Akrivis Law Group, PLLC is proud to announce that firm Partner Farhad Alavi and Bryan Cave partner Clif Burns were able to successfully obtain authorization from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets for their mutual client, Iranian tennis referee Adel Borghei to participate in the United States Open.  Mr. Borghei, who had been invited by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) to referee at the Open, was informed soon after entering the United States that U.S. sanctions laws would prevent his participation.

Adel Borghei

Iranian Tennis Referee Adel Borghei

The two lawyers worked to submit a request to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to obtain a specific license that would enable Mr. Borghei to take part in the Open.  This license was issued on Friday, after an astonishingly short turnaround.  Mr. Borghei successfully began his work at the Open yesterday.

Mr. Borghei’s matter was the subject of a number of articles in international media, including the New York Times.  The original article in the August 22, 2013 New York Times article quotes Mr. Alavi on the matter, as does the article in today’s New York Times, which can be read by clicking here.

Mr. Alavi is quoted as to how the case speaks to the importance of the case in bringing attention to the personal impact of US sanctions and how ultimately “reason won the day.”

Mr. Alavi can be contacted at falavi@akrivislaw.com or 202.686.4859.  Other inquiries may be made to our firm Administrator at 202.730.1271.

Akrivis Law Group, PLLC is a boutique law firm based in Washington, DC. Its practice areas includes a strong focus on U.S. sanctions laws and trade law compliance.

This article is meant for informational purposes only. Past success is not necessarily an indication of future results, particularly as each case is unique.

 

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