Kawun Kakar

Practice Areas

Commercial Disputes, Immigration, Mining, Company Formation, Banking, and Employment

Career

Kawun Kakar, an active member of the California Bar Association, has over 20 years of experience as an attorney, private sector executive, and senior government and UN official. He has worked with both national and international institutions in Afghanistan, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Kakar focuses on Commercial Disputes, Immigration, Mining, Company Formation, Banking, and Employment.

He has worked with attorneys in multiple jurisdictions in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and South and Central Asia. Mr. Kakar has vast experience in contractual negotiations involving mergers in the mining, real estate development, and logistics sectors. He has also been involved in the development of a regulatory framework for Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Islamic Finance, Corporation Law, and Municipality Law.

Mr. Kakar has represented high-profile clients in Afghan courts and with judiciary authorities. He has successfully argued in front of the High Council of the Supreme Court as well as the lower courts. His clients have included major international corporations, USAID contractors, state corporations and large national businesses.

Mr. Kakar has deep knowledge of the legal and administrative processes, institutions, and officials in Afghanistan. He has worked closely with all law-making and judicial institutions of the country, including the Ministry of Justice, Attorney General’s Office, the Supreme Court, the Parliament, and the Cabinet and guided the passage of several major laws.

In the private sector, Mr. Kakar was the Legal Advisor and Director of Business Development for a major international conglomerate with a presence in 40 countries in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Eastern Europe, and Canada. He also served as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of a commercial bank where he ensured that the bank followed best international practices, the Banking Law, and guidelines and instructions of the Central Bank of Afghanistan.

Recognized as Band 1 Lawyer by Chambers and Partners, Asia-Pacific, for the last six years (2017-2022), and Leading Individual by Legal 500 for years 2019 & 2020.

Mr. Kakar has appeared on a number of international television and radio networks, including BBC, U.S. Public Television, U.S. National Public Radio, Voice of America, and Afghan National TV. He has participated in many international conferences—on legal issues, business to business, and Track II diplomacy—in the U.S., UK, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Austria, Mexico, and other countries. He has also published research papers and articles in reputable national and international publications.

Professional Memberships

Member of California Bar Association

Publications

Energy Investment Risk Assessment Report (EIRA)

Legal Guide to Public Procurement & Government Contracts in Afghanistan 2019

Legal Guide to Employment in Afghanistan 2019

Legal Guide to Mining in Afghanistan 2019

Legal Guide to Mining in Afghanistan 2018