Babak Hoghooghi

Practice Areas

Mr. Hoghooghi’s practice is primarily focused on U.S. economic sanctions. His extensive experience since 2010 on matters relating to U.S. economic sanctions have included representation of numerous clients in the U.S. and abroad, providing them with advice and counsel about compliance with the ever-changing and complex array of U.S. primary and secondary sanctions on Afghanistan (Taliban), Iran, Russia, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen (Ansarullah) and other countries, as well as other U.S. sanctions programs (i.e., Global Magnitsky). He has represented clients with respect to SDN delistings and licensing matters, including for the release of blocked funds or other properties, and in connection with voluntary disclosures, investigations, and civil/criminal enforcement actions before the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Having practiced law for about thirty years, Mr. Hoghooghi has also represented clients on a wide range of domestic and international commercial and corporate matters. He has acted as counsel to Fortune 500 companies and small to medium size businesses in connection with the acquisition or sale of a variety of business entities or commercial assets, as well as the structuring and development of projects, including major domestic and international infrastructure and power projects. He has also represented borrowers as well as lenders in connection with the financing of major projects by commercial banks and export credit agencies. A structural engineer by training and previously a practicing licensed professional engineer, he has also had experience with engineering projects and construction law issues.

Career

Managing Partner, Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP, 2023 to present

Partner, Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP, 2014 - 2022

Counsel, Clearspire, 2012-2014

Partner, BHFA Law Group, PLLC, 2011-2012

Executive Director & Founding Board Member, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, 2007-2010

Attorney, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates, 1994-2006

Structural Engineer, Ralph M. Parsons, 1987-1991

Professional Memberships

Mr. Hoghooghi was a founding Board Member and the first President of the Iranian American Bar Association for five years, beginning in 2000.

He is admitted to the Bar in the State of New York and the District of Columbia.

Education

Languages Spoken

Farsi (Persian)

Work Highlights

Representative U.S. Sanctions Matters

• Representing ten individual clients facing extradition to the U.S. and/or criminal prosecution in U.S. courts for alleged violations of U.S. sanctions

• Representing four clients with respect to their petitions before OFAC for removal from the SDN List

• Advising clients concerning the potential application of U.S. secondary sanctions relating to the Nordstream and Turkstream gas pipeline projects

• Advising export credit agencies of two major Asian countries with respect to the potential application of U.S. secondary sanctions

• Submission of U.S. sanctions expert statement before a German court in a dispute involving a prominent European bank and a major insurance company

• Representing clients, including a major international law firm, in significant international court cases or arbitration matters involving U.S. sanctions issues

• Representing a European company with respect to an OFAC license application to unblock significant funds & ensuing civil forfeiture proceedings initiated by the DOJ

• Representing an Asian company in connection with criminal proceedings initiated by the DOJ involving alleged violations of U.S. sanctions on North Korea

• Representing clients to provide advice and counsel regarding the Oil Price Cap Policy directed at Russia and trading in Russian oil

• Providing U.S. sanctions compliance advise to a number of third country clients with respect to commercial trade or investment in Iran in the aftermath of the JCPOA

• Representing clients to provide advice and counsel on U.S. sanctions compliance relating to potential investments in companies with Russian business dealings

• Providing sanctions compliance advice to U.S. clients with respect to the distribution and marketing of an award-winning Iranian film in the U.S. and with respect to an OFAC license for the shooting and production of a movie in Iran

• Providing compliance advice to a number of U.S. or European clients engaged in humanitarian exports to Iran or charitable activities in Iran, Afghanistan, or Yemen