Jonathan Strum has a wide array of experience on legal, financial and business sides of investment and capital markets issues.

Recently, he was Vice President and General Counsel of Siraj Capital, Ltd., a merchant investment firm based in Dubai and Saudi Arabia and was Of Counsel to Patton Boggs LP, an international law firm based in Washington DC.

Previously, Mr. Strum was the US Director of an International Venture Capital Fund, where his responsibilities included raising capital and guiding companies through the initial growth process – including applications for US government grants.

Mr. Strum has negotiated and structured investment and financing from international institutions, venture capital firms and SBIC’s on behalf of start-up technology companies, established companies, foreign governments and business entities, and he has coordinated multilateral project finance while advising on the establishment of and financing for overseas projects in the U.S., Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Mr. Strum is experienced in Islamic finance, asset-backed securitization, capital markets, and general international finance activities, having handled negotiations with major securities firms, venture capital firms, offshore banks, and foreign financial institutions and governments.

Mr. Strum has been a frequent commentator and analyst on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, and C-SPAN with regard to the Middle East and international issues and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. He was an Adjunct Professor of International Law at Georgetown University Law Center for over ten years.

Recent talks include: Central Bank of Indonesia Conference (July 2010); The London Sukuk Summit, London, UK (July 2009); Islamic Finance at ABS East, Miami, (October 2008); Islamic Finance Global Summit, New York (October 2008); The Canadian Institute, Toronto (June 2008); the International Insolvency Institute (New York, June 2007); Islamic Finance World, Toronto (May 2007); Spring ABS Conference in Miami (May 2007); and Securitization World MENA Dubai (2006, 2007).