May 12th CLE Evening Event: Afghan Attorneys

The WSBA International Practice Section is pleased to sponsor the following evening CLE, in conjunction with JAMS Arbitration, Mediation, and ADR Services and also co-sponsored by the University of Washington School of Law's Asian Law Center:

Afghanistan: A Changing Legal Terrain

Background:

Rule of law, judicial independence, and capacity to make, interpret and enforce law in a pluralist legal system are all urgent development priorities for Afghanistan. How do these issues impact U.S. companies as they seek to participate in major infrastructure projects? Please join us as we explore this topic with Afghan legal scholars and practitioners, and hear from them as they share their experiences, knowledge and challenges in this ever changing terrain. The scholars will specifically discuss the challenges to creating an attractive investment climate in Afghanistan, commenting on issues such as security, corruption, barriers to entry, a non-transparent legal environment and an unpredictable environment.

The Afghan legal scholars and practitioners are participants in a U.S. State Department Program, and sponsored by the University of Washington Asian Law Center helping to build the “pipeline” for a new generation of Afghan lawyers, judges and prosecutors. The scholars arrived here in Seattle from Afghanistan in March 2010, and will be returning soon, so this is your last opportunity to hear their fascinating presentations!

Panel of Speakers:

Wahidullah Amiri is a graduate of Nangarhar University from the Law and Political Science Faculty. He has interned with the Nangarhar Provincial Council, providing legal counsel and promoting the National Democratic Institute. He also worked with the Afghanistan Rule of Law Project as a legal English trainer at Nangarhar Univeristy. He joins the student body as a Fulbright Scholar focusing on humanitarian and human rights law. He speaks Pashto, Dari, Urdu, English and German.

Hussain Ali Atefi is a graduate of Balkh University. While studying, he was involved in the Taawon Cultural Association and the Afghan Council Guarding Freedom and Social Justice. He looks to focus on course work in constitutional law, administrative law and international law. He is interested in researching the intersection of human rights and social justice. He speaks Dari and English and some Urdu.

Mohammad Bashir Mobasher is a graduate of Kabul University’s Faculty of Law and Political Science. He is interested in public policy, human rights, and integrating Afghan cultural values into current development projects in Afghanistan.

Humayoun Rahimi is a professor on the Law and Politics faculty at Balkh University in Mazar e-Sharif, Afghanistan. He specializes in commerce law, private international law, contemporary legal systems and criminology. He is continuing coursework at the University of Washington School of Law towards his LLM degree.

Lutforahman Saeed is a professor on the Shari’a (Islamic Law) faculty at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan. He specializes in Islamic Studies, philosophy and comparative religions. He works as a legal advisor and interpreter for the US Army and is a member of the independent Bar Association of Afghanistan. He speaks Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Urdu and English.

Mohammad Faridon Sorush is a professor and the former acting Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Herat University in Herat, Afghanistan. He specializes in criminology and international organizations. He directs the legal clinic program at Herat University which he was instrumental in creating. Herat University’s clinical program, the first in Afghanistan, offers clinics in street law, civil legal advice and criminal defense. Professor Sorush is a returning participant in the Afghan Legal Scholars program.

Mohammad Ayub Yusufzai is a member of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Balkh University in Mazar e-Sharif, Afghanistan where he teaches constitutional law, the Afghanistan constitution, human rights, and political and administrative terminology (in English). At UW, he would like to study comparative law, US constitutional law, and constitutional law. He has also worked as a counselor at the Norwegian Refugee Council. He speaks Dari, Pashto and English.

Attendees at this interesting CLE will gain an understanding of the following:
- The basic history and sources of Afghan Law;
- The interplay of Sharia (Islamic) law with the civil/criminal codes of Afghanistan;
- An overview of the Afghan legal process, procedures, and system; and
- The government contract system in Afghanistan and restrictions on foreign participation.

When:
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Catered hors d'oeuvres from the Afghanistan restaurant Kabul will be served.

Where:
Offices of Perkins Coie
1201 Third Avenue, 48th Floor, Conference Room 48-7/8/9
Seattle, Washington 98101-0399

CLE Credits:
1.5 General CLE Credits for Washington attorneys pending (applied for)

Questions:
Please contact Mr. Shahzad Qadri of Adorno & Yoss, the section CLE Liaison and Coordinator, at:
Email: sqadri@adorno.com (using "Afghani Attorney CLE" in the subject heading)
Phone: 206-795-1144
Fax: 425-869-4050

For More Information and the Registration Form, to be submitted by phone, email, or fax (425-869-4050):
AFGHANISTAN: A CHANGING LEGAL TERRAIN (.pdf file)