Foreign Correspondent: An FDI Podcast

Inside Belgium’s FDI Screening: Policy, Practice and Geopolitics

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

On this episode of "Foreign Correspondent," host Jason Hewitt is joined by Anne Bonet, who led the implementation of Belgium’s FDI regime, and Vincent Mussche, partner at Liedekerke and leader of its foreign investment screening team.Together, they explore the practical realities and policy considerations behind Belgium’s foreign direct investment review process. The discussion covers how Belgium’s unique interfederal structure shapes FDI screening, the types of transactions and sectors that attract closer scrutiny, and the evolving landscape for international investors. Listeners gain insights into the operational aspects of the regime, recent trends in deal reviews, and the factors influencing risk assessments in Belgium’s approach to foreign investment.

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☑️ Vincent Mussche | LinkedIn

☑️ Liedekerke on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

☑️ Anne Bonet | LinkedIn

☑️ Jason Hewitt | LinkedIn

☑️ Skadden | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

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Foreign Correspondent: An FDI Podcast is presented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.

The Role of Private Investment in UK Defense

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:00:00 -0400

With unprecedented defense spending commitments and a clear focus on innovation, the U.K. faces a critical question:How large of a role should private capital play? Host Jason Hewitt is joined by Air Marshal Andrew Turner, CEO of Saibre Capital and Space4Sight, and Mark Wheatley, founder of Delano Wheatley Consulting and DWC Technology. Together, they delve into the opportunities and challenges for private investment in the U.K.’s defense sector, with a particular focus on emerging dual-use technologies that bridge civilian and military applications.

The discussion highlights the evolving attitudes toward ESG in defense investment, the need for politically aligned and patient capital, and the critical interplay between security and prosperity in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

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☑️ Air Marshal Andrew Turner | LinkedIn

☑️ Space4Sight, Saber Capital

☑️ Mark Wheatley | LinkedIn

☑️ Delano Wheatley Consulting

☑️ Jason Hewitt | LinkedIn

☑️ Skadden | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Foreign Correspondent: An FDI Podcast is presented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This podcast is considered advertising under applicable state laws.

The America First Investment Policy and What it Means for Investors

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400

The Trump administration's America First Investment Policy “reinforces that concept of the US being a preeminent destination for foreign direct investment,” Michael Considine explains in this episode of “Foreign Correspondent,” dedicated to exploring the policy’s implications. A senior advisor at FGS Global and former deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, Michael joins Skadden’s Tatiana Sullivan, a lead counsel on CFIUS matters, to unpack the policy with host Jason Hewitt. Tune in for their insights on how the policy may promote investment from allies while expanding restrictions on China, as well as the coordinated economic tools that create more predictable investment environments for cross-border transactions.

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☑️ Michael Considine | LinkedIn

☑️ FGS Global on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

☑️ Tatiana Sullivan | LinkedIn

☑️ Jason Hewitt | LinkedIn

☑️ Skadden | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

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UK Spotlight: National Security and Investment Policy Under Labour

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400

This episode of Skadden's "Foreign Correspondent,” hosted by Jason Hewitt, features a conversation on the U.K.'s foreign direct investment (FDI) reviews under the new Labour government. Paddy McGuinness, a senior advisor at Brunswick Group and former U.K. deputy national security advisor, and David Blackburn, a partner at Brunswick Group, are guests on the episode and discuss practical guidance for investors, the evolving national security landscape and the importance of early and informed engagement in the FDI process

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☑️ David Blackburn

☑️ Paddy McGuinness

☑️ Brunswick Group on LinkedIn | X | Facebook

☑️ Jason Hewitt | LinkedIn

☑️ Skadden | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

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Economic Statecraft and Foreign Investment Screening

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Host Jason Hewitt sits down with colleagues Brian Egan 一 former senior-most lawyer at both the National Security Council and the Department of State, as well as former deputy White House counsel 一 and Jonathan Benson, who focuses his practice on sanctions and national security, to unpack the economic statecraft toolkit and analyze the role that foreign investment screening plays in it. They explore the economic statecraft toolkit, examine how it’s being yielded and analyze the role that foreign investment screening plays in it.

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☑️ Jonathan Benson | LinkedIn

☑️ Brian Egan | LinkedIn

☑️ Jason Hewitt | LinkedIn

☑️ Skadden | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

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Mapping the National Security Landscape for Investors

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0400

In the inaugural episode of “Foreign Correspondent — where we’ll discuss foreign

direct investment reviews and the foreign policy, national security and political issues that drive them — host Jason Hewitt welcomes listeners to a discussion on the intersection of national security policy and dealmaking. For insights, Jason turns to guests Mike Leiter, the Washington, D.C.-based head of Skadden's CFIUS and National Security Groups, and Sir Simon Gass, senior advisor at consulting firm SC Strategy and former chair of the U.K.’s Joint Intelligence Committee. Together, they examine the overlap between national security and economic security, the changing relationship between the U.S. and Europe and geopolitical contests with China.

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☑️ Mike Leiter | LinkedIn

☑️ Sir Simon Gass | LinkedIn

☑️ Jason Hewitt | LinkedIn

☑️ Skadden | LinkedIn | X | Facebook

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Welcome to Foreign Correspondent

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Welcome to Foreign Correspondent: An FDI Podcast, brought to you by Skadden. In this podcast, we explore the complex world of foreign direct investment reviews and the national security policy behind them. In an increasingly contested global economy, understanding the intricacies of cross-border investment screening is essential for successful transactions. Tune in for the insights you need to navigate the FDI landscape.

If you’re enjoying Foreign Correspondent: An FDI Podcast, be sure to subscribe in your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss any future episodes. Additional information about Skadden can be found at Skadden.com.

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