Maria Ahmad

Education

B.A., LL.B., Lahore University of Management Sciences, 2010;
Member of Sindh Bar Council and Karachi Bar Association;
Advocate, High Court of Sindh.

Experience

Has worked on various corporate and commercial matters, contentious and non-contentious; routinely appears in the high courts, civil, district and banking courts across Pakistan and has extensive experience of arbitration and litigation matters related to contract, tort, banking, family and construction law. Advises on matters related to project financing in the private power sector, banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, and telecommunication, notably in the following matters:

• Assisting in relation to a project financing for Uch-II Power (Private) Limited in relation to its proposed capacity expansion project including reviewing project agreements and advising on conditions precedent documents for financial closing;
• Assisting in relation to advice to Shell Pakistan Limited on its payment liabilities regarding oil refineries in Pakistan;
• Acting as lenders counsel for the 49.5 MW wind power project of FFC Energy Limited which included review and amendment of project and finance documents, and preparing and issuing legal opinions;
• Acting for and advising local and foreign banks in relation to litigation in Pakistan;
• Assisting partner in advising the Civil Aviation Authority in connection with the design and construction contracts for the new Islamabad International Airport and other matters under litigation in Pakistan;
• Acting routinely for Thai Airways International Public Company Limited in relation to business matters and claims brought in Pakistan;
• Acting as local counsel for Kennedys, Singapore, Hong Kong and London in representing Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and Etihad Airways P.J.S.C. for claims brought in Pakistan;
• Acting as local counsel for Dechert LLP in connection with research for and review of World Compass documentation;
• Acting as local counsel for Eversheds, Singapore in representing the International Air Transport Association for matters under litigation in Pakistan;
• Advising Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Limited on contentious and non-contentious matters in relation to its bulk coal, cement and clinker terminal being constructed at Port Qasim;
• Assisting senior partner in acting for International Finance Corporation in relation to the conversion of a C Loan into equity of International Steels Limited;
• Acting for and advising ABB and its Pakistan subsidiaries in relation to matters under litigation in Pakistan;
• Assisting partner and senior associate in acting for Excelerate Energy in relation to the time charter party between them and Engro Elengy Terminal (Pakistan) Limited in connection with the operation of the FRSU LNG regasification unit;
• Conducted as part of a team, due diligence of a major telecommunications provider in Pakistan in relation to a prepared merger;
• Preparing opinions on various company, tort and civil law matters, (including nuclear liability laws,  employment laws, winding up and creditors’ liabilities) and assisting with Due Diligence on Mergers and Acquisitions and Financing;
• Assisting partner on a variety of cases under litigation and arbitration, including in particular, contract law, company law and construction matters (including FIDIC contracts);
• Conducting legal research and drafting pleadings for matters under litigation and arbitration, including arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce.