Insights
Bridging Law and Academia: Abe Rein Moderates Panel on Research Security and Federal Enforcement
On October 10, 2025, Abe Rein, chair of Post & Schell’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice group, moderated a panel on “Defending Academics and Institutions in Foreign Interference and Research Security Matters,” presented by the Federal Criminal Law Committee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The panel featured presentations by Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum; Michael Vernick, head of Akin Gump’s Government Contracts practice group; and Jennifer Beidel, of Dykema’s White Collar and Government Investigations practice group.
The discussion covered the history of the Department of Justice’s China Initiative, and how related issues are addressed in today’s federal enforcement environment. Rein and the panelists discussed multiple facets of these complex cases, from the differing expectations among various federal agencies, to the challenges posed by cases involving specialized scientific knowledge, to issues of immigration and even cultural bias that lawyers and clients sometimes encounter.
For questions or more information, please contact Abe Rein, Chair of the firm's White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group at 215-587-1057 or arein@postschell.com.