In order to bring diversity in terms of experience, practice areas, and as well as the locations in and outside Pakistan, SQA has on board the following attorneys/professionals practicing across the country and outside Pakistan who remain available and committed to the Firm for the collective services to the Firm’s clients alongside their private practices
Khusro Bakhtiar
Partner at Samdani Qureshi Aqlaal
Advocate District Courts
Khusro Bakhtiar is a distinguished partner at Samdani Qureshi Aqlaal, bringing a wealth of experience from his prominent roles in law, governance, and public policy. An alumnus of the University of Punjab, London School of Economics (LLB Hons.), and Lincoln's Inn (Bar-at-Law), Khusro combines legal acumen with strategic insights shaped by decades of leadership at the highest levels of government.
With a career spanning key positions such as Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning, Economic Affairs, and Industries, Khusro has demonstrated exceptional expertise in navigating complex legal, regulatory, and policy challenges. His experience includes overseeing major national initiatives, driving institutional reforms, and managing high-stakes negotiations.
At Samdani Qureshi Aqlaal, Khusro focuses on corporate governance, dispute resolution, and international law, delivering tailored legal solutions that address multifaceted challenges. His unparalleled combination of public and private sector experience enables him to provide clients with strategic advice and effective advocacy, ensuring impactful and pragmatic outcomes.
Khusro’s reputation for excellence, integrity, and innovation cements his role as a key asset to both the firm and its clients.
Iqra Tajammal
LL.B. Shariah and Law (International Islamic University Islamabad)
Advocate District Courts
Ms. Iqra Tajammal is a dedicated associate at the Firm, where she plays a crucial role in conducting thorough legal research. Her strong research skills consistently contribute to the firm’s work.
Rizwan Faiz Muhammad
LL.B., University of Edinburgh, UK
LL.M. (London) & M.Sc.
Ex Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate
Partner
Rizwan Faiz Muhammad has a broad practice focusing on the power sector, construction law, engineering contracts, company law, and international law. His clients include the National Highway Authority, the Ex-WAPDA thermal power generation companies, PEPCO, NTDC, and other financial institutions. Mr. Faiz is also the hired legal advisor to NHA, Army Welfare Trust Investments, GENCO Holding Company Limited, and the Islamabad Club, and provides regular legal advice to these organizations on a wide range of issues, including commercial, contractual, corporate governance, service and labour, and regulatory issues, including advising the Jamshoro Power Company Limited and the Genco Holding Company Limited on the 1320 MW Jamshoro Coal Power Project, and NHA on all China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) road projects.
Mr. Faiz received an LL.B. from the University of Edinburgh, UK, in 1999, an LL.M. from London in 2003, and an M.Sc. in 2004. He served as a civil judge and judicial magistrate between 2000 and 2002 and as an assistant law professor for three years at the International Islamic University Islamabad. The Punjab Bar Council enrolled Mr. Faiz as an Advocate in 2008 and an Advocate of the High Court in 2009.
Meera Hayat
Associate
Meera is an Advocate at the District Court with a B.A.-LL.B. (Hons.) from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) (Class of 2021). She has experience in legislative drafting, corporate and commercial transactions, and civil and commercial litigation. Meera assists senior counsel with contentious and non-contentious work, focusing primarily on commercial matters.
Muhammad Wahaj Sohail
Senior Associate
Muhammad Wahaj Sohail offers a diverse skill set in public and private international law, corporate law, trade and investment matters, and construction disputes. His role involves navigating complex international arbitration cases under ICSID, WTO, and UNCITRAL frameworks, managing high-stakes cross-border transactions, and resolving intricate construction disputes, demonstrating a strong command of regulatory and compliance issues. Mr. Wahaj’s background in finance, investment, and trade law further enriches his ability to provide strategic advice on corporate governance, trade regulations, and financial transactions. His integrated approach ensures comprehensive legal solutions that address the multifaceted challenges faced by clients in a globalised environment.
Mr. Sardar Haseeb Ahmed
Associate
Mr. Sardar Haseeb Ahmed has been an Advocate High Court practicing in Islamabad since 2017. He graduated from the University of London with a degree in LLB (Hons.) and completed his Masters in Intellectual Property law from Indiana Purdue University.
