Rana Sajjad
Managing Partner
Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan; Member, New York Bar
Rana Sajjad is a dual-qualified lawyer (licensed in New York and Pakistan) having over 20 years’ experience of practicing law in Pakistan and the U.S. in practice areas including contracts, cross-border transactions, commercial litigation and domestic and international arbitration.
Sajjad has acted as co-counsel in international arbitration proceedings including arbitration proceedings under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Dubai International Financial Centre – London Court of International Arbitration (DIFC-LCIA) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). He has also advised and represented clients in court proceedings in connection with the enforcement of international arbitration agreements and foreign arbitral awards. Sajjad also advises clients in the energy, technology, telecom, manufacturing and construction sectors and represents them before courts and arbitral tribunals in matters involving contractual, commercial and investment disputes.
Before starting his practice in Pakistan in 2008, Sajjad worked in the U.S. for some leading large law firms including Fulbright & Jaworski. His practice areas in the U.S. included international commercial arbitration, securities & capital markets, antitrust law and mergers & acquisitions.
Sajjad is the Founder & President of the Center for International Investment and Commercial Arbitration (CIICA), Pakistan’s first international arbitration center. Sajjad was the first lawyer based in Pakistan who became a member of CIArb’s Approved Faculty List (AFL) as a tutor for international arbitration law, practice and procedure. He is currently also the only lawyer based in Pakistan who, in addition to being a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), is an accredited mediator of the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI).
BAR ADMISSIONS
New York; Pakistan
CERTIFICATIONS
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb); Passed the international arbitration award writing exam with a 98% score for judicial merit.
• Accredited Mediator, Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI)
EDUCATION
• LL.M. Columbia University, New York
• LL.B. Pakistan College of Law, Lahore (PU)
• BSc. (Hons.) Economics, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
• B.A. Political Science, Economics (Government College, Lahore)
TESTIMONIALS & RECOGNITION
• “Rana Sajjad’s analytical ability and attention to all relevant aspects of an issue enable him to provide thorough and reliable legal advice. He has provided us with important insights into the legal implications regarding the type of legal entity to incorporate in Pakistan as well as the entity’s shareholding structure. He is always accessible and responsive also.” German Engineering Consultancy for Renewable Energies
• “Rana Sajjad is thorough in his advice and responds promptly and clearly to my queries. His analytical ability enables him to provide thoughtful, thorough, and practical legal advice. He has also provided me with excellent insight and knowledge while reviewing a couple of my business agreements with individuals/entities in Pakistan to help me make a more informed decision. He is always attentive, accessible and easy to work with.” BearIT (Finland)
• “Every time I have met and communicated with Rana Sajjad, it was his personal characteristics and strengths with regard to client care, sound and honest legal advice and strategic thinking that made me feel comfortable and confident in hiring his firm. Rana Sajjad was always available and accessible to respond to my queries and to provide prompt updates on the legal proceedings.” Huawei Technologies Pakistan
• Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2021 – 2022): Recommended by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for expertise in dispute resolution: “Rana Sajjad stands out as a highly engaged, determined, and skilled lawyer. His advice is clear, on point and always timely. His dedication to developing Pakistan’s arbitration practice is second to none”.
• Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2019 – 2020): Recommended by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for expertise in corporate matters: “Rana Sajjad Ahmad, who is dual-qualified in New York and Pakistan and is predominantly active in the energy, technology, telecoms, manufacturing and retail sectors…frequently advises on the establishment of businesses, regulatory compliance and various contractual issues, as well as representing clients in court in contractual disputes.”
• Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2018 – 2019): Recommended by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for expertise in corporate matters: “Rana Sajjad Ahmad is well respected for corporate matters.”
• Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2017 – 2018): Recommended by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for expertise in corporate matters: “Rana Sajjad Ahmad has expertise in corporate matters.”
• Global Law Experts (2017): Recommended as Pakistan’s international arbitration expert by the Global Law Experts (GLE). GLE is the only organization that recommends just one legal expert in each key practice area and country.
Ans Ghani
Partner
Advocate High Court
LLB (Hons), University of London
Diploma in Law, University of London
Ans specializes in telecom and technology law and has advised on the legal aspects related to the licensing and management of varying software systems, including but not limited to, softwares relating to captive financing for leading automobile companies such as, Daimler, Ford and BMW, contributing to my understanding of complex financial transactions and regulatory compliance.
He has also advised on a wide range of regulatory matters in connection with the telecom industry and assisted in negotiating, drafting and reviewing vetting agreements with national and multinational organizations including settlement agreements, JVs, intellectual property, interconnect agreements, vendor agreements, service agreements, advertising agreements, lease agreements, reseller agreements, insurance agreements, service level agreements, share purchase agreements, non-disclosure & confidentiality agreements, marketing agreements, corporate sales agreements, operations and maintenance agreements and research and development agreements, business acquisition agreements.
Hamza Naveed Shaikh
Of Counsel
Advocate High Court
LLB (Hons), University of London
Hamza has been involved in numerous high-profile transactions in the power, infrastructure, telecom and oil & gas sectors. Hamza’s expertise in the corporate sector is spread across a diverse spectrum of work ranging from general corporate advisory including business establishment and regulatory compliance matters; and extending to more complex corporate deals in various sectors – ranging from banking & finance, telecom, construction, oil & gas, information technology to financial technology, etc.
He has advised clients during all stages of transactions ranging from optimally structuring the transaction at the inception stage, drafting and negotiating agreements during the documentation stage; and assisting the client through the closing formalities and thereafter providing ongoing advice on post-closing matters.
