MOHAMED Y. MATTAR
1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite # 501
Washington, DC 20036
(Phone) 202.663.5887
(Fax) 202.663.5899
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Executive Director: The Protection Project of the Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington, DC. Directs and supervises The Protection Project’s work in the following seven areas: Trafficking in Persons; Clinical Legal Education; Corporate Social Responsibility; Legal Reform; Promotion of Religious Dialogue; Enhancing Capacity of Civil Society; and Human Rights Education. Monitors, analyzes and reports on violations of human rights, conducts training and capacity building programs for NGOs, government officials and service providers, while working towards universal implementation of human rights. (2005-present)
Senior Research Professor of International Law:
Johns Hopkins University, Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, DC.
Teaching courses in: Comparative Law: The Islamic Legal System, International Trafficking in Persons, International Business and Human Rights. (2001- Present)
Non-Resident Distinguished Professor of Law:
Alexandria University Faculty of Law, Alexandria, Egypt
Teaching courses in: International Arbitration, Drafting Contracts, Corporate Liability and Human Rights, and Legal Clinic. (2009-present)
Adjunct Professor of Law:
Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC. Teaching courses in: Islamic Law, Investment and Trade Laws of the Middle East, International Trafficking of Women and Children. (1997-1999), (2000-Present)
The American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, DC. Teaching courses in: Investment and Trade Laws of the Middle East, Comparative Law, Islamic Law, International Commercial Contracts, International Trafficking in Persons. (1997-1999), (2000 – Present).
Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis. Teaching courses in Comparative Contract Law at Alexandria University Faculty of Law, an Introduction to the American legal system at Cairo University Faculty of Law, LLM Joint Program. (2008-Present)
Visiting Professor:
Arab University of Beirut, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Business, Beirut, Lebanon
Teaching courses in: Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Trafficking (2011-present)
Consultant: The World Bank. Advisor on Judicial Reform in the countries of Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Turkey, Philippines, Guatemala, Bolivia. (2005-2007)
Consultant: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Advisor on developing indicators to assess reform in the Arab World. (2006 – Present)
Co-Director: The Protection Project of the Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University-School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington, DC. (2002-2004)
Director for Legal and Legislative Affairs: The Protection Project of the Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University-School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington, DC. Advisor on anti-trafficking legislation and conducting comparative analysis of related laws, including anti-corruption laws, money-laundering laws, labor laws and immigration laws. (2001-2002)
Legal Advisor: Abu Dhabi Free Zone Authority, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Advisor on the legal framework for the establishment of Al Saadyat Free Zone and drafted related rules and regulations including e-commerce, intellectual property and other business laws. (2000)
Legal Advisor: Arab National Bank, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Advisor on banking laws, margin trading, electronic banking, debt collection, loan agreements, securities, assignments, guarantees, mortgages and other banking transactions. (1999-2000)
Senior Legal Advisor: The Protection Project (“Creating an International Legislation to Protect Women and Children from Commercial Sexual Exploitation”) of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Advisor on the various legislation and law enforcement issues in the legal systems of Arabic-speaking countries. (1999-2000)
Legal Advisor: Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Washington, DC.
Advised the U.A.E. government on investment and trade laws, franchising agreements, commercial agency, negotiating and drafting contracts, preparing legal memoranda regarding the U.A.E. and the U.S.A. legal systems. (1996-1999)
President’s Consultant for American Relations: Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt. (1997-1999)
US Director: Gulf Institute for International Law, Organized exchange programs between the Institute in Dubai, UAE and American and Egyptian educational institutions (1995-1999).
