About Umar
Umar Farooq built a legal career that moves between established firms, financial institutions and startups. He trained at SUNY Buffalo Law School, earning his J.D. in 2004. That academic foundation set the stage for work that crosses corporate law, finance and emerging company issues.
His early career took him to Dentons LLP in 2008, where he worked as an associate. He handled transactional matters and supported larger deal teams. The experience exposed him to cross-border work and the documentation that governs commercial and banking relationships.
In 2011 he took an in-house position as Head of Legal at Al Rayan Investment LLC. The role placed him at the intersection of finance and regulation. He managed contracts, compliance questions and vendor arrangements while advising on the legal structure for investment activity.
A year later he moved into the startup world as legal counsel at CounselX. The change of pace required a different set of priorities. He shifted from large-scale financings to advising founders, shaping early-stage agreements and setting up governance frameworks that suit small, fast-moving companies.
By 2015 he returned to firm practice as counsel at Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP. In that role he combined transactional work with practical advice for corporate clients. His background in both in-house and private practice informed an approach that blends legal drafting with attention to business objectives.
Farooq holds professional certifications that reflect his interest in finance. He completed the Islamic Finance Qualification from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment and studied International Finance and Global Banking at The Levin Institute. Those credentials align with his work at institutions and firms that handle Islamic and conventional finance arrangements.
He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and in New York. Across his positions he has taken on matters that include commercial contracts, financial services documentation and corporate governance. His career path shows movement between counsel roles and leadership inside companies, and a comfort handling both transactional and regulatory points.
He currently practices at CounselX P.C., advising startups and financial services clients on corporate transactions, commercial agreements and Islamic finance matters.