Mr. Ahmed is an experienced lawyer with a demonstrated history of working in the legal practice, specializing in different areas of law, such as but not limited to Constitutional Laws, White-collar crimes, Accountability, Customs, Energy, Environmental, Taxation, Service, Legislation, Banking, Liquidation, Labour, Company, Rent, Corporate, Civil Laws, Oil and Gas, Criminal Laws, Telecommunication, Mining Laws and Cybercrime Laws. Moreover, he is extensively involved in a broad range of litigation matters ranging from white-collar crime to a high-profile legal challenge to Constitutional issues and Labour Laws of Pakistan.
Haroun Bilal Sharif
B.A, Grinnell College, UK
LL.B. (Hons.), University of London
MSt, University of Cambridge
Partner
Haroun Bilal Sharif has worked in the legal sector and has experience in litigation and corporate work. Mr. Sharif manages several clients for the firm, including Army Welfare Trust Investments, Nuctech Limited, Pakistan International Airlines, Al-Haj Energy, and several other private clients. His work includes advising on complex cross-border transactions, litigating civil corporate disputes, representing clients in various domestic and international arbitrations, and advising on arbitrations and procurement matters. Previously, he was General Counsel at the Special Technology Zone Authority and worked at UBS Investment Bank, London, as an analyst before completing his LL.B.. Most recently, Mr. Sharif worked at the Office of the Advocate General Punjab in Lahore as a Research Associate assisting the AG’s office in their day to day work. He was part of the team defending the Punjab Government in the Orange Line case.
Mr. Sharif graduated with a B. A from Grinnell College and an LL.B. (Hons.) from the University of London. He is currently pursuing his MSt from the University of Cambridge. He is proficient in Mandarin, having worked and studied in Beijing. He is enrolled with the Islamabad Bar Council.
Afzal Khan Shinwari
Barrister at Law
LL.B (honours), University of London
LL.M, BPP University, London
MBA, LUMS, BS (Computer Sciences) FAST, Lahore
Partner
Before starting his legal career, Barrister Shinwari had almost 10 years of working experience in the Construction, Telecom, and IT sectors, both as an Entrepreneur and as part of Multinational setups. He also has a keen interest in social and political issues, with publications and appearances in print and electronic media, journals, and international conferences.
Barrister Shinwari looks after litigation and transactional work for the firm. He mainly assists the Firm in International and Local Arbitration, Construction and Engineering, Energy and Power, Maritime and Shipping, Service and Employment, Contracts, Defamation, and Family Laws. Mr. Shinwari is otherwise a panel lawyer for the National Highway Authority and is involved in regular advisory work for the Government’s Power Generation Companies.
Mr. Shinwari received his LL.B (honours) from the University of London, and LL.M from BPP University, London. He is also a member of the Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, having been called to the Bar in July 2017. He is enrolled with the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Bar Council.
In addition to the above, Barrister Shinwari has an MBA from LUMS and a BS in Computer Sciences from FAST, Lahore.
Adil Jamal
Barrister at Law
LL.B (honours), University of London
Partner
Barrister Jamal is a leading legal expert in corporate law, litigation, and regulatory compliance. Known for his strategic insight and client-focused approach, he drives high-impact legal solutions and business growth. He also serves as an Independent Director at Zanda Financial Services and is a panel member for provisional managers and official liquidators with the SECP. Mr. Jamal’s international experience is equally notable, with a strong background in the UK legal sector, including roles at Kearns & Co Solicitors and Peninvest UK Ltd. His global perspective and strategic acumen drive impactful legal solutions and business development.
Fakhar Un Nisa
LLM in Construction Law & Arbitration, RGU, UK
LLB from Punjab University, Lahore Pakistan
Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from UET, Lahore, Pakistan
A dual qualified Civil Engineer with Law Degree - skilled and dynamic leader with 21 years of experience providing solutions for Procurement, Commercial, Claims Management, Dispute Avoidance, management, and resolution through effective pre and post award Contract Management.
