Ahmer Bilal Soofi

Managing Partner | Islamabad

Ahmer is the Senior Managing Partner of the firm and the head of its dispute resolution practice. As an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, he divides his time between the firm’s offices in Lahore and Islamabad.

He has more than thirty years of experience in representing the federal and provincial governments, ministerial departments, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, listed and unlisted companies, high-net individuals including prince(s) and other foreign sovereigns on a broad range of contentious matters that include commercial, constitutional, tax, employment, trade, energy and other investment disputes.

He has been consistently ranked as one of the Leading Individuals in Dispute Resolution by Chambers and Legal 500. He is “highlighted for his long-standing experience in advising on public law, as well as international arbitrations” and is praised for being a “true professional with legal acumen and strength in drafting”. In July 2021, he was appointed as a member to the International Court of Arbitration by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

He served as the Federal Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs during the caretaker setup in 2013 under whose watch Pakistan completed its first transition of civilian rule from one elected government to another. He is a Member of the Panel of Eminent Persons of OIC and has served as the Chairman of the UN Advisory Committee on Human Rights in Geneva. He regularly advises the government on international treaties, international sanctions, UNSC Resolutions, BITs and other bilateral and multilateral issues related to public international law and is frequently invited to deliver talks at the National Defense College Islamabad, Command and Staff College Quetta, National Management College Lahore, Naval War College Lahore and several other institutes. He has previously been invited for delivering similar lectures at International Development Law Organization Rome, Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Sri Lanka, Shanghai University China, Fletcher School USA, Royal United Services Institute, London and Harvard Law School, USA.

Key Highlights: Int'l Disputes & Commercial Arbitration

Islamic Republic of Pakistan as co-agent before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in RMI vs. Pakistan
Government of Balochistan and Pakistan in the $11.43 billion Reko Diq arbitration arising out of a mining dispute with TCC before ICSID and ICC
OMV Maurice Energy Limited in a contractual dispute arising out of petroleum concession agreement against Zaver Petroleum Corporation Limited and Sadruddin Hashwani before the ICC
TAG Engineering & Contracting Company W.L.L in bringing a claim against Public Works Authority, Qatar (Ashghal) for QR 90 million under the OIC Investment Treaty
A major European car importer in bringing a potential claim against its principal under the DIFC-LCIA Rules
UEC (Pvt) Limited in a contractual dispute with Yokogawa in a Request for Arbitration under the Japanese Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) and subsequent mediation under CEDR rules for a total value of USD 15,000,000
Pakistan Ordnance Factory on enforcing a judgment in Italy against PIC against supply, installation and commissioning of a Sulphuric Acid Concentration Plant for a total value of Euros 58,000,000

Key Highlights: Commercial Litigation

Interactive E-Solutions JLT & Diallog Broadband (Private) Limited in a $14,500,000 dispute for rejection of satellite license by O3B Networks Limited
Siddiqsons Tinplate Limited against the National Tariff Commission’s imposition of anti-dumping duty on imports from China
HBL PSL Cricket Franchisees in a dispute against PCB regarding the commercial, broadcasting, licensing and other media and franchise rights
Fizza Developers in a PKR 2.5 billion arbitral dispute for the construction of a hotel in Islamabad conducted under the Arbitration Act, 1940
Mughals Pakistan in a construction dispute against EOBI for a total value of PKR 9 billion conducted under the Arbitration Act, 1940
Zealcon Engineering in a major commercial arbitration against SNGPL in a dispute arising out of a construction contract
Constructors Association of Pakistan against the Pakistan Engineering Council before the Islamabad High Court
Habib Bank Limited in recover proceedings for the default of more than PKR 300 million against a major rice producer
United Bank Limited in a PKR 1.9 billion suit for recovery against Amtex Limited
Porsche Pakistan in a major dispute amongst shareholders regarding the grant of agency and its subsequent termination and transfer

Key Highlights: Constitutional Litigation

Government of Pakistan against A.Q. Khan regarding his detention following allegations of nuclear proliferation
Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association against the Punjab Food Authority and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority in respect of a dispute following the passage of the 18th Amednment
Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in the Supreme Court in a constitutional issue regarding the vires of provincial HECs after devolution under 18th Amendment
Senator Sadia Abbasi, sister of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, in an election disqualification case before the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Sumaira Malik, member of Parliament, in an election disqualification case before the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Federal Government against a challenge to the construction of the mixed-use Fortress Square Mall in Lahore
Tariq Shafi in the landmark Pakistan Steel Millscase where its proposed privatization was successfully challenged and struck down by the Supreme Court

Key Highlights: Tax Litigation

Motorway Operation and Rehabilitation Engineering (Pvt) Limited for wrongful imposition of income tax due to misinterpretation of law in PKR 3.1 billion matter
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) in challenging various surcharges and duties in relation to electricity and gas for before the Lahore High Court and Islamabad High Court
Federal Board of Revenue against BP Pakistan Exploration & Production and M/s Occidental Oil & Gas Pakistan LLC in the Islamabad High Court
Porsche Pakistan in challenging the levy and imposition of regulatory duty on the import of new cars before the Lahore High Court
Pakistan Customs in several customs references before the Lahore High Court regarding the import and evaluation of custom duties on imported goods

Key Highlights: Public Int'l Law, Public Policy & Sovereign Advisory

KEY Highlights: Amicus Curiae

Appointed amicus curiae by the Supreme Court to assist it in the matter of extraditing Hussain Haqqani (former ambassador of Pakistan to the United States)
Appointed amicus curiae by the Islamabad High Court to assist it with respect to domestic and international implications of the Transfer of Offenders Ordinance, 2002

Awards & Honors

Special Envoy to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Int’l Convention on Defamation of Religions (2019 - present)
Board of Investment (BOI), Member Board (2019 - present)
World Wild Life Fund Pakistan, President (2017 - present)
UN Advisory Committee on Human Rights, Chairman (2016)
Federal Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Pakistan (2013)
Organization of Islamic Countries , Member of Panel of Eminent Persons
National Accountability Bureau, Assistant Prosecutor General (1999)

Recent Publications

Soofi, Ahmer Bilal (ed.) Nuclear Law, Book Home (2017).
Soofi, Ahmer Bilal (ed.) UN Law on Terrorism, Book Home (2016).
Soofi, Ahmer Bilal (2014), ‘Legal Challenges to Military Operations in Pakistan: The Case of the Federally and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas', in Yusuf, Moeed (ed.) Pakistan's Counterterrorism Challenge, Georgetown University Press.
Soofi, Ahmer Bilal (2007), 'International Humanitarian Law - A Pakistani Perspective' in V.S. Mani (ed.), Handbook of International Humanitarian Law in South Asia, Oxford University Press.

Areas of FOCUS

Int'l Commercial Arbitration
Commercial Litigation
Constitutional Litigation
Public & Private Int'l Law
Int'l Sanctions Law & Regulatory Compliance
Sovereign Advisory
Legislative Drafting

EDUCATION

ADMISSIONS

Ahmer Bilal Soofi is highly regarded for his expertise in court. One client notes that "he is highly respected by the Supreme Court as well as the High Court for his intellect and delivery." He regularly acts for individuals involved in high-profile disputes.

Chambers & Partners

2020

About ABS & Co.

With over 30 years of experience and a team of 40 lawyers spread over two different offices, Ahmer Bilal Soofi & Co. is one of the largest and most experienced law firms in the country. The firm provides a broad range of legal services to its clients, ranging from corporate advisory and transactional matters to dispute resolution and international arbitration.