Karima Tawfik

How Karima Helps Clients

Karima Tawfik is an all-around litigator based in Buchanan's Washington, D.C., office. Karima regularly practices in both civil and white collar criminal matters in a range of federal and state courts including the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (the "Rocket Docket"), and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. For the last three years, Karima has defended clients in COVID-19 litigation across the country and conducted extensive research and brief-writing on the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act's (PREP Act) provisions for immunity from liability. She also represents clients before the Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, and other governmental agencies, and has experience navigating multijurisdictional disputes and those involving foreign nationals. Karima approaches writing her briefs with attention to detail to deliver well-researched and well-reasoned arguments to the Court. Her briefs have secured significant victories for her clients, including dismissals at early stages of litigation.

Karima’s approach to researching, writing, and litigating is informed by her experience working for the federal judiciary. From 2016 to 2017, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Hilda G. Tagle of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, where she oversaw the trial processes and ultimate disposition of cases in Houston and along the United States-Mexico border, including passport revocation, criminal smuggling, employment law, tort, class action, and prisoner civil rights cases. 

She graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School and magna cum laude from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. 

What Clients Can Expect

Karima is thorough in her research and writing and communicates with clients on a regular basis to ensure that they are kept fully informed of developments at each stage of litigation. She draws upon her clerkship experience to inform her approach to writing legal briefs and representing clients in court. 

Outside the Office

In her personal time, Karima enjoys swimming, biking, and checking out the D.C. performing arts scene.

Proof Points

• Represented bank in Fair Credit Reporting Act defense in the Eastern District of Virginia and successfully secured dismissal of complaint
• Counsel to client in multimillion dollar breach of contract action in federal court
• Represented individual client facing charges of conspiracy, trafficking in counterfeit drugs, and money laundering in criminal proceeding in the Eastern District of Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Represented individual client facing money laundering charges in District of Puerto Rico
• Represent healthcare client in Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) litigation concerning COVID-19 liability in Central District of California and Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• Advised senior care facilities and healthcare companies on evolving federal and state COVID-19 vaccination requirements across over twenty state locations
• Counsel to educational loan services provider in breach of contract matter in D.C. courts
• Wrote sections of amicus brief for United States Supreme Court in class action lawsuit on violations of the Stored Communications Act, cited by two Supreme Court Justices during oral argument.
• Represented multinational supermarket chain in successfully settling a garnishment matter in Virginia state court without need for court intervention.
• Advised U.S. companies on export controls and economic sanctions laws and regulations, including OFAC sanctions programs.