Focuses on the application of U.S. law abroad in the context of white collar investigations, sanctions, export controls, anticorruption or national security matters.
Advisor to boards of directors and Fortune 500 companies, sovereigns and state-owned entities.
Partner in charge of the Dubai office and co-founder of OverRuled.

Mac is the partner in charge of Akin’s Dubai office and co-leads Akin’s white collar investigations & trade compliance team in the Middle East. Having been based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2012, Mac has been instrumental in solidifying Akin’s standing in the Middle East.

With a focus on the application of U.S. law abroad, Mac’s practice spans several industries and continents. His clients applaud him both for his skills as a technician with mastery over the detailed nuances of U.S. sanctions and export control regulations, as well as for the high-level or bet-the-company strategic counsel he provides to help manage risk.

Mac’s technical experience spans Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions, Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). He has also been appointed by heads of state, sovereign governments and boards of directors of major multinational corporations as a trusted advisor to handle their most sensitive matters.

In addition to his practice, Mac created and now co-leads Akin’s support of OverRuled (www.overruled.com), an AI-enhanced legal data productivity platform for lawyers and compliance professionals.

Representative Work

Secured multiple OFAC General Licenses and Specific Licenses on behalf of clients facing unintended consequences of U.S. sanctions against Russia.
Launched the OverRuled Russia Trade Controls Resource Center (www.overruled.com/russia) to provide clients and users with near-real-time updates and analysis of the hundreds of legal developments that occurred in the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Settled with OFAC on behalf of a major Fortune 500 company in connection with apparent violations of the Iran Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.
Negotiated sanctions terms in multibillion dollar credit agreements and project financings.
Conducted scores of investigations of concerns stemming from export control, sanctions and anticorruption compliance, including in the Middle East and Africa.

"Mac Fadlallah is one of those rare breed of lawyers who is technically amazing but merges it with a high level of pragmatism and understanding of the market."

Chambers Global, 2022

Languages
Arabic

Education
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, 2008
B.A., University of Michigan, with distinction, 2004

Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
New York

Recognitions

Chambers Global, Corporate Investigations, United Arab Emirates, 2020-2023.
The Legal 500 EMEA, Dispute Resolution: Compliance and Investigations, 2022.
Global Investigations Review, 40 Under 40, 2020.
WorldECR, Runner-Up, Young Practitioner of the Year Award, 2017.

Speeches and Publications

Moderator, “The Middle East: Navigating the Emerging Compliance Challenges Amid Shifting Geopolitical and Regulatory Changes,” 18th Annual Flagship Conference on Economic Sanctions Enforcement and Compliance, American Conference Institute, April 29, 2024.
Speaker, “Financial Sanctions, The New Trends and Their Effectiveness: Establishment and Development of Effective Internal Compliance Reporting Policies,” World Union of Arab Bankers, Beirut, April 4, 2018.
Speaker, International Trade and Compliance Conference, Amsterdam, September 19, 2017.
Conference Co-Chair, Speaker, “Russia, Sudan and Other Sanctions Changes to Expect Under the Trump Administration,” C5 Trade Compliance in the Middle East, Dubai, March 6 and 7, 2017.
Moderator, “Compliance Programs and Risk Indicators of Terrorist Financing for Exchange Houses and Money Transmitters,” and panelist, “International Guidance and Mechanisms for Countering Terrorist Financing,” Global Center on Cooperative Security Forum, co-hosted by the Embassy of Denmark and the Central Bank of Lebanon, Beirut, January 9, 2017.
Speaker, “Iran Sanctions: One Year Later,” the Oath GC Talk Series, Dubai, November 9, 2016.
Speaker, “OFAC Sanctions Update,” Union of Arab Banks, Beirut, October 27, 2016.
Speaker, “Sanctions Risks on Bahraini Financial Institutions,” Union of Arab Banks, Manama, Bahrain, May 3, 2016.
Speaker, “Impact of the Iran Nuclear Deal on Middle East Financial Institutions,” Union of Arab Banks, Kuwait City, February 14 and 15, 2016.
Panelist, “Foreign Investments and Your Compliance Program,” Regulatory Fundamentals Group, Houston, February 3, 2016.
Speaker, “Iran Nuclear Deal: What’s Changed and What Hasn’t Changed,” U.S. Embassy Singapore Industry Outreach Seminar, Singapore, January 22, 2016.
Speaker, “Managing International Sanctions Risk & Impact of the Iran Nuclear Deal,” Union of Arab Banks, Beirut, November 10, 2015, and Doha, November 24, 2015.
Speaker, “The Iran Nuclear Deal—Impact of U.S. Sanctions Relief of U.A.E. Companies,” Akin and The American Business Council of Dubai & Northern Emirates co-hosted seminar, Dubai, October 11, 2015.
Panelist, “U.S. and EU Sanctions & Export Controls Impact Middle East Companies,” global Legal Confex, Dubai, October 7, 2015.