Education

• University of Chicago Law School, J.D. (2004)
• Duke University, A.B. Philosophy, magna cum laude (2001)
• Oxford University, Visiting Scholar in Philosophy, (1999-2000 Academic Year)

Professional Experience

Steele Legal Consulting – Asheville, North Carolina – Current
Consultant and Advisor to corporate clients, assisting in internal management of transactional projects on matters related to corporate formation, FinTech compliance, international regulations and contractual negotiation.

SL Global Partners – Founding Partner – Washington, DC – 2016 – 2019
Managing Partner for transactional project teams within a consortium of international firms specializing in global capital markets, FinTech, cross-border transactions, M&A, Islamic Finance, alternative investments, securities regulations, corporate governance and international regulatory regimes.

Arent Fox LLP – Senior Attorney, Corporate Finance – Washington, DC – 2015 – 2016
Senior Counsel and primary client contact on matters related to Securities, M&A and Corporate Regulation. Managed junior attorneys on transactional matters, including domestic debt and equity securities offerings for middle-market, private companies. Advised to private companies on general corporate governance matters, applicable regulations and best practices.

Vinson & Elkins, LLP – Senior Associate, International Capital Markets and Securities – 2004 – 2014
Practiced on location in the Middle East, China and London, representing clients in cross-border transactions and regulatory compliance. Advised international issuers on their ongoing compliance obligations under U.S. securities laws. Represented underwriters and issuers conducting debt and equity securities offerings, including SEC-registered offerings, private placements under Rule 144A and Regulation S, shelf offerings, tender offers and exchange offers on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and international securities offerings on foreign stock exchanges.

Bar Admissions: State of Texas (2004), District of Columbia (2008)

Duke University School of Law, Certification in FinTech Law and Policy: Global Financial Markets Center (2018)

Leadership & Service

Recruiting Committee: Served on Vinson & Elkins’ committee to recruit new associates, make hiring decisions and interview students during on campus interviews at The University of Chicago Law School and Harvard Law School.

Team Leader, Pro Bono Projects in India and Thailand: Co-led team of attorneys and law students on trips to Mumbai and Chennai, India to document and prosecute cases of illegal slave labor and human trafficking. The latter trip was featured in an article in the Texas Bar Journal (Sept. 2006). The prior trip was featured in an article in Duke Magazine (May/June 2002). Served as a visiting lawyer for the International Justice Mission, training indigenous lawyers in Thailand in trial advocacy skills, interviewing and documentation.

University of Chicago Human Rights Center, Project Leader and Liaison between faculty and undergraduates developing curriculum for the “Scholars at Risk” Program, an intervention project on behalf of persecuted academics abroad.

Human Right’s Documentation Center (HRDC) / South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center (SAHRDC): Co-wrote country report on South Africa published for the U.N. World Conference Against Racism (2001).

Publications & Presentations

”Big Law and the Wizard of Oz: Who’s Behind the Curtain of Your Big Firm (and the Bill)?” Lawyer.com (Feb. 2017)

“Regulatory Issues in Islamic Finance and New Developments,” Global Islamic Finance Report 2011 (Feb. 2011)

”Product Positioning in the Global Markets,” Global Islamic Finance Report 2010 (Oct. 2010)

“Material Adverse Change (MAC) Clauses in M&A Transactions,” The China Dealmaker (June 2010)

“Innovation and New Opportunities: Sukuk in the West,” Chapter 28 in Islamic Wealth Management: A Catalyst for Global Change and Innovation, Euromoney Books (2009)

“Examining Alternative Investments & Private Equity,” Islamic Finance World Conference, Toronto (May 2007)

“Racial Discrimination: The Record of South Africa”, HRDC, United Nations Economic and Social Council (2001)