- Professional Profile Page
Zafar Iqbal is an International legal consultant/ arbitration practitioner with extensive experience in high profile and high value cross-border transactions/projects related to diverse range of industries. He has until recently worked as Head of international legal Division for an International Law Firm in Kuwait, handling supervision of legal work and business development tasks for the firm in general and, in particular, International Arbitration Cases. He is also listed as an arbitrator with Dubai International Arbitration Centre and London Court of International Arbitration. He has been recognized as Rising Star and Key Lawyer of Tier 1 Dispute Resolution and Corporate, Commercial and M&A law firm by Legal 500 for 2021. He also teaches courses and modules included in LLM in International commercial Law, namely, International Law of the Sale of Goods, International Corporate Law and Governance, International Intellectual Property Law, and Advanced Contract Law and Negotiation.
He has also been acting CEO of Institute of Arbitration and Transnational Dispute Resolution Center, which is comprised of three divisions, namely, Institute of Arbitration (Institute); Transnational Dispute Resolution Centre (TDR Centre); and Consultancy and Advisory Division (C&A Division). C&A Division of the TDR Centre advises client states on possible amendments in their current laws and legislation related to arbitration, whereas, the Institute devises training programs for young lawyers in the said area of practice. Another objective, among others, of C&A Division is to provide legal assistance with maters involving international law and policy formulation advice to governments involved in conflicts as well as training on matters related to conflict resolution.
Zafar Iqbal has been working on different areas of International Law, particularly, International arbitration Law and International Contracts for last eleven years. He has proficiently handled international commercial arbitration cases as part of his successful commercial practice. His recent work includes international commercial arbitration cases involving commercial contracts, international finance agreements, maritime agreements, construction contracts, FIDIC contracts, BOT contracts, EPC contracts, PPPs and concession agreements, and other cases arising out of contracts involving either private commercial parties or a State or other public entities etc.
International Legal/Arbitration Practice
Zafar Iqbal has advised and represented clients in complex international commercial arbitration cases, arising out of various kinds of international contracts, before various international tribunals in cases administered by various arbitral institutions, particularly under auspices of International Court of Arbitration, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and London Court of International Arbitration, among others.
He has always drafted phenomenal, incredibly clear, concise and persuasive memorials and other submissions on behalf of his clients to plead their cases in international arbitration proceedings conducted in accordance with the rules of major institutional arbitration rules, including ICC Rules of Arbitration, UNCITRAL Rules, and LCIA, among others.
He possess considerable expertise in reviewing all kinds of case related documentation including any correspondence between the parties, contracts, project documents, financial documents and other related feasible studies and else technical documentations to provide the clients a thorough litigation/arbitration assessment with advice on the strength/weaknesses of their potential claims or defence before international tribunals.
He is highly regarded for his thorough understanding of arbitration laws, institutional rules and procedures with extensive experience of various jurisdictions. He is also known for having an excellent analytical mind coupled with good judgement and his outstanding grasp of technical points of law involved in complex arbitration disputes.
He knows how to maintain the right coordination between legal and other professional experts during the course of preparing complex legal submissions in order to develop a cohesive and effectively organised set of legal pleadings and documents.
In his career, he has worked on international arbitration cases against top tier law firms in the universe, which has given him deep insight into mechanics of drafting various types of memorial briefs including Statements of Claims, Statements of Reply, Skeleton Briefs, Post-Hearing Briefs, Closing Statements and other submissions as the need emerges during the course of proceedings on behalf of the client (Claimant/Respondent), especially in representations for/against parties involving governments.
His legal/arbitration practice has been mostly focused on industry specific contracts and resolution of disputes arising therefrom, particularly, by way of international arbitration. His recent work includes international commercial arbitration cases involving commercial contracts, construction contracts, FIDIC contracts, BOT contracts, EPC contracts, PPPs and concession agreements related to mega infrastructure projects, disputes between states and investors etc.
