Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz - Commercial Success in Iraq

Commercial Success in Iraq

Charles "Rick" Johnston, chairman of the International Transactions and Trade Group at Baker Donelson, in front of the Ali Baba magic carpet statue in Baghdad. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 165 Madison Avenue First Tennessee Building Memphis, TN 38104 Congressional District: TN-9 Contact: Laura Hine, Chief Marketing Officer Tel: 901-577-2315; Fax: 901-577-2303 Email: lhine@bakerdonelson.com Website: http://www.bakerdonelson.com Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a law firm with 10 offices across the South Central U.S. and in Washington, D.C., as well as a representative office in Beijing, China has established a presence in Baghdad and Sulaimanya, Iraq. Charles "Rick" Johnston, chairman of the firm's international transactions and trade group, has established the firm's presence in an effort to better serve a variety of international clients with interests in Iraq and the region. As part of its legal services, Baker Donelson helps companies identify business opportunities, facilitates business partnerships, introduces clients to interim Iraqi government officials and assesses the political, legal and business climate. Baker Donelson engages the services of Iraqi nationals on an as needed basis to augment client representation. The firm made this move at the request of clients to provide a professional base of operations, expertise, and contacts within in Iraq's emerging economy, says Baker Donelson chairman and CEO Ben Adams. Adams says Johnston is "an exceptionally qualified international lawyer and under his direction the firm is well-equipped to serve the multidisciplinary needs of clients in this extremely dynamic environment." Baker Donelson sees Iraq as another opportunity to serve global businesses with interests in emerging international markets. With Johnston in Iraq, the firm will be identifying contract and business opportunities in the reconstruction of the country. The firm will help its clients communicate with government officials, decision makers and advisers overseeing the preparation and awarding of reconstruction contracts.