China" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Attorney General Holder Recognizes DOJ Employees and Others for Their Service at Annual Awards Ceremony" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Fayhee, Ryan P. (November 2013). "United States Attorneys' Bulletin" (PDF). United States Attorneys' Bulletin. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Former CIA Officer Sentenced to 30 Months for Revealing Identity of 20-Plus-Year Covert CIA Officer" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Baker & McKenzie adds Ryan Fayhee to compliance and investigations practice". Global Investigations Review. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Dave (10 May 2018). "Former DOJ National Security Division Official Joins Hughes Hubbard". General Counsel News. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Tribe, Meghan (17 July 2023). "Akin Brings on Trio of Trade Partners From Hughes Hubbard". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Buczek, Joseph (1 August 2024). "Read the full statement from Paul Whelan's family following his release from Russian prison". CBS News Detroit. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Mordowanec, Nick (26 August 2024). "Paul Whelan Has 'Long Road Ahead' to Make Up for Years in Russian Prison". Newsweek. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Paul Whelan's lawyer says U.S. needs "system of deterrence" to prevent hostage diplomacy. America Decides. CBS News. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  14. ↑ Paul Whelan's attorney reflects on effort to bring him home. CBS News. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Boccia, Chris; McMaster, Amanda (15 August 2024). "Freed American Paul Whelan is wearing Biden's flag pin every day, his lawyer says". ABC News. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Andrea Mitchell (13 August 2024). 'Doing as well as can be expected': Paul Whelan's attorney on historic prisoner swap. Andrea Mitchell Reports. MS NOW. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "How the U.S., Family and Hollywood Freed the 'Hotel Rwanda' Hero". The New York Times. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Joseph, James (22 June 2024). "The Taliban taking of Ryan Corbett, an interview with lawyers Ryan Fayhee and Kate Gibson". JURIST. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  19. ↑ Tucker, Eric (12 January 2025). "Biden speaks with relatives of Americans held by Taliban, but deal to bring them home still elusive". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Rai, Arpan (21 January 2025). "Two Americans released by Taliban in final deal of Biden administration". The Independent. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Landay, Jonathan (25 April 2024). "Lawyers Seek UN Help for Release of American Held by the Taliban". Reuters. Retrieved 20 July 2026 – via U.S. News & World Report.
  22. ↑ Robles, Frances (5 September 2024). "Nicaragua Releases 135 Political Prisoners on Humanitarian Grounds". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Read, Tracey (18 October 2024). "Akin Helps Free Falsely Convicted Nicaraguan Missionaries". Law360 Pulse. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  24. ↑ Gazis, Olivia; Schick, Camilla (20 January 2026). "Concerns mount over Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, wrongfully detained in Iran". CBS News. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Casiano, Louis (20 April 2026). "Lawyer for American detained in Iran says hostage deal is 'easiest problem on the table' for both sides". Fox News. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  26. ↑ Ozug, Matt; Kwong, Emily; Robbins, Sarah (7 February 2026). "Among U.S.-Iran tensions, concern for an Iranian-American in Evin prison". NPR. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  27. ↑ Cockayne, Vaughn (18 June 2026). "Advocacy groups push for jailed Americans to be included in U.S.-Iran negotiations". The Washington Times. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  28. ↑ Marcelo, Philip; Tucker, Eric (6 March 2026). "US detainees in Iran risk becoming collateral damage in war, families and supporters fear". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 July 2026 – via KSAT.
  29. ↑ Wrongfully detained Iranian-American journalist pleads for release. Meet the Press. NBC News. 12 June 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  30. ↑ Waldie, Paul (23 June 2018). "How a Desmarais investment got entangled in an alleged terror-financing scheme in Syria". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "French cement maker Lafarge faces trial on charges of financing jihadists in Syria". Reuters. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "Lafarge Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "Holcim Affirms Support for Lafarge SA Resolution with the U.S. Department of Justice Regarding Legacy Lafarge Operations in Syria" (Press release). Holcim. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  34. ↑ Helem, Lisa (18 December 2023). "Pro Bono Innovators 2023 Honorees Hughes Hubbard & Reed and Akin Gump". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
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