SIGNATURE ACHIEVEMENTS:
Membership in Professional Associations:
Sardar Rahat Azeem
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Sardar Rahat Azeem, Advocate High Court is a Fellow member of the Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP) and also holds LLM and MBA degrees. His area of expertise include corporate finance, public policy, strategic financial management, legal drafting, Corporate and Taxation. He remained associated with Khalid Majid Rehman Chartered Accountants and KPMG (2002-2006) and served apex policy forum Ministry of Finance from 2006-2018
Dr. Shoaib Suddle
Off-Counsel
Dr Suddle has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, anti-corruption, and justice sector modernization and capacity building. He has served in federal and provincial public organizations dealing with white-collar crime, economic crime agencies, such as Director Economic Crime, Federal Investigation Agency, Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan, Director General of Intelligence Bureau, Director General of Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Interior. As head of some of these organizations, he gained hands-on experience in dealing with intricate public policy, extradition and institutional reform issues, financial crimes committed nationally, regionally, and internationally, institutional overhauling for efficiency and effectiveness, systemic reforms, including the landmark replacement of the anachronistic 1861 Police Act with the Police Order 2002. Dr. Suddle has published extensively and is the most highly decorated veteran public servant in Pakistan. In recognition of his exemplary services, he is the recipient of top national awards of Hilal-e-Shujaat, Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Quaid-e-Azam Police Medal, and President Police Medal. He is a PhD in white-collar crime and alum of the University of Cardiff, UK.
Ghulam Rasool
Consultant
Mr. Ghulam Rasool is a foreign-qualified lawyer with extensive experience in providing legal opinions, drafting and vetting legislations, international agreements, treaties, conventions, memorandums of understanding, and protocols in a career stretching over 40 years. He has served as a Senior consultant at the Ministry of Law & Justice, Legal Specialist, Senior Consultant/Additional Secretary, and Joint Secretary at National Animal & Plant Health Inspection Services (NAPHIS) a Project of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research; Consultant to the Attorney-General for Pakistan; Deputy and Assistant Legal Advisor at Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Counsellor at Embassy of Pakistan in Kuwait; and Research and Reference Officer at Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Omer Iftikhar
L.L.B. (Islamia University, Bahawalpur)
Advocate
Mr. Iftikhar graduated from Islamia University, Bahawalpur. He assists partners in corporate, tax, transactional and contentious matters.
Asad Rajpoot
Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan Islamabad
Mr Asad Rajpoot is an experienced legal professional with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry as an Advocate, Adviser and Consultant in the public and private sector.
He has special interest and dexterity in Constitutional matters, has exceptional expertise and more than twenty years of experience in criminal laws, trials and practice; especially Anti Money Laundering. He is skilled in Corporate and Commercial Law, Contracts, Private Equity and Financial Structuring, Investment Banking, Banking Laws and Procedures. He is also competent in matters of Mergers and Acquisitions, Cross Border Transactions, AML, ADR, Regulatory and Compliance Affairs.
Mr Rajput is well versed in Construction Laws (FIDIC), MOU's and JVA's, Guarantees, Letters of Credit, Arbitration, Negotiations and Legal Drafting/Writing. He is a strong business development professional having managerial skills and a team player with a LLM in Corporate Law. He is an Advocate for and supporter of Constitutional, Human, Women, Children and Minority Rights at the global level.
Ashfaq Khan
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan, Peshawar
Mr Ashfaq Khan is a qualified and trained legal practitioner providing litigation and consultancy services in Peshawar on a broad range of corporate and commercial issues.
Yasir Riaz
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Faisalabad
Mr. Yasir Riaz has a diversified experience in the fields of civil and criminal law in general and banking and corporate law in particular. He carries a distinguished experience of more than 18 years that is marked with successful advocacy at every level i-e. lower and higher courts.
He assists clients in solving legal or criminal litigation by representing them in the courts of jurisdiction. He is responsible for not only handling personal caseloads but also assisting other partners in high value complex cases. He is also in charge of preparing and drafting legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts, and drafting and negotiating all other legal documents for a range of national and international clients.
Malik Sohail Ashiq Shujra
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Lahore
Mr. Shujra has vast experience as a litigator before the High Courts, lower courts and specialist tribunals of Pakistan. He has appeared on behalf of and advised the textile, cotton, flour, banking, and education sectors, in addition to representing public sector entities such as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan, State Life Insurance Company, Multan Development Authority and Walton Cantonment Board. He is also well versed with laws relating to oil, gas, and power generation; and has a number of reported judgements to his credit.
Mr. Shujra’s expertise is not limited to litigation – he began his career with a reputable firm in Lahore where he was exposed to corporate and commercial legal work. He has also remained associated with the former Governor of Punjab, Malik Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana, leading his cases in Mr. Rajwana’s stead when he was Governor.
Mr. Shujra’s extensive experience has given him the unique ability to provide quick and timely strategic advice to navigate the court systems of Pakistan – which he follows up with his flair and dexterity in the courtroom.
