Natasha G. Kohne serves as the partner-in-charge of the Abu Dhabi office and oversees Akin Gump’s Middle East practice, as well as spends significant amounts of time working on U.S. client needs in the U.S. and internationally.

Practice & Background

Ms. Kohne’s practice focuses on international litigation, arbitration and investigations across various industries including technology, investment funds, energy, construction and infrastructure. She has assisted clients in data breach investigations and risk management, cybersecurity intrusions, and investment funds and intellectual property litigation and arbitration, and regularly advises on high-value foreign direct investments and infrastructure disputes and project management. Ms. Kohne also has experience in the Middle East advising government-owned entities on multi-billion dollar investments and is regularly engaged in disputes, risk management, compliance and corporate advisory work for government entities, multinational clients, high-net worth individuals and U.S. companies.

Ms. Kohne has extensive experience over the years in government and regulatory investigations and in complex commercial disputes before an array of courts and international tribunals in various countries in the Middle East, Europe and North America.

Ms. Kohne routinely serves as an international arbitrator and advises clients on managing dispute-related risks and on corporate governance and compliance matters, including restructuring and structuring departments within large government institutions and multi-national corporations.

Ms. Kohne has spearheaded several reform projects for governments, including in emerging areas such as privacy, cybersecurity, asset recovery, judicial procedure, and construction. She has experience in both civil law and common law jurisdictions.
Representative Matters

Her experience includes advising on:

data breach investigations and remediation involving an energy infrastructure company in the GCC
international criminal and civil proceedings involving cyber intrusions and intellectual property investigations and disputes in Europe, the U.S. and the GCC
cross-border investigations involving intellectual property and the internet in China, the GCC and U.S.
risk management and compliance issues relating to a national cybersecurity center in the GCC
privacy data laws in the healthcare industry in the U.S., Europe and the GCC
defamation, libel and censorship disputes in the U.S. and Europe
an ICANN intellectual property and domain-name dispute involving the GCC
investment funds litigation and arbitration, including removing and replacing a General Partner of private equity funds by Limited Partners
international construction and real estate arbitrations concerning infrastructure projects in the GCC involving billions of dollars
data breach investigations involving the personal information of high-level officials
the application of healthcare regulatory advice as it relates to mobile apps in the U.S., Europe and Asia
security, internet and social media policies and procedures.

Community Involvement

Ms. Kohne is involved in numerous community and civic activities including:

formally serving on the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce of Abu Dhabi (AmCham)
being appointed to serve on the Advisory Council Committee of the Emirates Foundation’s Social Development Program
active involvement in US-UAE Business Council efforts, including speaking and supporting seminars about US-UAE business relations.

Speaking Engagements

Ms. Kohne has been a guest speaker at conferences, seminars and business events. She has been a guest lecturer at the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and other venues on various subjects including international dispute resolution, data breach and cyber security, investment funds and risk management.