Enayat Qasimi

Partner
blank image Enayat Qasimi

Enayat Qasimi

Partner
Washington T: 202.659.6792 F: 202.327.6174
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Enayat Qasimi

Enayat Qasimi

PARTNER
eqasimi@whitefordlaw.com
WASHINGTON
T: 202.659.6792
F: 202.327.6174
Biography
BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Qasimi’s practice focuses on international business transactions, private equity and venture capital, and alternative dispute resolution.  He has extensive experience in handling a broad variety of international business transactions, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa and South and Central Asia regions.  Mr. Qasimi represents both U.S. based and international clients.  Currently, he advises a number of U.S. and foreign based corporations, investment funds, law firms, institutional investors, multilateral lenders and private individuals on a broad range of transactions and issues.  In particular, he advises a number of leading U.S. Government contracting firms and law firms on various issues relating to conducting business in Afghanistan, including corporate, tax, investments, banking, labor, compliance, internal investigations, strategic planning and dispute resolutions and settlements.

Mr. Qasimi has worked or lived in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan.  Prior to joining Whiteford, Mr. Qasimi was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for a Saudi based investment banking firm in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Prior to that, he spent three years with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan where he served in different capacities, including as the Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport, Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor and Senior Legal Advisor to the President of Afghanistan during the enactment of the Constitution of Afghanistan.  He also has experience working with nonprofits and international organizations on legislative, reform, rule of law, development and capacity building projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  In addition, he has served as a Non-Resident Senior Associate with the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Qasimi is fluent in Pashto, Farsi and Urdu.

Recognitions

  • Chambers Global, General Business Law, Afghanistan (2017–2018)
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Member: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Executive Committee
  • Member: Maryland State Bar Association
  • Court Member: International Court of Arbitration for Afghanistan

International Business Transactions

  • Representing a U.S. based manufacturer with manufacturing and distribution facilities in Asia and Europe in connection with a broad range of international corporate matters
  • Represented a Middle East based oil and gas company in a joint venture with a U.S. based oil and gas services and technology company
  • Represented U.S. based corporations in acquisition of controlling stakes in foreign corporations in the consulting, logistics and security sectors
  • Represented and advised a U.S. based corporation in a joint venture with a Saudi Arabian based company
  • Represented and advised U.S. based and international manufacturers in connection with negotiating and executing distribution and agency agreements in different countries
  • Serving as outside General Counsel to Middle East based oil and gas services company with several projects throughout the Middle East
  • Advised a consortium of Middle East investors in connection with the acquisition of chemical company in Saudi Arabia
  • Representing leading U.S.-based construction company in connection with a Middle East joint venture
  • Representing U.S.-based professional companies in connection with expansion to the Middle East region
 

Private Equity, Venture Capital and Investments

  • Representing and advising U.S. based pension funds in connection with alternative investments in private equity and venture capital funds and funds of funds both within and outside of the U.S.
  • Represented and advised Saudi Arabia based private equity fund in connection with structuring and portfolio investments
  • Represented and advised North Africa based private equity fund in connection with structuring, transactional and compliance matters
 

Afghanistan

  • Serving as outside General Counsel to Afghanistan based oil and gas company with upstream project and midstream projects
  • Advising and representing Middle East based energy company in connection with oil and gas infrastructure project in Afghanistan
  • Advising and representing international mining consortium in connection with investments in the mining sector in Afghanistan
  • Representing and advising U.S. based lender in connection with a broad range of debt portfolio related matters in Afghanistan, including loan restructuring, collection efforts, corporate investigations and due diligence, local litigation and sale of collateral
  • Representing and advising several U.S. Government contracting firm in connection with compliance, tax, labor, corporate restructuring, dispute resolution and settlement related issues in Afghanistan
  • Represented international media company in connection with copyright infringement dispute in Afghanistan
INSIGHTS

Panelist: “Far-Reaching Russian Sanctions in the U.S. and an unprecedented speed in enforcement,” Webinar, April 2022

Co-presenter: “Ukraine – Crisis & Impact: How Can We Be of Assistance,” Webinar, PangeaNet, March 2022

Panelist: “A Deep Dive into Afghanistan Culture, Customs and Contract Dispute Resolution,” Conference on Contingency Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, February 2012

ARTICLES

March 4, 2024

Client Alert: Foreign Extortion Prevention Act

On December 22, 2023, President Biden signed into law the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (“FEPA”). FEPA is aimed at the “demand” side of foreign corruption and bribery, making it unlawful for any foreign official to demand a bribe from a U.S. issuer or domestic concern or to make such a demand within the United States. FEPA is intended to serve as a complement to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), which for decades has made it unlawful for a U.S. issuer to offer a bribe to a foreign official in order to obtain an improper business advantage. While the FCPA already addressed the payment of bribes to foreign officials, FEPA now criminalizes the request from foreign officials as well. 

PRESENTATIONS

NEWS

May 30, 2017

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston and 29 Lawyers Honored by Chambers and Partners

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2017 list of leading firms and business lawyers. This year’s recognition includes a record 29 attorneys in 4 states, the District of Columbia and Afghanistan.