Zmarak Khan is the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) within the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In this role, Mr. Khan plays a key leadership role in advancing CLDP’s global mission to provide legal, regulatory, and technical assistance to partner governments—promoting transparent, rules-based systems that foster economic growth, support U.S. business interests, and counter the influence of American adversaries.

Mr. Khan oversees the implementation and coordination of CLDP’s legal and technical assistance around the world. He also works closely with the Chief Counsel to guide the strategic management of the office, contributing to legal policy, budget oversight, interagency collaboration, and overall operational effectiveness.

His legal work has spanned Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, and South Asia, where he has partnered with governments to modernize legal frameworks, strengthen institutional capacity, and advance regulatory reforms. His areas of expertise include public procurement, anti-corruption, dispute resolution, judicial reform, and trade and investment issues.

Before joining CLDP, Mr. Khan practiced law at DLA Piper, where he focused on complex commercial litigation, national security-related disputes, white collar and regulatory defense, and government contracts. He also previously practiced at Cooley LLP, representing clients in a range of commercial and regulatory matters.

Mr. Khan holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International and Comparative Law from Cornell University Law School, where he served as an editor of the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy.