Iranian American Legal Defense Fund Names Yasmine Chubin its First Permanent Executive Director

WASHINGTON, DC, October 22, 2026 — The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF) today announced the appointment of Yasmine Chubin as its first permanent Executive Director.

An Iranian American attorney, Chubin brings more than two decades of experience in international litigation, investigations, and human rights advocacy to the role. She has led legal teams and strategic cases before national and international courts, and brings a record of building partnerships to protect human rights and advance accountability.

At IALDF, she will lead the organization’s mission to protect and advance the rights of Iranian Americans through litigation, advocacy, education, and community engagement. She succeeds IALDF Co-Founder Ali Rahnama, who served as Interim Executive Director following the organization’s launch in 2025.

“IALDF had a groundbreaking first year, and Yasmine is the right leader to build on it,” said Shiva Sarram, Co-Founder and Board Chair of IALDF. “She brings deep experience leading complex litigation and investigations, building strong teams, and working with partners to defend fundamental rights.”

“Building IALDF showed us how urgently our community needs a permanent legal defense organization. Yasmine has the vision and experience to expand our work, fully engage our community, and chart a successful path for the next generation,” said Ali Rahnama, Co-Founder of IALDF, who served as Interim Executive Director since its launch.

Most recently, Chubin served as Legal Director and Acting General Counsel at the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ), where she co-led The Docket, its initiative pursuing accountability for international crimes and serious human rights abuses.

Earlier in her career, Chubin spent a decade working in international criminal justice. She served as a Trial Attorney in the Office of the Prosecutor at both the International Criminal Court and the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and as an investigative lawyer at the UN-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. She was appointed as a United Nations expert advising the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. She has also led complex cross-border investigations and advised international institutions, human rights organizations, and financial institutions on legal and accountability matters as part of an independent practice she ran.

Chubin also practiced at Shearman & Sterling, now A&O Shearman. She is a graduate of Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and the University of Michigan Law School, where she served as Managing Editor of the Michigan Law Review. She is a recipient of the Iranian American Bar Association’s 2024 International Justice Award. She has also served as a Harvard Law School Wasserstein Public Interest Fellow and as a mentor with Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Clinic and Princeton University’s Legal Access Program.

As Executive Director, Chubin will oversee IALDF’s litigation, advocacy, community education, and government accountability initiatives. She will focus on strengthening the organization’s capacity, deepening community partnerships, and expanding access to legal protection for Iranian Americans and others served by its mission.

To support IALDF, volunteer, or stay informed about its work, visit ialdf.org.