Profile

Faisal Islam is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and has more than 30 years of vast experience on corporate matters, which includes advising all major players in the power sector since 1994, drafting, reviewing and negotiating all types of contracts, and litigation before the High Courts and the Supreme Court of Pakistan especially in commercial, corporate and tax cases.

Faisal started his career with Hassan & Hassan (Advocates) in 1992 and became Dr. Parvez Hassan’s partner in 1998. In 2005, Faisal established his own practice under the name of Faisal & Partners. Raja Mohammad Akram & Co. and Faisal & Partners merged their respective practices w.e.f.in September 2023, and the new name of the Firm is RMA & Co.

Faisal is considered as one of the leading lawyers in the power sector in Pakistan who is representing independent power producers (“IPPs”) since 1994 in all their matters, including reviewing and negotiating all kinds of agreements involved to set up and operate a power plant in Pakistan. Not only the power sector, Faisal represents big corporate houses in handling their corporate matters, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating all kinds of agreements, giving opinions and representing the same before the regulators and the courts of Pakistan.

Faisal has handled local and international arbitrations (in Singapore and London), including arbitrations under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration rules of arbitration and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) arbitration rules. Faisal interacts closely with magic circle laws firms/barristers’ chambers and American law firms on matters related to transactions and disputes regarding projects in Pakistan.

Faisal advised foreign companies, franchises/joint ventures, including Kinder Morgan USA (formerly, El Paso Corporation), Gama International (Türkiye), AES, Gloria Jeans and McDonald’s joint venture company in Pakistan.

Along with Deloitte (Pakistan), Faisal advised and strategize for the Government of Pakistan, Privatization Commission, in relation to the transfer of 12% stake of all Federal Government owned entities to their employees. Faisal also worked as a team member with IFC International Finance Corporation and Ashurst Morris Crisp, a UK based law firm, regarding privatization of a utility.

Faisal remained always available on a pro bono basis in advising public welfare and charitable institutions, including Progressive Education Network, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, Shalimar Hospital and CARE Foundation.

Faisal drafted statutes, including Corporate and Industrial Restructuring Corporation Ordinance, 2000 and Non-Performing Assets & Rehabilitation of Industrial Undertaking (Legal Proceedings) Ordinance, 2000.

Faisal has been a lecturer at the Business Faculty of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and of Forman Christian College University.

Experience

• Represented clients in their local and international arbitration, including IPPs in their arbitrations in Singapore and London under the ICC rules of arbitration and the LCIA arbitration rules respectively
• Represented Kinder Morgan (formerly, El Paso Corporation), U.S.A. regarding its sale of Habibullah Coastal Power, an IPP in Pakistan
• Advised 870 MW Sukki Kinari hydro power project under CPEC, which is the biggest in the private sector
• Representing all gas fired power projects under the 2002 Power Policy of Pakistan, which are Orient Power, Sapphire Electric, Halmore Power and Saif Power, with the combined capacity of 900 MW approximately
• Representing oursun Pakistan in its setting up and operation of a 50 MW solar power project in Sindh for the sale of electricity to K Electric
• Advising China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), a Chinese corporation, on certain of their matters in Pakistan including a re-gasified liquefied natural gas power project in the Province of Punjab and disputes/arbitration in this regard
• Represented and advising Pakistan conglomerates, including Sapphire, Nishat Chunian, Lotte Akhtar Beverages, Nishat and US Apparel, on their project(s), including textile, beverages and all other ventures; drafted, reviewed and negotiated for the same several shareholders agreements, share purchase agreements and all types of agreements, including structuring transactions for the same; and advised/planned for the purchase/acquisition of huge properties for their projects
• Advising oil marketing companies on their businesses, including Flow and Quality 1
• Advised and representing on mergers and acquisitions to oil marketing companies and other Pakistan conglomerates
• Advised NESPAK and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited in drafting for the same Renewable Natural Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement
• Representing CMEC in a major tax matter before the Lahore High Court, which matter has great significance with regard to the benefits under double taxation treaties if foreign entities are working in Pakistan under an EPC contract
• Represented several companies in the High Courts and Supreme Court on their corporate matters, including International Finance Corporation (see, generally: IFC vs. Hala Spinning PLD 2000 Lahore 323; Chaudhri Muhammad Qasim v Prime Bank 2004 CLD 1181)
• Acted as amicus curie before the Lahore High Court regarding the question of issuance of a sale certificate by High Court (Habib Credit and Exchange Bank vs. Hamaliya Textile PLD 2000 Lahore 391)