Legal Advisor: The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Cultural Mission to the USA, Washington, DC. Advisor on the Universities and Colleges’ Laws and Regulations, Employment Contracts and Immigration Law. (1993-1996)
Visiting Professor: Northeastern University, Department of Sociology, Boston, MA. Lectured on “The Legal Profession: Politics, Constitutional Structure and Professional Organizations in Egypt and the Arab World.” (Spring 1993)
Assistant Professor of Civil Law: Alexandria University Faculty of Law, Alexandria, Egypt. Taught Contract Law and Employment Relations. (1990-1993)
Visiting Professor: Arab Maritime Transport Academy, College of Management and Technology, Alexandria, Egypt. Taught Business Law, and Introduction to the Study of Law. (1991-1992)
Assistant Professor: Arab University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. Faculty of Law. Taught Torts, Contracts, Evidence, Leases, Insurance, Labor Law and Obligations. Faculty of Commerce: Taught Business law. (1986-1990)
Lecturer in Law: Alexandria University Faculty of Law, Alexandria, Egypt. (1978-1981)
Legal Consulting: Reported on the Saudi Arabian legal system. U.S. Law Firm, Chicago, IL. (1995); Egyptian Legal Exchange and Administration of Justice Program, Institute for the Study and Development of Legal Systems. San Francisco, CA (1993); Numerous American Law Firms, New Orleans, LA; Wrote memoranda on Egyptian workman’s Compensation and Tort Law. (1983-1985)
Expert Witness: Gave deposition regarding Egyptian Family Law, Property and Islamic and Arab Legal System. Houston, TX. (1984)
COURSES TAUGHT
Corporate Social Responsibility: This course investigates the role of national and international corporations in promoting respect of human rights, environmental ethics, with special focus on corporate liability for human rights violations including child labor, forced labor and labor trafficking, codes of conduct, and other means of voluntary compliance, labor rights, anti-corruption measures, unfair competition, consumer protection, and the John Ruggie’s Protect, Respect and Remedy principles.
Investment and Trade Laws of the Middle East: This course provides an overview of the commercial laws of the Middle East through an analysis of foreign investment and trade rules. The course also focuses on the laws that regulate the establishment of economic enterprises, contracts, oil concessions, franchising, commercial agency, the employment of foreign employees, intellectual property protections, and the enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards. In addition, the course examines models of privatization, Foreign Direct Investment, and Free Trade Agreements.
Comparative Law: This course explores the two major systems of the legal family, common law and civil law, with additional focus on Islamic law and Jewish law. The course provides a comparative legal analysis of specific issues in the various legal systems, including comparative constitutionalism, immigration law, and death penalty, theories of contractual liability, basis of tort liability, products liability, judicial divorce, and inheritance rights.
International Commercial Contracts: This course investigates the general principles of international contracts, including contract negotiations, contract formation, and contract drafting. The course also discusses specific forms of international contracts, including international agency, distributorship, joint ventures, licensing, and concession agreements. Sources of International Commercial Contract Law are also discussed, especially the United Nations Convention on International Sales of Goods (CISG), and the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts.
International Trafficking in Persons: This course is designed to examine the various issues related to trafficking in women and children from an international and comparative perspective. The course studies the international trafficking prohibitions of the various international conventions including the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The course analyzes texts of domestic trafficking laws from selected jurisdictions worldwide. The course also emphasizes the human rights based approach to trafficking in persons and the recognition of the trafficking person as a victim of a crime.
Islamic Law: This course focuses on human rights in the Islamic legal tradition and contemporary Islamic world, especially in countries of the Middle East. In particular, the course explores constitutional law, banking, insurance, international law, crimes and punishments, marriage, divorce, child custody, succession and wills in Islamic law. The course covers women’s rights, religious rights, and minority rights in Islam. The course also examines recent cases in which Islamic law is applied in American Courts.
Comparative Contract Law: This course examines various contract issues in the different legal systems, especially common law and civil law. These issues include contract negotiations, contract drafting, contract performance, and contract termination. The course presents comparative models from France, Italy, Germany, Egypt, and the United States. The course also discusses contract cases in which Islamic law is the applicable law.
Introduction to the American Legal System: This course is designed to provide an overview of the American legal system including adjudication, trial proceedings, the adversarial system, legal education and the legal profession. The course addresses the concept of federalism and American constitutionalism specifically the bill of rights, equal protection and judicial review. Contract law, tort law and commercial law are also covered, in particular, the Uniform Commercial Code, antitrust and unfair trade practices. The course examines various Supreme Court cases that highlight the fundamental principles of the American legal system.
International Business and Human Rights: This course investigates the links between human rights and business with special focus on the relation between international human rights norms and business standards, labor rights and regulations under American trade law, the issues of extraterritoriality, unemployment, wealth distribution and corruption.
International Arbitration: This course covers arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism with references to Egyptian law no. 27 of 1994 and arbitral awards rendered by the Cairo Regional Center for international Commercial Arbitration. The course also examines the UN convention on recognition and enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards especially the public policy exception.
Clinical Legal Education: This course offers law students an opportunity to enhance their lawyering skills by presenting the American Model of Legal Clinics and methods to implement this model in Egyptian law schools through civil society representation and pro bono work. Cases discussed during the course include violence against women, especially domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual violence.