Apart from being a professional, he is always sensitive to client concerns and interests. He makes use of outstanding competencies in conducting factual and legal research not just for developing arguments and preparation of documents for legal proceedings but also to present the most relevant points and a broad view of the case to the clients that enables them to decide their future steps in relation thereto.
During his career he has led teams of arbitration lawyers, project assistants, and secretaries and maintained the right coordination between legal and other professional experts during the course of preparing complex legal submissions in order to develop a cohesive and effectively organised set of legal pleadings and documents.
Financial Crime
Zafar Iqbal’s experience related to financial & white collar crimes include all the key areas of commercial, financial, and public services regulations and he has advised numerous clients on regulatory enforcement and criminal investigations into corporate activities of many international joint ventures across multiple jurisdictions. He diligently identifies risks of criminal liability, which may be in form of parallel criminal investigations in different jurisdictions and advises the right strategy to address those risks in addition to risks of regulatory and civil liabilities that arise from the same allegations. He also advises them on the steps to minimize the risks of criminal liability and as well as the risks of civil claims under Kuwaiti Laws in both local and international proceedings.
Banking And Finance
Zafar Iqbal possesses considerable expertise in various areas of dispute resolution, particularly disputes involving subject matters of international finance and project finance, among many others. He has recently assisted international banks and corporate clients with strategic advice on potential banking disputes involving diverse subject matters related to assignment of loan facilities, refusal of demand guarantees, and claims under counter guarantees.
He has also advised a large investment holding company, specialized in managing integrated services portfolios across the MENA region, in respect of structure and the suite of agreements related to a USD 22 Million Sharia-compliant Murabaha facility transaction with a UAE based International bank.
Industry Specific expertise
His recent consultancy work includes advisory on construction, petrochemicals, oil & gas contracts as well as advising on activities related to corporate incorporation, restructuring, merger and acquisition, tendering for public projects, among others. He possesses considerable expertise on the legal aspects of procurement, project finance, reparation, insurance, construction and upstream oil, gas & petroleum contracting, and, technical and investment contracts among other industries . He is also proficient in conducting legal research on national & International laws and regulations related to diverse areas of international trade and commerce and cross border contracts, among others.
Corporate/Contracts Consultancy
Zafar Iqbal Is a legal strategist whose advisory services fill the legal skills gap that corporate clients usually struggle with despite of engaging top tier law firms. HIs past experience in advising companies and their in house legal departments on all legal aspects of legal compliance, corporate matters and transnational commercial contracts involving diverse subject matters (governed by different national Laws and/or or international laws) enable him to represent them effectively in arbitration proceedings and draft persuasive arguments and counterarguments based on his in depth understanding and knowledge of industry specific contracts involving diverse subject matters. He assists his corporate clients with all aspects of their commercial transactions, including negotiations with suppliers, subcontractors, financial institutions and other relevant parties, review of entire suite of contracts and tendering documentation related to complicated mega projects; project variations; and dispute avoidance.
In addition to drafting/reviewing/advisory work on international contracts, he has extensive expertise in rendering strategic advice on transactions and agreements related to international sales/purchase of technical equipment/plants, finance agreements, real estate agreements and related agreements and documentation, project finance agreements, petroleum agreements, offtake agreements, joint bidding agreements, joint operating agreements, unitisation agreements, drilling contracts, IT agreements, telecommunication agreements, Master Service Agreements, Reseller Agreements, Licensing agreements, teaming agreements, IP agreements and clauses related to protection of IP rights in other contracts, international construction contracts, FIDIC contracts, BOT contracts, EPC contracts, PPPs and concession agreements, franchise agreements; agency/distribution agreements, pharmaceutical agreements, real estate sale/purchase/lease agreements, corporate documents including mergers and acquisitions contracts, investment contracts, supplier agreements, nondisclosure agreements, lease agreements, employment agreements, contracts involving either private commercial parties or a State or other public entities etc. I also possess considerable expertise in various areas of dispute resolution, particularly disputes involving subject matters of international finance, international sale and purchase, procurement, public private partnership projects in various forms and project finance, construction and oil and gas, among many others.