Asad Khan
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan Karachi
He practices in Karachi, litigating in administrative law with a focus on customs and tax law before the High Courts while also practising before statutory forums. In seven years of practice, he has litigated more than two hundred cases to conclusion before the Sindh High Court, with some forty odd cases having been successfully concluded before the Balochistan High Court. Including cases that are pending final adjudication as well those litigated before other forums, the tally is well beyond twice the above figure. He has represented multinational companies, an assortment of manufacturers and mining concerns, traders and service providers.
Muhammad Sohaib
LL.M in International Business Law (University of Manchester)
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Multan
Mr Sohaib has worked as a consultant for DFID and regularly advises and is engaged in non-contentious work for international non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, and corporations. He specializes and has experience in construction contracts, capital market, banking and micro-finance, telecom, energy, employment/labor and service, competition, and construction & engineering. He has extensive experience in corporate and commercial matters, including incorporation of companies, commencement, initial public offering (IPO), corporate governance, directors’ liability, securitization, Corporate Finance, Stock Exchange Listing, re-structuring, re-habilitation, Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan (SECP), Compliance and litigation, mergers, acquisitions, and winding-up.
He has served at the SECP in the capacity of Registrar of the Appellate Bench for seven years and drafted the new Companies Act, 2017, dealt with administrative issues, and assisted the Appellate Bench of the SECP. He has represented corporations, government departments, and agencies before various tribunals and courts.
Syed Shahbaz
Attorney
Dubai
Mr Syed Shahbaz is a legal consultant who is active in corporate and commercial law practice, and transactional work. He as in-depth experience in entrepreneurship & Client Relations Management.
Li Chen
Attorney
China
Mr Li Chen has an education background of both science and law. He is a member of professional committee of patent in Beijing Lawyers Association. Mr. Chen has been engaged in legal services covering the field of intellectual property, comprehensive legal business and commercial litigation for 12 years. He is mainly responsible for administrative and civil disputes involving antitrust, standard-essential patent SEPs, trademark, Copyright, technological secret, domain name, etc. Besides, Mr. Li also provides customers with comprehensive professional legal services such as strategic layout of intellectual property and compliance disputes. With profound professional background and practical experience, Mr. Li has dealt with over 400 dispute cases concerning antitrust/competition, intellectual property and commercial litigation. He has won many difficult and complicated patent cases heard by the Supreme Court to maximize the customers’ benefits. Mr. Li also made patent strategic planning for large domestic enterprises and served as the perennial legal advisor for many companies and organizations.
Kiran Gore
Attorney
United States of America
Kiran Nasir Gore is Counsel in Washington D.C. working on all facets of international dispute resolution. Over the past 10 years, Ms. Gore has developed expertise in public and private international law, foreign investment strategies, and international dispute resolution.
Her current and past clients include governments, corporations, institutions, and private individuals. Ms. Gore advocates before US courts, ad hoc arbitration panels, commercial and investment tribunals, and investigative authorities. In addition, she provides strategic advice on treaty law, conflict of laws, and legislative reform.
Ms. Gore supports GW Law’s International and Comparative Law Program by teaching Fundamental Issues in US Law, a course for foreign LLM students to better understand the US legal system, alongside two different legal research and writing courses. Ms. Gore is also the coach and advisor to GW Law’s Vis Commercial Arbitration Moot team, which competes in Vienna or Hong Kong each year. She has been involved with the Vis Moot since 2008, having served as a competitor, coach to various teams, and an arbitrator during Vis Moot events around the world.
Muhammad Faisal Iftikhar
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Rawalpindi
Mr Faisal Iftikhar specializes in civil litigation, arbitration, and general legal consultancy. He has a vast practice in cases relating to property and contractual disputes.
Raja Umair Mustafa
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Mr. Raja Umair Mustafa has been practicing as an Advocate since February 2014 and is a life member of the District and High Court Bar Association of Islamabad. Mr Mustafa is an experienced litigator appearing regularly in Civil, Criminal, Family, and Rent matters and is currently engaged in several high-profile Rental Power Cases (RPP) under trial before the Accountability Courts.
