Washington, DC – Parisa Salehi, the former Inspector General of the Export‑Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), has joined Parker Poe as a partner in the firm's Washington, DC, office. Parisa brings more than 20 years of insight into how clients can navigate complex compliance and investigative challenges, including evolving international trade regulations and high-stakes government enforcement actions.
In her Senate-confirmed role as Inspector General, Parisa led independent oversight of multibillion-dollar government programs and directed investigations, audits, and evaluations involving cross-border transactions and global compliance. Her work regularly involved coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice, financial sector regulators, congressional committees, and international enforcement bodies.
"As I met with different law firms," Parisa said, "Parker Poe stood out for its culture, both in terms of the warmth and depth of relationships here and the firm's commitment to help an entrepreneurial person like myself build something. I am delighted to join the stellar people at the firm working together to solve problems for clients."
"We are thrilled to welcome Parisa to Parker Poe," said Bruce Thompson, who leads the firm's Government & Public Policy Group. "Drawing on her investigative leadership and interagency experience, Parisa will help clients understand regulator expectations, manage exposure, and maintain credibility with oversight bodies, enforcement authorities, and key stakeholders. She will add immense value to our clients as we help them navigate the world of government and public policy."
"Parisa’s arrival at Parker Poe, with her deep insight into the regulation of international trade and enforcement of its rules, could not be more timely in light of the lightning-fast developments in the United States and across the globe right now with regard to tariffs and related policies," said Joel Schwartz, who leads the firm's White Collar & Government Investigations Group. "She significantly strengthens the firm’s ability to advise and defend businesses and their executives in cross-border investigations and compliance issues both at home and abroad."
Parisa has also served in oversight roles at the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General (OIG) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) OIG, where she evaluated foreign assistance programs, assessed fraud and compliance risks in overseas operations, and worked closely with diplomatic, development, and law enforcement partners. Additionally, she served as director of appeals and litigation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she led enforcement and litigation involving agricultural programs, directed domestic and international rulemaking, and supported trade-related dispute resolution affecting agricultural exports.
Her background in enterprise risk management and compliance program evaluation enables her to help companies, financial institutions, and boards mitigate regulatory risk and align governance frameworks with evolving enforcement expectations. Her counsel on compliance, regulatory oversight, and government enforcement will span areas such as government contracting, anti-corruption, export controls, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, and False Claims Act risk.
Parisa received her law degree from Howard University and her bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon.
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Businesses and local governments turn to Parker Poe to structure transactions, navigate regulations, and resolve disputes. Founded in 1884, the Southeast business law firm today has over 300 attorneys across offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC.
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