Scheherazade Shiraz Aslam

Education

Dual-qualified lawyer (England & Wales andPakistan)
E: sheri.aslam@gmail.com

Education and professional qualifications

2019                Memberof International Bar Association

2018                Admitted as anAdvocate (Pakistan)
                        Member of Punjab BarCouncil (Pakistan)

2017                Admitted as a Solicitor(England& Wales)
                        DLA Piper UK LLP(London)from 2015-2018

2014-2015      University of Law (Moorgate) -London
                       Legal Practice Course(Distinction)

2011-2014      University College London-London
                       LLB (Hons)(2:1)

2008-2010      Lahore Grammar School Defence Phase 1 -Lahore, Pakistan
                       A Levels: Sociology (A), Chemistry (A), Biology (A), AS World History (A)
                       SAT score: 2280/2400)

Professional Experience

July 2018 – Present                HaidermotaBNR & Co., Lahore
                                                  Associate

• Advising major power producer on disputes pursuant to operations and maintenance contract (English law governed) with multinational conglomerate. Liaising with international law firm in London. Commercial considerations are essential in this matter, based on knowledge of energy sector and counterparty’s global and local operations.
• Advice/drafting notices on warranty and production claims against Chinese contractor.
• Awaiting publication of article on enforcement of English arbitral awards in Pakistan and preference of London as seat of arbitration on the Kluwer Arbitration blog.
• Advised developmental agency owned by French Government on its rights against Government of Pakistan in relation to non-compliance of concessions contract and its remedies under local and international law, including arbitration.
• Advice on LCIA arbitration pursuant to power purchase contracts between IPPs and the Federal Government.
• Reviewing provisions of energy purchase agreement for International Finance Corporation (IFC), particularly amends made by Government of Pakistan. Particularly reviewing tripartite dispute resolution provisions, as discussed with international US firm.
• Reviewed disclosed litigations in relation to purchase of UAE-owned telecommunications company by US telecommunications group.
• Advised on share premium accounts under English law in relation to legal opinion.
• Worked with senior partner on business development for expansion of the firm’s business in the UK. Reviewed and amended firm fee proposal letters.
• Judge in annual moot competition for students in the University of London external LLB programme. The case was at pre-trial stage in the International Criminal Court; the charges were genocide and war crimes.

August 2017 – May 2018                     DLA Piper UK LLP, London
Litigation and Regulatory , London       Qualified experience

• Conduct of High Court (Commercial Court) dispute between Italian insurer and French manufacturer (English jurisdiction and governing law). Issues included negative declaratory relief and service outside jurisdiction in Italy. Worked directly with matter partner.
• Drafting High Court documents (witness statements, particulars of claim, defences, application notices). Drafting inter-party correspondence and instructions to counsel.
• Regulatory advice, including on EC competition decision on merger of well-known airline group and Irish airline.
• Memo on developments in international arbitration.
• Contractual analysis of misrepresentation/dishonesty provisions (fraud dispute).
• Conduct of EU Regulation 261/2004 claims; leading the firm’s team pursuant to recent judgment on missed connection claims.
• Pitch on international arbitration experience for Government of Pakistan.
• Fraud investigation (Ponzi scheme involving international investment funds; disclosure).
• Regulatory advice on Package Travel Directive, GDPR and specialised aviation regulations such as air navigation.
• Drafting novation contracts and contract review.
• Advice on lessee default and unjust enrichment.
• Advice on judicial review in relation to deportation rights of the Home Office.
• Advice on aircraft detention rights for well-known airport against insolvent airline.
• Advice on EU and UK slot regulation and commercial solutions.
• Initial advice for Chinese client on acquisition of international manufacturing group.
• Research memos on recent case law updates and briefings on trends of claims. Ran and managed internal online wiki of precedents and case law for department. Spearheaded litigation library consolidation task.
• Pitch documents for litigation department ahead of event for potential clients.
• Delegation to internal resources and partial supervision of trainee. Business development: Arranged and conducted meeting with high profile potential client (Government of Pakistan, specifically International Disputes wing of Office of the Attorney General) via personal connection, and off the back of this meeting received initial instruction for fee estimate and work proposal on multi-million pound arbitration. Keen to create and facilitate relationships through personal network of international contacts.
• Advice/drafting notices on warranty and production claims against Chinese contractor.
• Awaiting publication of article on enforcement of English arbitral awards in Pakistan and preference of London as seat of arbitration on the Kluwer Arbitration blog.
• Advised developmental agency owned by French Government on its rights against Government of Pakistan in relation to non-compliance of concessions contract and its remedies under local and international law, including arbitration.
• Advice on LCIA arbitration pursuant to power purchase contracts between IPPs and the Federal Government.
• Reviewing provisions of energy purchase agreement for International Finance Corporation (IFC), particularly amends made by Government of Pakistan. Particularly reviewing tripartite dispute resolution provisions, as discussed with international US firm.
• Reviewed disclosed litigations in relation to purchase of UAE-owned telecommunications company by US telecommunications group.
• Advised on share premium accounts under English law in relation to legal opinion.
• Worked with senior partner on business development for expansion of the firm’s business in the UK. Reviewed and amended firm fee proposal letters.
• Judge in annual moot competition for students in the University of London external LLB programme. The case was at pre-trial stage in the International Criminal Court; the charges were genocide and war crimes.

