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Gassan A. Baloul
Partner, Global Board Member and Co-Chair of the Middle East Practice
Gassan Baloul is a member of the firm’s Global Board and is the co-chair of the Middle East Practice. He also leads our Directed Emerging Market Initiatives. Gassan concentrates his practice on a range of matters, including international dispute resolution. In particular, he has experience representing states before international arbitral tribunals operating under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration (ICC) in Paris and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague.
Gassan has significant dispute resolution experience, defending lawsuits involving international law, construction issues, the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Alien Tort Statute claims, mass tort claims and banking issues.
In addition, he has significant experience and expertise representing clients in matters before the Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
- Successfully defending a sovereign nation from the Middle East in a US$1 billion ICC arbitration.
- Raising claims on behalf of a sovereign nation from the Middle East before the PCA in the Hague.
- Foreign government facing suits brought pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act.
- Foreign government in arbitration proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce.
- Leading international financial institution that was the subject of an investigation by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
- Leading financial institution based in the Middle East that was the subject of an investigation and enforcement action by the Department of the Treasury.
- Leading financial institution based in the Middle East in regulatory proceedings before the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
- Leading international financial institution based in the Middle East before the District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals against multibillion-dollar lawsuits arising out of claims under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Alien Tort Statute, including allegations that the defendant provided financial services to charities alleged to have provided material support to organizations designated by the US as Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
- Three leading financial institutions based in the Middle East involved in a multibillion-dollar federal lawsuit arising out of claims asserted pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Alien Tort Statute for damages resulting from a cross-border conflict.
- Leading financial institution based in the Middle East in a matter before the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
- Leading financial institution based in the Middle East involved in a multimillion-dollar action brought by the US government involving in rem civil forfeiture claims and civil penalties based on allegations of money laundering.
- Leading financial institution based in the Middle East in a breach of contract dispute, including a global fraud investigation involving investigative efforts and contacts in Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East.
- Private investment fund based in the Middle East in enforcement proceedings in federal district courts in Connecticut and New York.
- Leading insurance company based in Europe, with real estate interests in Egypt and Lebanon, involving the filing of 170 lawsuits in Egypt and Lebanon to recover fraudulently conveyed properties and cooperation with local authorities in the prosecution of criminal charges.
- Prominent businessmen based in the Middle East and other countries in regulatory proceedings before the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
- European telecommunications companies involved in a multibillion-dollar breach of contract dispute tried in the Southern District of New York.
- Foreign government on its policy objectives before the US government, including foreign aid, trade and general bilateral relations.
- Numerous financial institutions on compliance with US regulatory frameworks, including the Patriot Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.
Education
- Washington University in St. Louis Law School, J.D., 2003
- University of Oklahoma, B.B.A., 2000
Admissions
- District of Columbia, 2016
- New York, 2005
- Missouri, 2003
Courts
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2017
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Languages
- English
- Arabic
- DCA Live 2018 Rising Star of Law