Connect with the IALDF

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Meet the Team

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Guided by a shared commitment to justice, dignity, inclusion, and community empowerment, the IALDF team brings together diverse experiences and expertise in service of a common purpose: protecting and advancing the rights of Iranian Americans. Through impact litigation, legal advocacy, legal support, civil rights education, and community engagement, we work to safeguard civil and political rights, combat discrimination, expand opportunities, and create pathways to education, economic success, and full civic participation.

Whether challenging unlawful government actions, defending the rights of asylum seekers and immigrants, responding to community members in need, demanding transparency and accountability, or building partnerships that strengthen access to justice, our work is grounded in the conviction that no Iranian American should face discrimination or injustice alone. United by shared values and a belief in the promise of equal protection under the law, we are working to build lasting protections for our community and advance a future where Iranian Americans can participate freely and fully in civic, economic, and cultural life, where their voices are heard, and where their heritage is recognized as a source of strength, pride, and belonging.

Team section

IALDF STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Yasmine Chubin serves as the Executive Director of the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF), bringing over two decades of experience in international litigation, investigations, and human rights advocacy. Prior to joining IALDF, she served as Legal Director and Acting General Counsel at the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ), where she co-led its international accountability initiative, The Docket. Her extensive career in international criminal justice includes serving as a Trial Attorney at the International Criminal Court and the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, an investigative lawyer at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and a United Nations expert advising the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic, alongside practicing at Shearman & Sterling (now A&O Shearman) and running an independent practice. Chubin holds a degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was Managing Editor of the Michigan Law Review. Her recognitions include the Iranian American Bar Association’s 2024 International Justice Award and appointment as a Harvard Law School Wasserstein Public Interest Fellow.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Emma Famili is a policy professional and social worker dedicated to building equitable systems through inclusive engagement and strategic programming. Joining the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, Emma brings a wealth of experience from her tenure as a Presidential Management Fellow at HUD and her award-winning work at the Department of Justice. Her leadership on the Title II web accessibility rule established her as a pioneer in digital equity-a focus she now applies to protecting the civil rights and legal protections of the Iranian American community. With a background in managing multimillion-dollar federal grants for youth homelessness and leading inclusive sports initiatives through ACEing Autism, Emma excels at translating complex policy into community impact. A staunch advocate for restorative justice, she continues to facilitate trauma-informed spaces for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, reinforcing her commitment to resilience and systemic equity in every facet of her work.

LEGAL FELLOW

Bardia Arasteh is an attorney and human rights advocate dedicated to advancing systemic change through impact litigation and policy advocacy. As a German-born Iranian American immigrant whose family fled the Iranian Revolution, he brings a deeply personal commitment to serving and protecting the community. A recent graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Arasteh honed his legal expertise through advanced coursework in International Human Rights Law, Movement Lawyering, and International Criminal Law. During his time at Texas Law, he served as a Staff Editor for the Texas International Law Journal and was an active member of the Middle Eastern and North African Law Students Association. Mr. Arasteh bridges rigorous academic training with practical legal experience, having previously advocated for Iranian American clients within a personal injury civil litigation firm. Grounded in a passion for justice and community empowerment, he brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to his work and is poised to dedicate his legal career to dismantling systemic barriers and championing the rights of marginalized populations.

RESEARCH IMPACT ASSOCIATE

Alex Frohn is the Research Associate at the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF), where she develops research and written products that support the organization's advocacy and policy objectives. Prior to joining IALDF, she served as a Research Assistant to Senior Fellow Mohammed Soliman at the Middle East Institute and as a Research Intern with APCO Worldwide's Insights and Intelligence team. Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Security Policy from the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. While at GW, she received the Elliott School Undergraduate Research Award for her dissertation, “Shooting the Messenger? Examining the Relationship Between the U.S. Intelligence Community and Policymakers.”