Contract Drafting Techniques: This course provides practical exercises on international contract negotiations and drafting. The course adopts franchising as a model and explains the various contract terms and conditions that are included in an international contract.
International Human Rights: Theory and Practice – Online Course: This course is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of the main issues related to theory of and practice in international human rights. The course covers in detail the international legal instruments that constitute the basis for international human rights. The course also explores critical issues in women’s rights, children’s rights, minorities’ rights, religious rights, and ethnic rights.
PUBLIC SPEECHES/ CONFERENCES/TRAINING PROGRAMS
Trainer: Drafting a Model Law on the Establishment and Operation of NGOs, in collaboration with the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan & Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait (July 3-7, 2013)
Speaker: First Regional Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility in the Middle East, The Protection Project, Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Istanbul, Turkey (June 19-20, 2013)
Speaker: Interpretation of Article 303 of Penal Code, Defense Strategies and Sentencing Guidelines, in collaboration with UNODC, Algiers, Algeria (June 16-17, 2013)
Speaker: International Symposium on New Approaches to Legal Education: Legal Clinics, “Clinical Legal Education in Arab Universities: A Call for Curriculum Reform,” Anadolu University, Congress Center (June 13-14, 2013)
Trainer: Capacity building and raising awareness in the field of combating trafficking in persons, in collaboration with IOM and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manama, The Kingdom of Bahrain (June 10-11, 2013)
Moderator: Joint legal clinic meeting on drafting model law on rights of domestic workers, Kuwait International Law School, Sultan Qaboos University and Qatar University (June 5-6, 2013)
Speaker: The Elements of a Model Law on combating human trafficking: reading of Moroccan draft law, in collaboration with UNODC (June 2-3, 2013)
Speaker: Trafficking in Children: Reconciling International, Regional and National Legal Responses, Domestic Child Sex Trafficking Symposium, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland (May 1-2, 2013)
Speaker: Five Problems and Five Solutions: Some Thoughts on the Problem of Labor Trafficking in the Middle East, ILO Regional Tripartite Workshop to Combat Human Trafficking, Amman, Jordan (April 9-10, 2013)
Speaker: Second Middle East Regional Symposium on Clinical Legal Education: Developing Clinical Programs and Expanding Access to Justice, Doha, Qatar (March 16-17, 2013)
Guest Speaker: Trends in Combating Human Trafficking: A Conversation with Professor Cecelia Mo and Members of the Human Trafficking Course at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (February 19, 2013)
Guest Speaker: A Conversation with Professor Sabahi and Professor Taylor and the International Women’s Human Rights Seminar, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC (February 26, 2013)
Guest Speaker: Egypt’s New Constitution, American University Washington College of Law Middle East Forum, Washington, DC (February 20, 2013)
Moderator: Constitutional Transformations in the Arab World Following the Arab Spring: Comparative Models, an international conference organized in cooperation with the Bologna Center and the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development (CSSDD), Bologna, Italy, (February 7-8, 2013)
Moderator: The Protection Project International Workshop on “Crossroads East and West: Visions of the Economy in the Islamic and Western Legal Traditions”, Turin, Italy (February 4-5, 2013)
Speaker: A Model Law on Child Protection, Committee on the Rights of the Child- Side Event, Geneva, Switzerland (January 28, 2013)
Speaker: The Role of Law Clinics in Combating Human Trafficking in Arab Universities, Contemporary Trends for Combating Human Trafficking, Doha 3rd Forum for Combating Human Trafficking, Doha, Qatar (January 22-23, 2013)
Trainer: Drafting Model Laws on Combating Human Trafficking and Protecting Rights of Domestic Workers, Round Table Discussion with delegations from Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon, Alexandria, Egypt (January 14-15, 2013)
Speaker: Access to Justice and Law Clinics, Conference on Access to Justice in cooperation with Alexandria University Faculty of Law, (December 19-20, 2012)
Trainer: Drafting a Model Law on the Establishment and Operation of Non-Governmental Organizations in Collaboration with Kuwait University Faculty of Law and University of Jordan Faculty of Law, Kuwait, Jordan (December 9-13, 2012)
Speaker: National Colloquium: Shelter and Services, Evaluation for Action, Washington, D.C. organized by Shared Hope International (November 30, 2012)
Speaker: Doing Business Abroad Conference, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C. (November 14, 2012)
Speaker: UNODC Expert Group Meeting on Further Development of UNODC Human Trafficking Case Law Database, Vienna, Austria (September 24-25, 2012)