David Tafuri Featured in Washington Lawyer Magazine by the DC Bar Association

“David Tafuri has built one of the most consequential careers in modern international law: a practice situated not in the comfort of conference rooms or predictable corporate transactions, but in the unstable spaces where governments collapse, democratic movements emerge and the rule of law hangs in the balance.”

The magazine goes on to explain how his practice has involved providing advice to “governments, multinational companies, nonprofits, and democratic reform movements across the globe.” It then discusses specific successes his team has had in some of the most challenging environments imaginable for lawyers, such as Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Ukraine. 

The magazine credits David and his colleagues with a very principled approach that has set them apart from other international groups at major law firms: 

“Yet what distinguishes Tafuri most sharply from many legal practitioners is not merely his international reach, but the ethical architecture underpinning his work. He often has chosen to represent emerging democracies and democratic insurgencies, while also setting strict boundaries about not representing autocratic regimes and dictators, in particular the Russian Federation.”

Throughout the interview, David emphasizes the importance of strong legal institutions in promoting stability, economic growth, and democratic governance. “In my experience, the most important determinant of whether a country will be stable, secure, and capable of meeting the aspirations of its people is whether it adheres to the rule of law,” says David. “We have to spread the rule of law across the world.” The profile illustrates how that philosophy has shaped his career and continues to inform his work today, including ongoing efforts related to Ukraine, where he has advised organizations and businesses engaged in defense, relief,  and investment initiatives, since Russia’s full scale invasion.

The feature also underscores David’s longstanding commitment to advancing democratic governance and supporting clients operating in challenging markets, work that continues through his leadership at ArentFox Schiff. The article notes: 

“Throughout these engagements, Tafuri has maintained an ethical framework for operating at the highest levels of global commerce and diplomacy. He refuses to represent dictatorships, pro-Russian interests, or autocratic governments aligned against democratic systems. Tafuri views that limitation not as a sacrifice, but as essential to preserving credibility with democratic clients and reform movements.”

Reflecting on the purpose that has guided his career, David said, “I didn’t become a lawyer just to have lots of clients and make lots of money. I became a lawyer because I wanted to have an impact on the world.”

The article concludes, “In an era when many global advisers operate safely from a distance, Tafuri has built a career by moving toward instability, convinced that ‘the most consequential legal work often occurs precisely where institutions are weakest and the stakes are highest.’”

Read David’s full feature in the Washington Lawyer here.