DOHA: Squire Patton Boggs, one of the world’s strongest integrated legal practices, hosted a ceremony in its Doha office to recognise Asma Al Khulaifi’s successful completion of her Squire Patton Boggs Foundation Fellowship.
The event was attended by several guests, including US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith and Dean Clinton Francis of the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Law and Public Policy.
Asma is one of 18 individuals who were awarded the 2016 Fellowship by the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation in May and the only Fellow from a non-US law school. Asma, who completed her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University in Qatar, has just embarked on her second year as a law student at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and is the Foundation’s third Fellow from Qatar.
Since its establishment in 2000, the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation has awarded fellowships to more than 190 law students to pursue summer internships with organisations working in the public interest and in public policy. The program has contributed more than $10m towards pro-bono legal services in public interest law.
Asma, who has previously been involved in numerous initiatives, including the United Nations Doha Youth Forum on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, completed her Squire Patton Boggs Foundation Fellowship working at Education Above All (EAA). EAA is an initiative founded in 2012 by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar; the organization’s aim is to build a global movement that contributes to human, social and economic development through education. With a particular focus on those affected by poverty, conflict and disaster, EEA champions the needs of children, youth and women.
Charbel Maakaron, Squire Patton Boggs’ managing partner in Doha, praised Asma for her commitment, hard work and professionalism and thanked the HBKU College of Law and Public Policy and EAA for their participation: “Asma has proven herself an outstanding Fellow and a credit to her law school. I am delighted that we could recognize Asma’s achievement today in the company of esteemed guests and colleagues. Qatar continues to produce a stream of excellent lawyers and at Squire Patton Boggs we are proud to support their development, whether through training programmes and internships or with our Fellowships and collaborative ventures.”
Reflecting on the advancement of legal education in Qatar, Dean Clinton Francis commented: “With our Juris Doctor program, we set out to establish a first-of-its-kind graduate law degree for the Mena region. But alongside the best academic training there is always a need for practical experience and, especially, exposure to the best traditions of public service and the considerations of international policy work. It is great that a new generation of talented Qatari lawyers like Asma can take advantage of the Fellowships that the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation offers.”
Peter Klanduch, Senior Program Manager (Law and Education) at EAA, added: “I want to thank Asma Al Khulaifi for her contribution to the EAA over the summer and the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation for making that possible. Asma’s internship was a great opportunity for all of us to learn from each other. I hope that Asma will benefit from her experience at EAA which will encourage her interest in pursuing a professional career in the non-profit sector.”
Ambassador Dana Shell Smith commented on the exceptional efforts being made by numerous organizations in Qatar both to expand and develop international legal education and best practice, and to strengthen the commitment to public service in the country: “I continue to be impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm of all involved, in government, and in the private and the voluntary sectors. I would single out in particular those organizations which work tirelessly to empower women, and it is particularly pleasing to note that all three Qataris who have been recipients of the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation Fellowship have been gifted women students.”
The Peninsula