Huge Mathew-Jones
Off-Counsel
Mr Hugh Mathew Jones has more than 35 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant. He is now a consultant having previously been a partner in two of the UK’s top 10 accountancy practices for 19 years. His experience lies in the specialist fields of valuation, forensic and investigations, and corporate finance. He was the national head of both the Corporate Finance and Forensic Services departments of PKF (UK) LLP. He also acted as Money Laundering Reporting Officer for PKF and sat on both the risk and professional indemnity committees. In addition, he has also worked as a finance director in both the software and car retailing industries. He has given evidence as an independent expert a number of times in the High Court of England and Wales and also before tribunals in international arbitrations.
Eirik Bjorge
PhD
Off-Counsel
Dr. Bjorge is a professor at the University of Bristol. He is an alum of Oxford College and the University of Oslo. His experience as counsel has included the presentation of states in UNCITRAL arbitration, ICSID Rules, Energy Charter Treaty, and before ICSID, European Human Rights Commission, Permanent Court of Arbitration, and International Court of Justice. He has served as an arbitrator in an ICC Case and has acted as an advisor in many international cases.
Syed Ishtiaq Haider Sherazi
Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan
Islamabad
Mr. Sherazi is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. His practice areas include banking, corporate, constitutional, general civil litigation, Ad hoc arbitration, pre- trial negotiations, conferences, settlements, and general consultancy in contentious matters. He also has extensive experience in contract negotiations, drafting, vetting and rendering legal advice on issues pertaining to commercial and construction contracts.
Muhammad Sheikh Iftikhar
Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan
Rawalpindi
Mr Sheikh Iftikhar Ahmed’s practice areas primarily include business and complex commercial litigation. He has successfully represented both individual and institutional clients in various high-stakes matters, including corporate litigation, contract, and matrimonial disputes, and investigations involving white-collar crimes. He regularly appears in all the subordinate courts and tribunals, the High Courts, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Dr. Tariq Mahmood
London
Barrister Dr Tariq Mahmood, is a litigator, arbitrator and mediator with multi-jurisdictional experience, specializing in international commercial dispute resolution (litigation, arbitration and mediation). He has substantial experience in shareholder, director and board disputes; partnership disputes; business and commercial disputes; construction disputes. He is a Barrister in England and Wales and authorized to practice in Kashmir.
Zain Ul Abideen Qureshi
Barrister at Law
England
Mr Qureshi specializes in transactional work. He has rendered advisory services to microfinance banks in Pakistan and specializes also in contentious and non-contentious banking, construction, engineering, infrastructure, project finance, and energy-related matters. He also has experience in drafting principal contracts both domestic and international construction contracts, and has rendered legal opinions on Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Contracts, Institute of Civil Engineers (ICT) Contracts, New Engineering Contract (NEC), International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Contracts and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Documentation, and various tailored forms of transnational and domestic contracts, including, Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) & Engineering Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) Contracts.
Zafar Ali Khan
Chartered and Certified Accountant
Islamabad
Mr Zafar Ali Khan is a qualified Chartered and Certified Accountant (U.K and Pakistan). He is a highly-qualified professional with over 35 years of rich and diversified experience of finance, corporate management, policy formulation, investment planning, privatization, and power regulation. He has an ideal blend of academic and professional qualifications with working experiences for private, public sectors and the government within the country and abroad.
He served in National Electric Power Regulatory Authority as Member Finance for over five and half years (including as Acting Chairman/Vice Chairman) where he has worked on matters relating to power generation. Possessing a strong background of finance and corporate management, coupled with experience of working for the government at senior levels, he made a very useful contribution by strengthening the Tariff Division, improved tariff determinations and review framework, and developed tariff mechanism for wind, co-generation and Hydel Power Projects.
He also worked as a Managing Director (Chief Executive Officer), Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) for about four years which provides ‘one-window’ facility to investors in the private power sector by acting as one-stop organization on behalf of all ministries, departments and agencies of the federal and provincial governments in matters relating to establishing power projects and related infrastructure in the private sector. Further, he served as a Federal Secretary, Ministry of Privatization and Member Privatization Commission, Government of Pakistan for four years on strategically important assignments. He played a pivotal role in redefining the Pakistan Privatization Policy and restructured a number of power transactions and various banks after developing the enabling legal and financial framework.
