Karl Hopkins

Karl has represented clients on matters with touchpoints in over 50 countries. His representative examples include:

Strategic Advisory Services

• Advised European and Asian governments on advancing foreign and trade policies in the US and Europe.
• Successfully represented various entities before OFAC regarding the removal of US sanctions and related ongoing compliance and reporting requirements, including engaging political stakeholders to build support for win-win solutions.
• Advised multiple Middle Eastern governments on political and economic risks; identified and facilitated business opportunities.
• Counseled US and European think tanks on policy and governance, political risk and regulatory compliance.
• Counseled national security sector companies on securing investment partners, expanding international operations, optimizing governance and corporate structures, and navigating regulatory requirements.

Business Resilience, Data Governance, Security and Privacy

• Counseled an upstream oil & gas production facility concerning penetration and red team testing. The advice included the performance of high-end penetration tests that mimic the work of sophisticated attackers based on a formal penetration testing methodology that emphasizes repeatable, actionable results.
• Represented a US Fortune 100 energy company as its incident response counsel, and performed cybersecurity maturity and insider threat assessment.
• Designed and played APT ransomware simulation tabletops for a Fortune 500 client. Performed vulnerability assessments; implement vertically and horizontally interacting multi-regional incident response teams operating on segmented communications platforms.
• Created a risk analysis report for a US-based energy company assessing its zero-trust vulnerabilities. Recommended tailored SIEM technologies based on threat intelligence and geopolitical threat vectors analysis.

Infrastructure

• Advised a major Middle Eastern oil producer concerning its EPC contracting strategies to upgrade its crude oil gathering and transport facilities.
• Designed an EPC-based tendering processes and project management procedures for a major Middle Eastern oil and gas producer to be used in its capital projects.
• Developed a suite of contracts for a national oil company that includes Lump Sum Turnkey, Cost-Plus, Re-Measurable, and Early Production Facilities Model Tender Packages.

Dispute Resolution Matters

• Provided counsel to a foreign state agency in asset tracking and recovery action in Europe and the United States
• Represented a European family office in a multi-jurisdictional asset recovery case.
• Represented a national energy company agency in an off-take agreement dispute in an International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes arbitration.
• Represented a contractor before the ICC in arbitration involving construction defects relating to the construction of a gas pipeline.
• Represented a project owner before the LCIA in a dispute arising out of constructing a gas gathering center in the Middle East.
• Provided counsel to an international engineering and design contractor in a dispute regarding the misuse of proprietary designs by a contractor.
• Provided counsel to a sovereign wealth fund in a multi-jurisdictional enforcement action.
• Provided counsel to an oil and gas service company against a manufacturer in an LCIA arbitration regarding a dispute with its vendors regarding the supply of multiple gas turbines.

• JD Supra Readers' Choice Top Author 2023, Recognized as a Top 10 author for International Law

• Atlantic Council
  • General Counsel
  • Executive Committee
  • Nominating & Governance Committee
• Middle East Institute, Board of Governors
  • General Counsel
  • Executive Committee
• GLOBSEC
  • Member of the Board
  • General Counsel
• ASIS International
• American University Washington College of Law
  • Technology, Law & Security, Board of Advisors
• Association of International Energy Negotiators
• Texas A&M University
  • Chancellor's Advisory Board
  • George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Advisory Board Member
  • Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M Law School