Assad Saifullah Khan

Counsel to Transworld Associates on the agreements its business runs on: bandwidth services, leasing, DPLC, IP transit and master service agreements, with local service providers and with international companies in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Assad also advised on issues raised with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, and served on the company’s board from 2017 to 2022.

• DocumentsBandwidth services, leasing, DPLC, IP transit and master service agreements
• PartiesLocal service providers and international companies in the UK, USA and Australia
• RoleCounsel, and Director 2017 to 2022

Legal adviser to Lahore Compost Limited before it was acquired by the Lahore Waste Management Company. Assad helped the company get its carbon credits certified by the World Bank.

• OutcomeCarbon credits certified by the World Bank
• LaterCompany acquired by the Lahore Waste Management Company
• RoleCounsel

Counsel to the hospital on its consultant contracts and the clinical governance terms in them. The work covers the agreements under which visiting and permanent consultants are appointed, drafted so that the hospital’s governance requirements sit alongside the legal, ethical and clinical standards that apply to the consultants.

• DocumentsVisiting and permanent consultant agreements and appointment letters
• FocusClinical governance provisions in consultant contracts
• RoleCounsel

Counsel to Saif Healthcare Limited, which owns the hospital, in establishing a fully equipped private hospital in Islamabad and on the transactions that came with it. The hospital is a project of the Saif Group, where Assad is Director Legal.

• ClientSaif Healthcare Limited, a subsidiary of Saif Holdings Limited
• ScopeEstablishing the hospital and related transactions
• RoleCounsel

Advice on the legal aspects of setting up the plant: incorporation of the local company, syndicated financing, corporate structuring, the concession documents, regulatory approvals, EPC contracts and tariff negotiations. Assad later advised the company on its initial public offering.

• DocumentsPower Purchase, Implementation and Gas Supply Agreements, and EPC contracts
• RoleCounsel

Advice on all legal aspects of setting up the plant: incorporation of the local project company, the syndicated financing raised from lenders, corporate structuring, the concession documents, regulatory approvals, the EPC contracts and the negotiations with counterparties and authorities that carried the project through to financial close.

• DocumentsPower Purchase, Implementation and Gas Supply Agreements, financing documents and EPC contracts
• RoleCounsel

Advice to Nishat Power on its Implementation Agreement with the Government of Pakistan, signed in September 2007, and on the ancillary matters relating to its plant. The plant supplies NTDC under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement and began commercial operation in June 2010.

• FinancingAbout USD 229 million: USD 183 million of debt and USD 46 million of equity
• DocumentsImplementation Agreement and ancillary agreements
• RoleCounsel

Advice to Sapphire Power on the EPC contract for the construction of its power plant and on the Gas Supply Agreement for its fuel.

• DocumentsEPC contract and Gas Supply Agreement
• RoleCounsel

Advice to Mehak International on its 200 MW wind power project, including the incorporation of the local company, syndicated financing, corporate structuring, the Energy Purchase Agreement, regulatory approvals, EPC contracts and tariff negotiations. Advice to AH Power and Young Gen Power on their 200 MW rental power projects, covering syndicated financing, corporate structuring, the Energy Purchase Agreement, approvals, EPC contracts and tariff negotiations.

• DocumentsEnergy Purchase Agreements, financing documents and EPC contracts
• ForumsNEPRA and PPIB, on tariff and approvals
• RoleCounsel

Advice to companies with drilling prospects in exploration blocks in southern Sindh and Balochistan, on their seismic surveys, EPC and O&M contracts, and on financing and concession agreements including Fuel Supply, Gas Sales, Power Purchase and Implementation Agreements. The work has included litigation over operating agreements and surface use involving foreign companies, and opinions to the Directorate General of Petroleum Concessions (DGPC) on its proposed Draft Rules 2009.

• DocumentsFuel Supply, Gas Sales, Power Purchase and Implementation Agreements; EPC and O&M contracts
• ForumsDGPC, the courts
• RoleCounsel

Advice to Saif Power on its initial public offering: the prospectus, due diligence, capital requirements, financing, the issue of shares, subscription and underwriting, deployment of the proceeds, and the regulatory approvals and guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the Karachi Stock Exchange.

• RegulatorsSECP and the Karachi Stock Exchange (now the Pakistan Stock Exchange)
• ScopeProspectus, underwriting, share issue and listing approvals
• RoleCounsel

Advice to the Korean group on its acquisition of the Heavy Electrical Complex at Hattar, covering due diligence, regulatory approvals, the share purchase agreement, corporate structuring and environmental compliance, and representation before the Competition Commission of Pakistan on the question of dominant position after the acquisition.

• StructureShare acquisition of a state-owned industrial unit
• ForumCompetition Commission of Pakistan

Advice on the construction of the hotel: incorporation of the local company, due diligence, corporate structuring, acquisition of the land, regulatory approvals, non-recourse financing documents and the construction and concession agreements.

• ScopeLand, financing, construction and concession documents
• RoleCounsel

Counsel to the Civil Aviation Authority, advising it on various infrastructure projects.

• ClientCivil Aviation Authority
• ScopeAdvice on various infrastructure projects
• RoleCounsel

Representation of Saif Group and Saif Telecom in litigation and arbitration involving foreign telecommunications companies, alongside continuing corporate work for the group’s power, textile, real estate and healthcare businesses.

• ForumsCourts and arbitration
• RoleCounsel

The firm was nominated to the legal panel of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and of the National ICT Research and Development Fund. For the Ministry, Assad has given opinions on telecom law, including the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996 and the Pakistan Telecommunication Rules 2000. As retained counsel to the National ICT R&D Fund, he has furnished audit-related documents on its behalf.

• ClientsMinistry of IT and Telecommunication; National ICT R&D Fund
• ScopeOpinions on the Telecom Act 1996 and Rules 2000; audit documentation
• RolePanel and retained counsel

Opinions to Ufone on telecom law, and the drafting and negotiation of its DPLC agreements and its customer service and charges agreements with vendors and customers.

• DocumentsDPLC agreements; customer service and charges agreements
• PartiesVendors and customers
• RoleCounsel

Advice on the incorporation of the company, its financing, procurement and corporate structuring, and on later transactions and contentious matters.

• ScopeIncorporation, financing, procurement and disputes
• RoleCounsel

The joint venture between Global Real Estate Development Limited and Saif Holdings Limited, incorporated as Elite (Estate) Private Limited, for real estate development in Islamabad.

• StructureIncorporated real estate joint venture
• RoleCounsel

Counsel to the representatives of the Abu Dhabi Group across its Pakistan interests, including Warid, Wateen, Alfalah, SGM Sugar Mills, Al Razi Healthcare and Al-Mubarak Tower, a major construction project of the group.

• SectorsTelecommunications, banking, sugar, healthcare and real estate
• RoleCounsel

Advice to the Saif Group of Companies on its portfolio investments, the due diligence and acquisitions behind them, and the financial management of the group, alongside its power, textile, real estate and healthcare businesses.

• ScopePortfolio investments, due diligence, acquisitions and financial management
• RoleCounsel, and Director Legal of the group

Advice to Xinhua International on setting up in Pakistan: incorporation of the local company, regulatory approvals, financing, procurement, corporate structuring and the EPC contracts for its project.

• ScopeIncorporation, approvals, financing, procurement and EPC contracts
• RoleCounsel

Advice to Alfalah Insurance on its joint venture agreement with a European company.

• DocumentsJoint venture agreement
• RoleCounsel

Corporate advisory and dispute work for a textile group and an insurance company, alongside the firm’s wider work for Saif Group and Saif Holdings.

• SectorsTextiles and insurance
• RoleCounsel