Zahra is a member of Akin’s white collar investigations & trade compliance team in the Middle East. Based in Akin’s Dubai office, Zahra advises clients on U.K. and EU economic sanctions, export controls, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering (AML), modern slavery and competition matters. She has experience in a range of sectors, including construction, metals & mining, telecommunications, automotive, oil & gas, food & packaging and financial institutions & private equity.

Akin is the only law firm housing a dedicated investigations & compliance practice focused on civil and white collar sanctions and export controls matters on-the-ground in the Middle East. As part of the team, Zahra advises clients with respect to cross-border internal and regulatory investigations, voluntary self-disclosures and licensing applications.

Zahra represents global clients dealing with agencies, including the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), European Commission (EC) (and several member state authorities), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Prior to joining Akin, Zahra trained and qualified at another major U.S. law firm in their government enforcement and white collar crime team in London.