Nik Azila Shuhada Nik Abdullah

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution

Shipping & Maritime

Land Acquisition & Town and Country Planning

Regulatory Compliance & Enforcement

Criminal Advisory, Defence and Litigation

Investigation & Crisis Management

Environmental

Probate & Estate Administration

Professional Memberships

• Member, Bar Council’s Shipping and Admiralty Law Committee

• Member, Malaysian Bar

• Member, International Bar Association (IBA)

• Member, World Law Group

• Member, World Services Group

Languages Spoken

English, Malay

Experience

Shipping and Maritime

Shipping and Maritime

• Represent Master and 213 crew members of a passenger cruise vessel “MV Oriental Dragon” that was alleged to have been abandoned by its owners. The crew claims for unpaid wages and Master’s disbursements for the period between 2020 – 2021. “MV Oriental Dragon” was a 52-year-old passenger cruise vessel still serving in the industry (one of the oldest in the world). The team was approached by the International Transport Workers’ Federation based in the UK to provide urgent legal representation to the 213 crew members and to assist with their claim for unpaid wages and repatriation costs to their home countries namely Ukraine, Myanmar and China. Also represented Maritime Labour Convention Insurers / Underwriters in this present suit.

Land and Compulsory Acquisition

• Advises and represents State-owned corporations and companies faced with judicial review challenges filed to quash compulsory acquisitions of lands sought by the landowner.

Anti – Money Laundering and Anti Bribery

• Acts for individual or entities that are either investigated or prosecuted by the Public Prosecutor for alleged offences under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (“MACC Act”). She often advises on the provisions in the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (“AMLA Act”) and in the Penal Code for anti-bribery offences.

Regulatory, Compliance & Enforcement

• Advised clients on dawn raid protocols and crisis management strategies, including round-the-clock support for scenario planning and reputation safeguarding.

White Collar Crime and General Crime

• Advised Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and held a watching brief during the high-profile 1MDB trial involving former Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak. Provided advice on responding to allegations against BNM and assessed complex legal and financial issues arising from one of Malaysia’s largest financial scandals.

Native Customary Law

• Acted for registered owners of large tracks of development land in Johor. The plaintiffs in this action consist of 188 natives called the Orang Seletar and had brought a claim grounded on native customary rights and law in respect of those disputed lands and waters in Johor. Amongst the relief claim by the plaintiff include ; a declaration that the alienation of customary land to our clients is null and void; a declaration that necessary steps be taken to ensure that the register of title be rectified to expunge the said alienation; an order that the customary land occupied by the plaintiffs be gazetted as aboriginal customary land and an order for trespass.

Cybersecurity Law

• Advised a leading financial institution on managing a critical cyber incident involving suspected data exfiltration and ensuring regulatory compliance.

• Represented a leading financial institution and coordinating with law enforcement on the investigation for the cyber incident.

Environment law

• Advised and defended a Joint Venture Consortium who were the owners and operators of an Independent Deepwater Petroleum Terminal in connection with a claim by local inhabitants and fishermen for alleged marine pollution and an environmental harm. Acted alongside the State Government, the other named defendant.

• Advised a foreign bank on liability for marine pollution resulting from spillage or leakage or escape of oil carried or stored on board Floating Production Storage and Offloading Units in Malaysian territorial waters.

• Represented clients against strict liability offences under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, its Regulations and its Orders.

Education

Awards