Abstract: This article analyzes the investment legislation of the Russian Federation and the United States. The subject of this research is the specific normative legal acts regulating direct foreign investments in the indicated countries, while the object is the relations emerging in the process of foreign investment activity.  The author provides the examples of various factors in the area of foreign investment for the purpose of their comparison and determination of specificity of their practical implementation. The reference to doctrinal sources allowed to clearer explain the author’s position of the topic. The scientific novelty and relevance of this work are substantiated by examination of investment activity, which greatly impacts the economy of modern countries. The author’s special contribution lies in studying the experience of U. S. legislation with regards to direct foreign investments. The main conclusion consists in the fact that both jurisdictions have a well-developed mechanism for regulating investment relations, as well as both countries feature a number of restrictions that can face a foreign investor. The need for improvement of Russian legislation is underlined. The acquired results can be used in legislative and expert activity, as well as in further theoretical-legal research.