He has also worked as Managing Director of three very large Engineering Companies, i.e. Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC), Heavy Foundry & Forge (HFF) and Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC). He possesses in-depth knowledge and requisite experience of the legal, financial, commercial and corporate governance issues confronting Pakistan industrial, investment and power sectors. His most recent experience includes but is not limited to working as advisor / team leader for a number of projects revolving around corporate governance, human capital management, corporate restructuring, power & energy sector reforms etc. for clients like The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID IESCO, Rouch Power, COMSATS, PEMRA, etc. He has worked extensively in the U.K., Middle East and Pakistan with reputable international professional firms of Chartered Accountants (A.F. Ferguson, Moore Stephens, Price Waterhouse) and successfully managed International Privatization Road Shows.
Syed Nida Zahra
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Rawalpindi
Her expertise includes appearing before courts and tribunals in civil law including property, employment (service law), commercial law, banking, contracts, consumer protection, industrial relations, family and constitutional writs. She has been handling the litigation work in Islamabad High Court, Lahore High Court principal seat and Rawalpindi Bench in Civil and Criminal Appeals and Revisions, Writs under Article 199 of the Constitution, Islamabad and Rawalpindi Civil, District and Sessions Courts, Consumer Courts/Tribunal in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Rent Controller Courts, Federal Service Tribunal (FST) and Writs in service matters.
Muhammad Ali Farooq
Advocate High Courts of Pakistan
Lahore
Mr. Farooq spent the first few years of his legal career at reputable firm in Lahore where he worked on high-profile constitutional cases before the High Courts and the Supreme Court of Pakistan and also gained wide-ranging experience in corporate and commercial legal advisory and drafting.
After having gained hands-on litigation and advisory experience, Mr. Farooq worked with the Government of Punjab, in a unit created to establish the Punjab Public Health Agency. He utilised his expertise in constitutional and administrative law to draft the legislation for the creation of the agency and saw it through various stages – where he was appreciated for his pragmatic approach to cut through red tape and became recognised as a problem-solver. It is these abilities that have enabled him to ably advise and represent other public sector entities such as Pakistan Railways, Punjab Revenue Authority, and the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution.
Mr. Farooq has taken his abilities as a pragmatic problem solver to the private sector as well. He provides legal consultancy services to KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co. where he advises on taxation law and litigation, in addition to routinely holding training sessions and seminars for auditors on law and tax reforms. Recently, Mr. Farooq has made a name for himself in negotiating international commercial intellectual property agreements.
Azm Ali
MA (Pol. Sc.), LL.B (Gold) Punjab University, LL.M (Tax)
Advocate High Court
Partner
Azm’s transactional practice focuses primarily on corporate/commercial matters and infrastructure/PPP projects. He has worked on/led the following notable assignments. He graduated in law by securing the first position in LLB and two gold medals from Punjab University. He is also pursuing an LLM (Tax) from the University of San Francisco, USA:
1) Project counsel from 2014 to till date for 720 MW Karot Hydropower Project, Rawalpindi, Pakistan with a total project cost of approx. US$ 1.8 billion; Project achieved financial closing in February 2017 and COD in June 2022.
2) Intermittent advises to 1124 MW Kohala Hydropower Project (LOS stage) and 590 MW Mahl Hydropower Project (LOI stage) from 2015 to till date on various project-related matters.
3) Intermittent advises to 50 MW TFG First Wind Farm Project, 50 MW Second Wind Farm Project, and 50 MW Third Wind From Project from 2015 to till date on various project-related matters.
4) Transaction advisory services to the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization’s (PEDO) Hydro Power Projects’ transition to captive power mode and supply of electricity to the industrial areas/economic zones from its hydropower projects. The assignment kicked off in March 2024.
5) Legal counsel for strategic legal advisory and transactional support in the Economic Zones Solarization Projects for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC under the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) program; transaction kicked off in September 2024.
6) Transaction counsel for the Bank of Khyber in relation to the refinancing of approx. 1 billion financing facility for the Heavy Electrical Complex in connection its privatization; transaction achieved completion in January 2024.
7) Project Counsel for the Government of Sindh in relation to the financial closing of a public private partnership water supply project (approx. 60 km) from Nabisar to Vajihar in Sindh with total project cost of approx. US$ 190 million; concession agreements were executed in June 2021 and financing documents executed in November 2021 followed by the amendments of the concession agreements and financing agreements and achievement of financial close in December 2023.
8) Local counsel for two (2) separate transactions entailing transfer of shares of China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited (CSAIL) in 2022 and 2023 respectively; advise on shareholding structure, amendments in the shareholders and other transactions agreements and compliance under the local laws and project agreements of the CSAIL’s projects in Pakistan.
