David Tafuri

Partner

David Tafuri leads a practice focused on emerging democracies and is a specialist in public international law who draws on experiences in the U.S. government and the United Nations to find solutions for clients facing issues in some of the most challenging forums in the world.

David Tafuri Portrait

David is recognized as the go to lawyer when you or your organization are facing obstacles in emerging markets and conflict and post-conflict zones abroad. He solves client problems by drawing on multiple experiences overseas and previous positions with the US Government and the United Nations and finds creative, multi-forum solutions to the most difficult crises.

David leads a practice focused on emerging democracies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Latin America. He specializes in public international law, transnational litigation, foreign direct investment, US export control and economic sanctions and rule of law matters. He represents US government contractors, NGOs and intergovernmental organizations. In addition, he has assisted foreign nationals in a variety of legal matters, including criminal and civil cases, sanctions, political asylum, and refugee proceedings.

David has written numerous articles based on his experiences on the ground in emerging democracies in a variety of national publications, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Politico and The Hill, where he is currently a foreign policy contributor (links to select articles listed below). David also appears frequently on CNN, Fox News, the BBC, NewsNation and other news networks to discuss foreign policy topics (featured appearances also linked below).

Client Work

  • Currently assisting several US based non-profit organizations that have been providing aid and assistance in Ukraine, since the beginning of the invasion by Russia. Traveled to Ukraine to assist the clients with humanitarian initiatives in the country, in coordination with the Government of Ukraine and the US Government.
  • The World Bank recently hired a team led by David for its COVID-19 crisis response for sovereign governments, including the governments of Brazi, Peru, Haiti and Philippines. The legal team worked with governments in emerging markets to provide strategic advice on the pandemic’s impact on public private partnerships (PPPs), across a broad array of industry sectors. David headed up efforts by local lawyers in various countries to reform and restructure large transportation and infrastructure PPPs, while working closely with The World Bank, Ministries of Finance, and national PPP units.
  • Legal Counsel to Africa South Business Group (“ASBG”), non-profit consortium of private sector companies in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa, which are seeking to attract foreign investment and to obtain greater access to financing from international financial institutions.
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Previous Work

David previously served as the US Department of State’s Rule of Law Coordinator for Iraq at the US Embassy in Baghdad, during the height of the war in Iraq. In that position, he worked directly with the Chief Justice of Iraq and Iraqi ministries to help rebuild the legal system. He traveled across the country overseeing the State Department’s justice assistance programs and managed a number of large US government contracts and non-profit grants. He was awarded the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award for his work.

In addition to his position with the Department of State, David draws on his previous experience as an aide to the Senate Judiciary Committee and a staff aide to several Presidential and Congressional campaigns to augment his practice. David was an outside foreign policy advisor to President Obama’s campaign in 2008. Before entering private practice, David worked for the United Nations in Turkey. He has also served on the board of directors of USA for UNHCR, which supports the UN Refugee Agency. He is the founder and current President of the US-Kurdistan Business Council.

Professional Activities

David’s memberships include:

  • Leadership Circle, Foreign Policy for America
  • President, US Kurdistan Business Council
  • Board of Directors, SEED
  • Former member, board of directors, USA for UNHCR

Publications, Presentations, & Recognitions

Publications

Examples of newspapers articles authored by David Tafuri:

Presentations

  • Speaker, Discussion on South Africa and Ukraine-Russia presented by Tony Leon and David Tafuri, Plettenburg Bay, South Africa, March 16, 2022
  • Moderator, Roundtable with the Representatives of the Kurdish Parties of Iran, Washington Kurdish Institute, February 26, 2020
  • Moderator, Roundtable with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Masrour Barzani, US Kurdistan Business Council, Erbil, Iraq, October 16, 2019
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In the News

The following are select appearances by David Tafuri on national news programs to discuss national security matters:

Insights