Ariana represents U.S. and non-U.S. clients in complex commercial and regulatory international trade matters, with a primary focus on economic sanctions and export controls. Her practice includes advising on compliance, conducting internal investigations, and assessing enforcement-related risk across a wide range of industries. She also provides strategic counsel to investors, acquirers and target companies on trade issues arising in transactions and cross-border operations.

In her pro bono practice, Ariana advises NGOs concerning their humanitarian operations in Iran, Lebanon, and other sanctioned jurisdictions. She also maintains an active immigration pro bono practice, assisting individuals with asylum, lawful permanent residence, and naturalization applications.

Prior to joining Akin, Ariana served as the inaugural judicial law clerk to the Honorable Nusrat J. Choudhury of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York. Earlier in her legal career, she was a litigation and internal investigations associate for a large global law firm.

Ariana received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she served as the editor-in-chief of the Columbia Journal of Race and Law, a student attorney in the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, and engaged in several pro bono projects, including the Rightslink Caravan: Human Rights Monitoring in Lebanon. She graduated with a B.A. in Communications, Law, Economics and Government from American University, where she served as the president and co-founder of the Persian Student Alliance.