9) Transaction counsel for a transferor in relation to the transfer of regulated tower assets with worth of around PKR 9 billion from one licensee to another; preparation of transaction documents; completion achieved in 2022.
10) Preparation of NEPRA (Microgrid) Regulations, 2022 (notified).
11) Counsel for a borrower in relation to the financing facilities of approx. Rs. 4.3 billion availed by a telecom company for its tower business in July/August 2022.
12) Counsel for a borrower in relation to the financing facilities of approx. Rs. 1.24 billion availed by a telecom company for its tower business in July/August 2021.
13) Counsel for a borrower in relation to the financing facilities of approx. Rs. 4 billion availed by a real estate company for its multipurpose real estate project in Islamabad in August/September 2021.
14) Preparation of AEDB (Certification) Regulations, 2021 (notified).
15) Transaction counsel for the Alternative Energy Development Board, Government of Pakistan (AEDB) in relation to the financial closing of four (4) solar PV power projects with total cost of approx. US$ 150 million and cumulative capacity of 250 MW; financial closing achieved by the projects February 2021.
16) Preparation of RFP documents for the reverse auction (first of its kind in Pakistan) for wind and solar projects in Pakistan with industry consultations in 2020/2021.
17) Transaction counsel for AEDB in relation to the financial closing of twelve (12) wind power projects with total cost of approx. US$ 800 million and cumulative capacity of 610 MW; financial closing achieved by the projects in November 2019.
18) Assisting AEDB in preparation and finalization of the Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy 2019 (notified).
19) Preparation of wheeling framework (first of its kind in Pakistan) for sale of electricity from 18 MW Pehur Hydropower Project to the industrial consumers of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2019/2020.
20) Advising a Chinese bank in relation to the breach of financing agreements of three (3) solar power projects (100 MW each) in Pakistan; preparation of default notices and rectification documents in 2018/2019.
21) Preparation of AEDB (Certification) Regulations, 2018 (notified).
22) Advising the state-owned cooperation on its reconstruction of explosives business concerning investment by the Chinese corporation, which involved drafting JV agreements, investment agreements, subscription agreements, and filing of de-merger petition with a court of law; transaction achieved completion in May 2016.
23) Transaction counsel for AEDB in relation to the financial closing of two (2) solar power projects (10 MW and 18 MW); financial closing achieved by the projects in 2016.
24) Project counsel for two small hydro power projects (6 MW and 11 MW) in Pakistan.
25) Preparation of standardized package of concession agreements (Implementation Agreement, Energy Purchase Agreement and the Water Use Agreement) for small hydropower projects (up to 25 MW) in Pakistan in light of upfront tariff determined by NEPRA in 2015.
26) Preparation of green paper on wheeling of electricity in Pakistan for the Punjab Power Development Board in 2014/2015.
Nudrat Piracha
SJD, George Washington University
Advocate High Courts
Partner
Dr. Piracha has extensive experience in International Commercial Arbitration and International Construction & Investment Disputes. She has worked as counsel in ADR and arbitration before ICC, ICSID, SCC, DFIC-LCIA, and Adhoc Tribunals. She is also serving as a member of a committee constituted by the prime minister to consider Pakistan’s investment legal framework and international law.
Her qualification in three international jurisdictions (Pakistan, US, and the UK), and over seventeen years of experience in ADR, mediation, negotiation, arbitrations, and affiliations with the world’s most prestigious organizations provide her with a vast network of expertise and experiences to draw upon.
She believes there’s immense potential for social and political change in Pakistan through legal reforms and that lawyers can play a vital role in developing any country. Her dedication to this purpose is evident in her continual hard work at SQA.
Farrukh Karim Qureshi
Barrister at Law
Advocate High Court of Pakistan
Founding & Managing Partner
Mr. Qureshi has been involved in international arbitrations before the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris (ICC), International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”), Washington, the Arbitration Institute of Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Ad Hoc Tribunals.
He specializes in construction/engineering and public-private partnership contracts, project finance, securitization, corporate, constitutional, arbitration, human resource policies, public-private partnerships, and advisory work.
Besides leading one of the premier ADR practices in Pakistan for 35 years, he has acted as counsel to the Government of Pakistan, multinational organizations, banks, diplomatic missions, and others.
Hamid L. Sharif
BA (Hons) Kingston University
LL.M (Cantab)
Barrister
