Susan B. Bastress, Esq. served as General Counsel of the Middle East Institute. Prior to becoming General Counsel, Bastress served on the MEI Board for ten years. Her legal career spans almost 40 years including her tenure as Senior Partner with Squire Patton Boggs where she established and managed the firm’s office in Doha, Qatar. ​

​Bastress’ practice is focused on commercial and real estate transactions, in addition to advising multinational companies doing business in the Middle East. Bastress also has significant dispute resolution experience having founded the Virgin Islands Mediation Service where she successfully mediated over 150 disputes and served on the arbitration panels for the American Arbitration Association and JAMS. ​

​Bastress is admitted to the Bars of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  In addition, Bastress was the first foreign attorney to be admitted to practice law in Qatar.