Barrister Shahrukh Iftikhar
BARRISTER SHAHRUKH IFTIKHAR
MANAGING & FOUNDING PARTNER
Barrister Shahrukh Iftikhar is the Managing and Founding Partner at the House of Magna Cum Laude. He was previously a Partner at ABS & Co. where he headed the Corporate, Commercial, International Trade, and International Arbitrations practice at the Islamabad office. Barrister Iftikhar is ranked by Legal500 for his work in Corporate and M&A in Pakistan. Barrister Iftikhar holds an LL.B (Hons.) from the University of Hull and a BPTC from City University of London.
He was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of Middle Temple in 2012. Barrister Iftikhar has been actively involved in advising different entities on corporate compliances, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, issues relating to employee benefits and retention, setting up trust funds, anti-dumping investigations initiated by the State of Pakistan, and registration of forms of intellectual property with the IPO.
He also handles negotiation of technological and software enhancement agreements on behalf of private clientele, management of non-banking finance companies in relation to portfolio management, and advises on the CVAS licensing regime under relevant PTA laws.
Barrister Shahrukh Iftikhar is singled out as a highly experienced and seasoned International Trade Law expert, lauded for his deep and broad knowledge and experience of international trade law matters by his clients and the legal fraternity alike. His expertise in international trade law have been recognized not only in Pakistan but also internationally as he has recently been appointed as a Consultant of the World Trade Organization (the “WTO”) for trade disputes. With on-hand experience of over a decade in international trade, he has been the first choice for foreign clients facing trade issues in Pakistan.
The Firm has always benefitted from his ‘clear and balanced advice’, ‘thorough and thoughtful approach’ and ‘talent for providing high-level, strategic advice’. Among one of his significant achievements has been the fact that he singlehandedly inaugurated, spearheaded and trained the highly successful International Trade Law Department of the Firm. The International Trade Law Department of the Firm offers a dedicated and one of a kind team of Trade Law experts (the “Team”) in Pakistan who effectively assist clients in trade remedy investigations. The Team under the sole instructions and guidance of Barrister Shahrukh has carried out investigations under Pakistan’s anti-dumping, structured international business transactions, effectively utilized international trade agreements, availed incentives for exports and protection through tariffs within the allowed parameters of the multilateral trading system.
Besides having domestic clients, the Firm has been advising its diverse foreign clientele comprising of foreign manufacturers, exporters, importers etc., on complex issues arising while doing cross-border trade. The Firm is also actively involved in representing its valuable clients in the Superior Courts of Pakistan in Trade Law related matters including the High Court. For foreign exporters and producers facing anti-dumping investigations initiated by NTC, the Team provides services of unparalleled research and technical sophistication. Having the benefit of many years of experience in trade law, the team is well versed with detailed technical procedures applicable to anti-dumping investigations and the opportunities available to the exporters and producers under the laws of Pakistan to defend their interests.
During the last few years, the Firm has extensively been engaged by in matters from South Korea, Belgium, Bangladesh, Spain, China, Indonesia, Netherlands, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Thailand, Jordan, Russian Federation, Singapore, Philippines, Egypt and Ukraine to pursue an effective defense/offense in various anti-dumping investigations.
PUBLISHED MATERIAL, CONFERENCES, TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS
A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradise
ATTENDEE
Attended training on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Working Harmoniously, certified by the United Nations (ITC).
ATTENDEE
Attended training on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, certified by the United Nations (ITC).
CO AUTHOR
Co-authored the "ICLG – Telecom, Media and Internet Laws" report in 2019
CO CONTRIBUTER
Co-contributor to the World Bank report "Modernizing Trade in Pakistan – A Policy Roadmap."
CO PRESENTER
Co-presenter in Energy Resource Management training on Labor and Corporate Compliances
CO CONTRIBUTER
Co-contributor to the World Bank "B-Ready Report 2023" on international trade in goods (coastal).
CO AUTHOR
Co-authored the World Bank Group/WTO report "International Barriers to Trade – Pakistan – Business Perspective.”
CO CONTRIBUTER
Co-contributor to the World Bank Group/WTO report "Women & Trade – Role of Trade in Promoting Gender Equality."
PARTICIPANT
Participant in the International Law Certification Course conducted by the Research Society of International Law in 2020.
PARTICIPANT
Participant in discussions on the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction Laws at the US Embassy
NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS
1. Opined Engro Corporation Ltd. on Rental Dispute and Joint Ventures exceeding the value of PKR 100 Million.
2. Opined Global Dispute concerning a USD 2 Million cross-border transaction of Sama Pakistan
3. Opined World Bank and the KPK Government on finances of a project of USD 1 Million.
4. Opined and drafted construction contracts for Zahid Traders for a development project valued over PKR 3 Billion.
5. Opined Energy Resource Management & MOL Group - Hungary on the execution of Employment Contracts.
6. Opined Engro Corporation Ltd. on Rental Dispute and Joint Ventures exceeding the value of PKR 100 Million.
7. Lead Counsel for Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd. in a dispute over alleged dumping excess of USD 7 Million.
8. Lead Counsel for PepsiCo. & Murree Brewery Pakistan over a dispute valued over PKR 10 Million.
9. Lead Counsel for the German Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and assisted in the renewal of License, Conducting Elections and compliances of DGTO.
10. Lead Counsel for Enar Petroleum Refinery Facility in drafting and negotiating a License, Basic Engineering, and Technical Services Agreement valued over USD 10 Million.
11. Lead Counsel for B ’N’ B Bread and Butter (Pvt.) Limited for a corporate restructuring transaction exceeding PKR 100 Million, as well as advising on hiring, work processes, compensation, leave, training, promotion, work environments and termination of employment contracts.
12. Lead Counsel and Advisor for Maaher Builders on lease contracts and HR policy exceeding USD 10 Million investment.
13. Lead Counsel for Swipbox Pvt. Limited in a dispute exceeding PKR 3 Million.
14. Lead Counsel and Advisor for NUST in the formation of the First Technology Park in Pakistan with the value of the Transaction exceeding PKR 3 Billion.
15. Counsel for Pakistan Machine Tool Factory in the acquisition and take-over of an entity valued at PKR 10 Billion.
16. Project Counsel for drafting and finalizing EPC Contracts for a public limited company worth 124 Million Yuan.
17. Instigated proceedings before the SECP & PEC on behalf of the Siddiqsons Group for a dispute over PKR 2 Billion;
18. Represented Pakistan Telecommunication Authority with respect to MTR Policy in a dispute exceeding PKR 2 Billion.
19. Represented Siddiqsons Tin Plate Ltd. in an issue over the acquisition of 9.27% shares of a listed entity worth PKR 300 Million.
20. Advised private clientele on the corporate restructuring of Garuda Airlines (Indonesia) worth USD 6.5 Billion.
21. Retained Counsel of Special Technology Zones Authority for the drafting and implementation of Zone Development and Zone Enterprise Agreements worth over PKR 1 Billion.
22. Retained Counsel of Pakistan International Airlines for the transaction of Auction of Assets and preparation of the Concession Agreements for Investors worth in excess of PKR 5 Billion.