Chibli Mallat, who was one of the Project‘s Senior Law Advisors, is a Professor of Law at the University of Utah‘s S.J. Quinney College of Law. Professor Mallat was the senior legal advisor on all Project substantive matters, research, and translation. He was responsible for explaining the Project mission and introducing Project experts to GOI leaders. He also provides Middle East legal expertise and academic input on both the CLA and INL Grants. Of special relevance here, Professor Mallat was in London in the 1980s when many of the now current leaders of Iraq were in exile there. He befriended them and took up their cause at a time when neither the U.S. Government nor the U.K. Government would speak with thee exiles. Professor Mallat‘s Iraqi friends have remained close and trusting. Professor Mallat also is the author of the definitive study of the ideas and writings of Imam Mohammed Bakr as Sadr of Najaf who was executed during the Saddam regime. Professor Mallat is beloved by many Shi‘i scholars and clerics in Najaf because of his book. Professor Mallat‘s credentials gave the Project unique access to and credibility with Iraqi leaders in discussing issues like federalism. Federalism is the key to the future of Iraq, even though the meaning of federalism for Iraqis is new and subject to debate.