Special Counsel
He / Him
Office
Chicago
New York
Phone
+1 312 840 7376
+1 212 891 1600
Ali Alsarraf represents companies and individuals in their most complex and high-stakes disputes. He brings a wealth of experience in litigating, investigating, and advising clients regarding crises that pose significant threats to their businesses or brands.
Ali has significant experience representing clients in high-profile domestic and cross-border litigation and international arbitration, including breach of contract, fraud, civil RICO, securities, and other commercial, human rights, and national security-related claims. His disputes practice has included groundbreaking international investor-state arbitration in the Middle East, as well as securing an exceedingly rare vacatur of an international arbitration award against Meleveetil Damodaran, the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is akin to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Ali’s investigations and crisis practice has included representing clients in sensitive cross-border investigations in the Middle East and Latin America involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other legal and compliance risks. He has an extensive pro bono practice ranging from civil and religious rights litigation to immigration and prisoner rights matters.
Ali is a leader in his communities and has been recognized for his global legal work. In 2024, he was selected to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Emerging Leaders Program, a yearlong program for young leaders who are exceptional in their fields and who are committed to shaping our global future. Ali is also the president-elect of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML) and serves on the board of directors of the Palestinian American Bar Association (PABA). And he co-founded the Alliance for Inclusion and Justice, which is dedicated to standing up to hate, bigotry, and discrimination against Arab and Muslim communities.
Ali is fluent in Arabic.
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Ali Alsarraf represents companies and individuals in their most complex and high-stakes disputes. He brings a wealth of experience in litigating, investigating, and advising clients regarding crises that pose significant threats to their businesses or brands.
Ali has significant experience representing clients in high-profile domestic and cross-border litigation and international arbitration, including breach of contract, fraud, civil RICO, securities, and other commercial, human rights, and national security-related claims. His disputes practice has included groundbreaking international investor-state arbitration in the Middle East, as well as securing an exceedingly rare vacatur of an international arbitration award against Meleveetil Damodaran, the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is akin to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Ali’s investigations and crisis practice has included representing clients in sensitive cross-border investigations in the Middle East and Latin America involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other legal and compliance risks. He has an extensive pro bono practice ranging from civil and religious rights litigation to immigration and prisoner rights matters.
Ali is a leader in his communities and has been recognized for his global legal work. In 2024, he was selected to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Emerging Leaders Program, a yearlong program for young leaders who are exceptional in their fields and who are committed to shaping our global future. Ali is also the president-elect of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML) and serves on the board of directors of the Palestinian American Bar Association (PABA). And he co-founded the Alliance for Inclusion and Justice, which is dedicated to standing up to hate, bigotry, and discrimination against Arab and Muslim communities.
Ali is fluent in Arabic.
Areas of Focus
Credentials
Admissions
- Illinois, 2022
- New York, 2014
Education
- University of Southern California Gould School of Law, JD, 2013
- DePaul University, BA, magna cum laude, 2009
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
Clerkships
- Hon. Ann M. Donnelly, US District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2018-2019
Service / Recognition
Awards
- The Albert E. Jenner Pro Bono Award, 2024
- Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Emerging Leaders Class of 2024
- Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, Social Impact Incubator, 2024 Cohort
- Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2024-2026
- Illinois Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2024
Community
- Alliance for Inclusion and Justice, Founding Board Member
- Associate Board of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Member
- The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, Associate Board Member, 2021-2023
Service to the Bar
- National Association of Muslim Lawyers, President-Elect
- Palestinian American Bar Association, Board Member
- Muslim Bar Association of Chicago, Past President, Advisory Board Member
- Arab American Bar Association of Illinois, Member
- American Society of International Law, Member
- International Bar Association, Member
- Muslim Bar Association of New York, former member of the Board of Directors and Gala Committee Co-Chair