Bilal Shaukat

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Pakistan

Career

Bilal Shaukat is the Managing Partner for the offices of the firm in Pakistan and heads the corporate and commercial practice of the firm in Pakistan from its Karachi office. He joined the firm in 2008 and became Managing Partner in 2019. He previously worked at a leading litigation law firm, Khalid Anwer & Co.

Professional Memberships

1. Enrolled as an Advocate High Court

2. Sindh High Court Bar Association

3. Sindh Bar Council

4. Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn

Publications

Bilal has contributed chapters in Lexis Nexis Law Guide – Mergers & Acquisitions, Chambers Global Practice Guides Doing Business in Pakistan, The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides – Mergers and Acquisitions; Practical Law – Doing Business in Pakistan.

Personal

University of Hull: Bachelor of Laws

London School of Economics and Political Science: Master of Science

Cardiff University: Bar Vocational Course

Practice Areas

Recommended as a leading lawyer by various renowned legal directories, Bilal is a partner who heads the corporate/commercial practice of the firm in Karachi.

His chief areas of focus include project finance, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure projects and competition laws. He has extensive experience in developing power projects, including renewable energy projects. Bilal has acted as project counsel for several companies for the development of thermal and wind projects. He is presently advising many CPEC and other power projects being set up on Thar Coal.

Bilal has drafted and negotiated finance agreements (including Islamic finance, TFC, and Sukuks) for over 100 billion. He has also spearheaded acquisitions of listed and unlisted companies. He has the experience of working with many international firms including Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Dentons, King Wood & Mallesons and frequently advises offshore lawyers and financiers as local counsel.

He regularly advises multinational companies, financial institutions and other listed companies on company, banking and income tax related matters.

Clients

Key clients in the Projects, Infrastructure & Energy sector, include inter alia:

• K-Electric Limited;

• Thalnova Power Thar (Private) Limited;

• Siddiqsons Energy Limited;

• Lucky Electric Power Company Limited.

• Sindh Nooriabad Power Company (Private) Limited;

• FFBL Power Company (Limited);

• Asia Energy Private Limited;

• Crown Transport Private Limited;

• Mehran Energy Limited; and

• Farhan Power Limited

Key clients that have recently engaged Bilal in the banking and finance sector include:

• MCB Bank Limited;

• Bank of Punjab;

• Allied Bank Limited;

• Meezan Bank Limited;

• Indus Wind Energy Limited;

• Habib Bank Limited; and

• Lakeside Energy (Private) Limited;

Key clients in the corporate and commercial sector that have engaged Bilal recently include:

• Azentio Software Private Limited

• Bhanero Energy Limited

• Telenor Microfinance Bank Limited

• British Council, Pakistan

• British Airways PLC

• South Asia Pakistan Terminals

Industry Sector Expertise

Projects, Infrastructure and Energy:

Bilal Shaukat has extensive experience in developing power projects including renewable energy projects and is currently engaged by several leading companies with respect to the drafting and negotiation of project documents, project structuring and regulatory compliance. Bilal also regularly advises Government of Sindh on public private partnership agreements. He is presently advising Government of Sindh on development of Dhabeji Special Economic Zone.

Corporate and Commercial:

Bilal Shaukat has extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions and is recommended by several clients as one of the emerging leading lawyers of Pakistan. He regularly advises major clients (including the multinational companies, financial institutions and insurance companies) on company laws, banking laws and income tax, and on major acquisitions and takeovers across a range of sectors. Bilal also possesses particular expertise in advising on both conventional and Islamic finance agreements. He also regularly advises Government of Sindh on public private partnership agreements. He is presently advising Government of Sindh on development of Dhabeji Special Economic Zone.

Banking and Finance:

Bilal Shaukat has extensive experience in banking and finance matters and is recommended by several clients as one of the emerging leading lawyers of Pakistan. He regularly advises major clients (including the multinational companies, financial institutions and insurance companies) on banking laws and project finance matters.

Languages Spoken

1. English

2. Urdu

Work Highlights

Projects, Infrastructure and Energy:

1. Legal counsel to each of Indus Wind Energy Limited, Lakeside Energy Limited, Tricom Wind Power (Private) Limited, and Din Energy Limited in setting up of approximately 50MW wind power plant by each of them in Jhimpir, Sindh, Pakistan, Two of the power plants have commenced commercial operations.

2. Local Project Counsel for Lucky Electric Power Company Limited in respect of the financing of a 660MW coal-fired power project to be set up at Bin Qasim Town, Karachi, Pakistan. The plant commenced commercial operations in 2022.

3. Legal counsel for The Hub Power Company Limited, the largest power station financed by the private sector in Southern Asia in setting up an expansion facility i.e. power plant of 213 MW at Narowal - Pakistan.

4. Legal counsel for Karachi Electric for the development and modernization of multiple grid stations and construction of transmissions line.

5. Legal counsel for Yunus Energy Limited, setting up a 50MW wind power project in Sindh. The plant has commenced commercial operations.

Banking & Finance:

1. Lender’s Counsel for National Bank of Pakistan on all aspects of the grant of a finance facility of up to PKR 65 billion (approx. USD 357.2 million) to Government Holdings (Private) Limited for the purposes of raising finance for the proposed settlement of the Reko Diq dispute.

2. Lender’s Counsel for MCB Bank Limited which led a consortium of local banks to provide syndicate finance of up to PKR 9,700,000,000 to Attock Cement Pakistan Limited pursuant to the State Bank of Pakistan’s refinancing schemes for Long Term Finance Facility and Temporary Economic Refinance Facility, each with a submit limit letter of credit facility.

3. Lender’s Counsel for Allied Bank Limited for provision by it of bilateral finance facilities of up to PKR 3,258,000,000 to Engro Elengy Terminal (Private) Limited (EETPL) for refinancing of EETPL’s existing project finance facilities.

4. Legal counsel for syndicate of local banks providing finance facilities of over Rs.9 Billion (on project finance basis) to Hartford Alternative Energy Pvt Limited for developing 50 MW wind power plant.

5. Legal counsel for syndicate of local banks providing finance facilities of over Rs.12.3 Billion (on project finance basis) to Halmore Power Generation Company for developing 225 MW dual fuel fired (Gas and High Speed Diesel) power station.

Mergers & Acquisitions:

1. Legal counsel for Archroma Pakistan Limited in the merger of its chemical undertakings.

2. Legal counsel for House of Habib in the amalgamation and reconstruction of two of Pakistan’s largest networks of cash and carry outlets.

3. Legal counsel for Suroor Investments for acquisition of Arif Habib Bank Limited (now Summit Bank)

4. Legal counsel for a foreign (Singapore based) client for acquisition of substantial interest in two companies developing 50MW wind power generation projects.

5. Legal counsel for Standard Chartered Bank acting as Manager to the public offer under the Listed Companies (Substantial Acquisition of Voting Shares and Takeover) Ordinance 2002 for the acquisition of shares of ICI Pakistan Limited. Services included preparation of all documents relating to the public offer.

Education