Our People
Admitted:
Iraqi Bar Association
California Bar Association
Official Testimony:
United States Senate, Hearing on “Constitutionalism, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law in Iraq”
Sermid D. Al-Sarraf, Esq. General Counsel
Sermid Dean Al-Sarraf is General Counsel for DSLM. A California attorney (since 1996) of Iraqi descent, Mr. Al-Sarraf was admitted to the Iraqi Bar Association in 2005, becoming one of the first U.S.-trained lawyers to be licensed to practice in Iraq. In recognition of his expertise, Mr. Al-Sarraf has appeared in U.S. federal court as an expert witness and has provided expert testimony in multiple cases before the UK High Court on matters involving the application of Iraqi law.
After working five years in the non-profit arena to restore the Rule of Law in Iraq and rebuild key legal and judicial institutions, Mr. Al-Sarraf discovered a pressing need for a professional legal service-provider to serve the growing foreign, expat and international presence in Iraq.
He is also the Executive Director and co-founder of the International Institute for the Rule of Law (IIRL), an Iraq-based NGO and its U.S. counterpart, IIRL Inc., a California public benefit corporation. IIRL managed the Rule of Law program in Iraq for the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) for over three years and previously implemented the Rule of Law Coordination Project for the UK Embassy in Baghdad.
Prior to these engagements, Mr. Al-Sarraf was the Director of Iraq Programs for the American Bar Association (ABA) during which time he provided legal technical assistance to the Iraqi Constitutional Drafting Committee. Before this, he was the Chief of Party (in Baghdad) for the USAID-funded project entitled, “Raising the Bar: Legal Education Reform in Iraq” implemented through the DePaul University-based International Human Rights Law Institute (IHRLI).
Farah Killidar, Of Counsel
A Solicitor of the High Courts of England & Wales, with expertise in international law, corporate governance, arbitration, non-profit management, knowledge of and experience with Iraq’s legal and political systems, advising on cross-border transactions, and native Arabic skills. Ms. Killidar brings her demonstrated strategic vision and expertise working across cultural boundaries, as well as her combined knowledge of common law and the Iraqi legal system to the wide expertise of DSLM.
Dr. Essam Alsadi, Of Counsel
The former Deputy National Security Advisor (I-NSA) for Iraq (ret. as Deputy Minister), Dr. Alsadi has over 32 years of experience as a legal and policy advisor for the Government of Iraq. He previously held the positions of Adviser to the Prime Minister, Inspector General at the Higher Education Ministry, Director General at the I-NSA, Director General for Counter Terrorism Policy, and Legal Adviser to the I-NSA. Dr. Alsadi earned his doctoral degree in Public Law from the University of Baghdad, College of Law.
Our Team of Staff Attorneys include:
Mr. Sayf Khalil, Iraqi Bar Member
Ms. Iman Saheb, Iraqi Bar Member
Ms. Fatima Muhammed, Iraqi Bar Member
Ms. Israa Abdul Razzaq, Iraqi Bar Member
Accomplished Cadre of Legal Professionals
DSLM has an extensive cadre of experienced senior counsel and a dedicated team of staff attorneys, as well as affiliated attorneys in provinces outside Baghdad.
Beyond our dedicated legal professionals, we have developed a broad network of attorneys, law professors and retired judges to expand our capabilities as needed.
Given our years of experience and the depth of our relationships in the public and private sectors, we are fortunate to enjoy access to officials and decision-makers to ensure our clients are well represented.
Featured In
CALIFORNIA LAWYER
"OUR MAN IN BAGHDAD"
THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL
"TOWARD AN IRAQI LEGAL SYSTEM"