August 2015 -August 2017                     DLA PiperUK LLP, London
                                                                  Trainee Solicitor

Seat: Litigation and Regulatory (Aviation sub-group)

• High Court (Commercial Court) litigation: dispute between 3 multinational defendant companies and claimant airline; technical fault with plane battery.
  1. Worked on, reviewed and filed defence.
  2. Researched service outside the jurisdiction,to join partiesbased in th eUS and Switzerland as Third Party Defendants under CPR Part 20.
  3. Prepared court documentation under CPR Part 20as above.
  4. Managed documents system and prepared chronology and dramatis personae.
  5. Input into disclosure letterto client.
  6. Prepared CMC bundleand attended CMC hearing.
  7. First level review on Relativity(disclosure exercise).
• Conduct of 15 customer services claims brought against major airlines
  1. Drafted acknowledgements of service, defences and other documents such as offers to settle and schedules of costs.
  2. Drafted correspondence with client, court and litigants in person/claims handlers.
  3. Meticulous filemanagement and diarising of court deadlines.
  4. Corresponded with process server to serve court order on judgment debtor.
  5. Collated authorities and prepared hearing bundles.
  6. Drafted instructions to counsel, input on skeleton arguments and liaised with counsel on case law.
• Reviewed partner’s drafted defence and added text reflecting treaties and international law, applying university knowledge on Public International Law.
• Analysed emails to detect fraudulent senders in fraud claim(with litigation team).
• Recommended and liaised with Pakistani lawyers on an aviation insurance dispute.
• Court run.
• Researched topics such as legal rights of aircraft detention, public procurement laws in Turkey, drone ownership in the US, US-style class actions and their scope in the UK and new rules under the Consumer Rights Act.
• Created client document on main points in European Commission’s Strategy to Enhance Competitiveness in Aviation in the EU.
• Assisted Litigation Corporate Crime and Investigations team with document review.

Seat: Employment (80% contentious)

• Worked on complex constructive dismissal claim encompassing 7-folder bundle.
• Attended witness interviews; drafted witness statements and letters to the Tribunal.
• Prepared court documents and arranged to issue High Court proceedings for breach of restrictive covenant claim. Attended client alone atclient offices for document signing.
• Lodged appeal papers at EAT for well-known taxi mobile app.
• Prepared memo for American client on issuing proceedings in the English High Court.
• Attended pre-hearing meetings with client/counsel, coordinated dates for Tribunal listing.
• Drafted letterof acknowledgement of resignation.
• Created pitch document for potential hotel client

Seat: Real Estate

• Worked on report on title on acquisition of city building by well-known UK property giant.
• Prepared SDLT returns/letters and CPSEs on various transactions, including lease of offices to well known luxury fashion brand.
• Reviewed agreements for lease and leases and drafted notices of under letting and licences to alter, underlet and occupy.
• Ran licence to alter transaction -reviewed clauses in line with client’s instructions.
• Prepared and submitted Land Registry forms; drafted and swore statutory declarations.

