Safwan Al-Amin Headshot
Safwan Al-Amin
+1.202.469.5695

Overview

Safwan Al-Amin is a litigation partner in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office. Mr. Al-Amin focuses his practice on complex international disputes and representing governments.

Mr. Al-Amin has extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions, dispute resolution, public policy, and regulatory and legislative matters. He advises international and Middle Eastern clients across various industries, including government, oil and gas, natural resources, defense and aerospace, and food and beverage.

In addition, Mr. Al-Amin has represented international, regional and local corporations in matters related to acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial relationships and compliance with local laws, employment, environmental, licensing and anti-corruption rules and regulations in the Middle East region. He also has extensive experience with constitutional, administrative and legislative matters in Iraq.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Al-Amin was an attorney at an international law firm in its Washington, D.C., office. Previously, he practiced at international law firms in Dubai.

Representative Experience

  • Representation of a state in an investment treaty arbitration
  • Representation of a state in an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) arbitration matter
  • Representation of government clients in complex civil litigation in U.S. federal courts

  • Represented a private equity-owned, Canada-based drilling services company in all matters related to the acquisition of a regional oil and gas services company with operations in East Africa and the Middle East
  • Represented a U.S.-based oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) company on the acquisition of interests in exploration blocks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
  • Represented a U.S.-based oil and gas E&P company in negotiations with an Iraqi state-owned company in relation to their joint operations
  • Advised U.S. and European-based oil and gas E&P companies on Iraqi constitutional issues in relation to oil and gas rights
  • Represented a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ports operator in the acquisition of a local ports operator in Saudi Arabia

  • Represented a U.S.-based food and beverage company in all matters related to the sale of its bottling business in Saudi Arabia
  • Represented a U.S.-based food and beverage company on all matters related to the structuring of its commercial relationships in Iraq
  • Represented a U.S.-based food and beverage company in the proposed acquisition of a bottling company in Iraq

  • Advised a Middle Eastern state on a public policy matter in the U.S.
  • Advised a United Arab Emirates (UAE) federal ministry on the legal aspects of an economic policy reform agenda and assisted in the preparation of a draft federal law, in Arabic and in English, for the implementation of the policy
  • Represented a UAE federal regulatory agency on a broad range of policy and legislative matters, including the drafting of regulations related to the primary objective of the agency

  • Represented a major U.S.-based contractor in all matters related to the establishment of a joint venture with a regional corporation to provide services throughout the Middle East
  • Represented a Canada-based technology company in all matters related to the establishment of a joint venture with a major U.S.-based multinational and a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based investment company for the purpose of developing cutting-edge defense technology
  • Represented a Canada-based mining company in all matters related to the divestment of its interest in a copper-mining business in Saudi Arabia and the related establishment of a strategic joint venture to continue to operate the mining business alongside the client's incoming operating partner

  • Represented a major Persian Gulf-based conglomerate in all matters related to the acquisition of a local landscaping, nursery and agricultural equipment distribution group of companies
  • Represented a major Persian Gulf-based conglomerate in all matters related to the acquisition of a large Saudi Arabian automotive distribution company
  • Represented a U.S.-based diversified financial services company in all matters related to a proposed acquisition of a local health insurance broker in the United Arab Emirates
  • Participated in a number of pro bono matters, including the asylum applications and hearings of Iraqi refugees in the U.S.

Credentials

Education
  • Yale Law School, LL.M.
  • Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, M.P.A.
  • School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, LL.B.
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • District of Columbia
  • Iraq
  • New York
Honors & Awards
  • Chambers Global – The World's Leading Lawyers for Business guide, Iraqi Law, 2015