About us
introduction
Hamna Zain
I am a UK qualified Attorney and Barrister from the UK, holding a certification in Contract Law from Harvard Law School. With over 13 years of experience, I provide legal consultancy services to clients in the UK, USA, UAE, and Europe.
I am on retainership with multiple companies in the USA, UAE and UK and collaborate with various law firms as an independent attorney, providing remote services and working alongside their in-house teams.
My professional journey includes significant roles in multinational companies such as Coca-Cola, Abraaj Capital Limited and Abu Dhabi Group, where I served as a Senior Legal Counsel and Group Head. Beyond my consultancy work, I also teach Contract Law for the University of London LLB program and conduct training sessions on contract drafting and negotiation for international clients, as well as organizations and universities in the UAE and UK.
My practice includes international corporate law, providing comprehensive legal solutions tailored to the complexities of global business operations.
More About Me
I was nominated by Women- in-Law, Pakistan as In-house Counsel of the Year in 2021 and was also awarded by British Council in 2021 and 2018 for my Social and Pro Bono Work. Furthermore, I have been the first woman in Pakistan who has taken the initiative of conducting legal aid trainings for woman of rural areas of Pakistan. Additionally, I was also selected by British Council from more than 1500 applicants all over Pakistan to speak on Global change ideas in UK House of Parliament in 2017. I have taken the initiative of starting 1st ever law related YouTube Channel in Pakistan titled as “Law with Barrister Hamna”.
My YouTube channel/lectures cater not just lawyers but general public as well to ensure that people of Pakistan are aware of their fundamental rights. Additionally, I have been conducting workshops on Sexual Harassment, Corporate/Commercial Contract Drafting, Effective Communication, Developing Emotional Intelligence in the Corporate Sector along with law universities all over Pakistan for the past 7 years. I have been a Chairperson of Legal Education Committee of Punjab Bar, Chairperson of Judicial Reforms of National Women Lawyers Society, Co-Chairperson of Prevention of Sexual Abuse Committee, International Legal Affairs Committee, Gender Equality & Diversity Committee of Lahore High Court, Vice Chairperson of the International Legal Affairs Committee Lahore High Court, Secretary General Human Rights & Environmental Protection Committee.
Education
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London, UK (Barrister-at-Law)
(City Law School, London)(2010 – 2012)
BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course)
University of London (External Programme)
(2005-2009)
LLB Honors: 2:2
WORK EXPERIENCE
Wateen Telecom Limited
(August 2017- Present)
Senior Legal Counsel
- Drafting, vetting contracts; advising the company on all Corporate In-house legal matters relating to telecom industry, PTA laws, PEMRA and CCP matters.
- Responsible for Company Secretarial matters and working closely with SECP.
TRAINING & TEACHING
(2017- Present)
- Conducting trainings on Contract Drafting, Corporate Compliance, Workplace Harassment Laws, and other law related topics for various banks, companies, law university and colleges.
- Giving Online Tuitions to law students Judicial Aspirants i.e. Civil Judge and Additional District and Sessions Judge Candidates from all over Pakistan.
- Director of Practical Legal Training Programme at HRPC Law University (Lahore)
Coca Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited, Lahore
(April 2015- April 2017)
Legal Counsel and Local Ethics & Compliance Officer
- Advising the Company on all Corporate In-house Legal matters relating to Commercial/ Sales, Employee Relations, labour, Industrial Relation matters, Marketing, HR, Audit, BT, PAC.
- Providing opinions on various regulatory matters, such as Food Laws, Competition laws Environmental laws and Health & Safety requirements. Drafting and reviewing various contracts, agreements, documents, and letters.
- In the capacity of Local Ethics and Compliance Officer in handling Code of Ethics Cases of the Company. Ensure implementation of ethics and compliance policies and procedures.
- Developed and maintained Standard Operating Procedures for External Counsels, Contract Management Policy, Competition Commission Policy, revamped SOP for Coke Distributor network. Streamline, record management system of legal department.
9 Kings Bench Walk, London, UK Mini Pupillage
(June 2012)
Criminal law:
- Attending Crown Court, conferences and police offices with my supervisors. Assisted barristers in all aspects of transactional and litigation practice.
Ahmed and Qazi, Advocates and Legal Consultants, Karachi, Pakistan
(March 2010 – August 2010)
(June 2011- March 2012)
Legal Associate
- Conducted due diligence exercise for a variety of transactions along with drafting of finance agreements, security documents, settlement agreements, legal notices and opining on numerous banking and company law related matters
- Conducted legal audit/due diligences for major banks of Pakistan.
Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Advocates and Legal Consultants, Karachi, Pakistan
(October 2009 - March 2010)
- Reported directly to senior lawyer and Attorney General with broad ranged responsibilities that encompass the timely and complex preparation of cases from discovery to trial phase. Coordinate office functions encompassing court calendar, management, scheduling of conferences. Performed computerized and law library research to obtain and gather case relevant data and material.
Internships
- RIAALAW, Lahore (2015)
- Royal Bank of Scotland (2008)
- Orix leasing (2007)
- Orrdignam (2006)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Member of The Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, UK, since 2008
- Member of Sindh Bar Council, since 2009
- Member of Lahore High Court Bar Association, since 2017
- Member of Punjab Bar Council, since 2017
- Member of Lahore Bar Association, since 2017
- Member of Karachi Bar Association, since 2009
- Member of Barrister Society of Pakistan, since 2017