Seat: Debt Finance

• Worked on complex financing by major UK bank (£15,000,000 revolving facility and £5,000,000 incremental revolving facility)of group of companies in preparation for IPO. Worked to tight deadlines. Primary responsibility for organising and arranging execution of CPs, which were particularly complicated due to sequencing and timing of transaction.
• Worked on financing by global bank for restaurant franchis or with senior facilities of £79,520,000and cross-border financing for company group by major investment bank(senior facilities of £27,000,000).
• Due diligence on and resolving issues that could impact share transferability on enforcement.
• Drafted supplemental legal charges, accession deeds and release documentation.
• Reviewed foreign security.
• Drafted and managed/reviewed conditions precedent/subsequent checklists, board minutes, shareholder resolutions and director certificates. Managed pre-completion and post-closing accession processes.

Additional experience at DLA Piper

• Extensive pro-bono work across all four seats. Examples include:
  1. Habeas Corpus Project – detainee cases under supervising barrister.
  2. Harmondsworth Detention Centre -interviewing detainees at the centre.
  3. Prince’s Trust-prepared and delivered interactive employment rights presentation.
  4. London Wild life Trust-pro-bono employment advice.
  5. Reprieve -legal research and reportson death penalty cases.
  6. Pensions Advisory Service-assisted with pensions training.
  7. UNHRC Universal Periodic Review (UPR)-identifying human rights issues.
  8. South wark Citizens Advice Bureau-volunteered with supervisor.
• Volunteered for DLA Break into Law work experience programmes.
• Supervision of DLA vacation scheme students.
• Represented DLA with graduate recruitment at Bath University and UCL law fairs.
• Participated with DLA graduate recruitment in UCL pub quiz.
• Delivered “A Day in the Life of a Trainee” presentation to Pathways Plusand vacation schemestudents.
• Participated in Aspiring Solicitors Group Exercise Assessment at University of Law.
• Competedin the DLA Factor singing competition and the DLA Bake-Off.
• DLA Piper Vacation Scheme (London, June2013) -Litigation &Regulatory and Real Estate.

Additional experience at DLA Piper

• Author of published novel:fiction book” Twist of Fate”, published by Pakistani publisher Ferozsons (2010) and located in the University of Pennsylvania Franklin library:https://franklin.library.upenn.edu/catalog/FRANKLIN_9950217823503681
• Languages(4): English (native), Urdu (native), Punjabi (fluent), Hindi (fluent -speaking only).
• Working on the first draft ofmy second book;ongoing.
• Passionate about recycling (especially paper and airline waste); medieval world history, British history pre-1800s and International Law. Interested in music, acting, cars andrescue ofstray dogs. Learning Italia nand planning to learn Farsi. Member of National Trust.University:
• University College London Union Debating Society Committee Member(Inter-Varsity Tournament Convener 2013-2014). Debated throughout university.
• Won the UCL Hogan Lovells Moot Cup (against Kings College London). Participated in and later judged Herbert Smith Junior Moot Cup.
• Worked with UCL Student Human Rights Programme; compiled report on LGBT and Islam.
• Participated in the Linklaters Path finder scheme.School:
• Internships in Pakistan at United Nations Development Programme, Human Rights Commission, SOS Children’s Villages, World Wildlife Fund and Chima & Ibrahim Associates.
• Articles published in local newspapers; conducted report on national television on smoking.
• Participated in Model United Nations, journalism and quiz competitions. Acted in school plays and English Editor of school newspaper/magazine.