JiaZhen Guo
Jiazhen (Ivon) Guo focuses his practice on the telecommunications, media, and technology industry, and advises on a broad array of telecommunications regulatory and statutory issues, national security issues, M&A and technology transactions, export controls, sanctions, customs laws, corporate compliance matters relating to data privacy and cybersecurity, and patent litigation. His clients operate at the forefront of emerging technologies and products such as cloud software, consumer electronics, integrated circuit, telecommunications equipment, wireless communications, semiconductor manufacturing, quantum computing, Internet of Things, virtual reality, robotics, and AI.
Ivon routinely handles matters that require a profound understanding and comprehension of technology. In his regulatory and compliance side, Ivon represents clients before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), Congress, and federal agencies such as the Commerce Department. Ivon advocates on behalf of clients through rulemakings, administrative proceedings, and other agency actions. Ivon has also advised clients on a wide variety of compliance issues, including compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Outbound Investment Security Program (OISP), and information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain rules.
Ivon conducts transactional due diligence and assesses trade, sanctions, national security, regulatory, and compliance issues. He advises buyers, sellers, and investors to prepare transactions for review by the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (formerly known as Team Telecom) and the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS), as well as on outbound investment requirements. Drawing on his prior experience as a full-stack software engineer, he also frequently drafts and negotiates commercial agreements for SaaS, AI, and NeoCloud companies.
On the litigation side, Ivon has plaintiff and defense side experience in all phases of patent litigation including pre-trial diligence, drafting of pleadings and expert reports, motion practice, discovery, claim construction, trial, and appeal in major US district courts, the Federal Circuit, as well as in the International Trade Commission. Before joining Morgan Lewis, Ivon worked as a technical specialist at a patent boutique firm, where he specialized in prosecuting patent applications for technology products and services before the US Patent and Trademark Office. During law school, he served as a judicial intern to US Circuit Judge Jimmie V. Reyna in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as well as senior editor of The George Washington Law School’s Business & Finance Law Review.
Prior to his legal career, Ivon served as an application engineer group lead at the largest software-as-a-service company that specializes in events and hospitality management technology. He also worked part-time for the IEEE Computer Society.
Ivon maintains an active pro bono practice, where, for example, he represents victims of domestic violence in obtaining permanent residence status and non-profit organizations in navigating relevant compliance issues.
In addition, Ivon is actively involved in several firm initiatives. He currently serves on the Recruiting Committee for the Washington, DC office. Previously, he served as a representative on the firm’s Global Committee of Associates, the Washington, DC office’s Committee of Associates, and the firm’s Asian American/Asian Lawyer Network. Outside the firm, Ivon serves as co-chair of the Federal Communications Bar Association’s Privacy and Data Security Committee and as a board member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, DC Area (APABA-DC).
