The real story behind War Dogs:
Webinar Recording
What a $300 million government contract can teach businesses about export compliance, end-user risk and global trade intelligence
Global trade compliance decisions are often made under pressure. Tight deadlines, complex export requirements and commercial priorities can make it difficult for organizations to identify and manage risk effectively.
In this webinar, David Packouz, the real-life figure portrayed in the movie War Dogs, joins compliance expert Richard Bistrong to discuss the government contract at the centre of the story and the lessons it offers for today’s trade compliance professionals.
Watch the full Webinar recording below
Global Trade Compliance Key Takeaways
→ Why commercial pressure can undermine export compliance decisions
→ How gaps in end-user and end-use due diligence create trade risk
→ Why current, reliable global trade content is essential for informed decisions
→ The difference between regulatory restrictions and individual contract requirements
→ Why verbal assumptions should never replace documented authorization
→ The importance of denied and restricted party screening throughout a transaction
→ How dual-use goods can be diverted to unauthorized military users
→ Why legal, compliance and operational teams need a shared view of trade risk
→ How rationalization and escalation of commitment can lead to compliance failures
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Speakers
Former arms dealer and the real-life inspiration behind the 2016 film War Dogs. At 25, Packouz partnered with childhood friend Efraim Diveroli to win a US Department of Defense contract worth nearly $300 million. What followed became one of the most extraordinary — and instructive — stories in the history of US government contracting.
FCPA, anti-bribery, and ethics consultant. Bistrong spent years inside the world of international arms sales before cooperating with the US Department of Justice and serving prison time for FCPA violations. He now works with companies and compliance teams worldwide, translating lived experience into practical guidance. Few interviewers are better placed to ask these questions.
Shahab leads Descartes' Global Trade Intelligence business across EMEA and Asia-Pacific, helping organisations navigate sanctions, denied party screening, and export controls. He brings deep regional knowledge and practical insight to the compliance challenges facing businesses across the Middle East and beyond. He will open the session and chair the live Q&A.