Partners

Mehr Saleem

Mehr Saleem has two decades of diverse legal experience representing leading domestic and international clients, including corporations, technology startups, financial institutions, and public sector entities across multiple jurisdictions in complex corporate, commercial and financial matters in diverse industry sections. Apart from her general corporate and commercial practice, she has worked extensively with clients in financing and projects, cross border structured financing, telecommunications, insurance, healthcare, technology, securities and capital markets, foreign investment, international joint ventures, banking and finance, employment and labour laws and regulatory matters.

Ms. Saleem’s core areas of expertise include corporate and commercial advisory, cross-border investments, complex financings, regulatory compliance, governance frameworks, structured finance, telecommunications, insurance, technology, securities, capital markets, healthcare, infrastructure and public-private partnerships. She routinely advises boards of directors, CEOs and senior executives on strategic legal matters such as corporate governance, risk management, foreign investment structures, HR and financial regulations, procurement policy, contract management, licensing, capital repatriation and foreign exchange control. She is particularly experienced in advising clients on regulatory matters under the regimes of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Competition Commission of Pakistan.

She has also been engaged as legal advisor to a number of international organizations and development sector stakeholders, including the World Bank, UNDP, Chatham House, SMEC International (USA) and WEConnect International. Her work with these institutions has spanned legal and policy reform, regulatory assessments, and capacity-building projects in areas such as environmental governance, sustainable infrastructure, women’s economic inclusion and SME development. She has worked closely with multilateral agencies, foreign consultancies, and government counterparts to develop legal frameworks, standardize documentation and align regulatory processes with global best practices across key sectors.

Ms. Saleem is a law graduate of the University of London. She holds a post-graduate professional diploma in law from the Inns of Court School of Law, London, and is a Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln’s Inn, London.

She is also a Harvard-trained mediator, a notified Mediator by SECP, and a certified arbitrator on the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange panel.

Ms. Saleem has been recommended in the past by the Asia Pacific Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for her legal expertise.

Notable Engagements

Drafted and negotiated multiple complex joint venture and shareholder agreements, including for a leading industrial conglomerate with diversified interests in glass manufacturing and chemicals; a renowned engineering consultancy involved in power sector advisory; a major conglomerate engaged in paperboard, flexible packaging, and consumer products; and a German renewable energy firm expanding into Pakistan.
Advised a UAE-based financial consultancy on structuring and launching a Shariah-compliant electronic trading platform involving Sukuk, Ijarah, Murabaha, Modaraba, Musharakah, and Istisna instruments.
Represented investors and financial institutions in structuring and documenting Islamic syndicate financings, including for infrastructure and manufacturing ventures.
Counseled a global hospitality investment firm on a hotel development project in Pakistan in partnership with a provincial government.
Advised a multinational retail group on establishment and operation of wholesale and retail outlets in Pakistan, including representation in contractual arbitration concerning claims under construction and services contracts.
Advised multinationals including Sanofi-Aventis, Siemens AG, and LAFARGE S.A. on legal and tax aspects of employee stock plans and private placements in Pakistan. Also assisted high-growth startups in drafting and structuring employee stock option plans (ESOPs) in compliance with local corporate and tax frameworks.
Represented industrial groups for transfer and licensing of IP assets, including legal due diligence and negotiation of transaction documents.
Represented a leading agribusiness company in transfer, licensing and assignment of intellectual property rights.
Advised an international investment bank and a stock exchange on demutualization and corporatization of a major exchange in Pakistan, including legislative framework reviews and drafting governance documents.
Provided transactional and regulatory advice to a UAE-based group acquiring equity in a licensed Pakistani brokerage firm, including SECP licensing and fit & proper compliance.
Represented non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in finance facility rollovers, investment agreements, regulatory filings, and SECP enforcement proceedings.
Acted as legal advisor in the development of a 225 MW combined cycle power plant under a provincial policy, advising on project structuring, financing, and regulatory approvals.
As legal counsel a leader in Pakistan’s power sector, drafted various sale and purchase agreements and joint venture agreements and advised on matters relating to Solar Power and Biomass Power Plants Projects.
Represented China Western Power Limited for, among other, negotiating a US$140 million EPC Contract on its behalf with Power Provider and incorporation of its wholly owned subsidiary in Pakistan.
Represented Government of Pakistan in an international IPP Arbitration before London Court of International Arbitration.
Represented WAPDA in a mediation against Japan Power Generation Limited regarding interpretation of the Implementation Agreement and the Power Purchase Agreement.
Advised on PPP and concession models for infrastructure projects, including drafting a PPP concession agreement on a Build-Transfer (BT) model for the Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication (PPIC3) Centres and advised on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model for a major water and sewerage project.
Advised real estate developers and town planners on housing schemes, commercial projects, REIT formation, and NBFC incorporation.
Advised on land acquisition for a major retail chain’s expansion across multiple cities.
Represented local and foreign acquirers in majority and minority stake acquisitions in various companies, including due diligence and documentation.
Advised on asset acquisitions of private and public (listed and unlisted) companies across various industries.
Drafted merger, demerger, and restructuring schemes for textile, construction, and financial sector clients, including asset carve-outs and reorganization strategies.
Assisted clients with financial restructuring and settlements with banks and DFIs.
Advised on legal documentation and structuring of venture investments in Pakistani startups, including healthtech, insuretech and property tech, including digital healthcare service providers, Pakistan’s first mobile-based insurance distributor, a global low-cost insurance platform (in partnership with Jazz and Alfalah Insurance), a UAE-based real estate investment platform, Pakistan’s first smart vending solutions company and a premier technology firm.
Represented a venture capital fund focused on Pakistan’s tech ecosystem in various seed and Series A investments. Drafted and negotiated share purchase agreements, share subscription agreements, shareholder agreements, IP assignment agreements, and put/call option contracts.
Represented telecom and tech startups before national regulatory authorities, including on CVAS licensing, shortcodes, and compliance matters.
Negotiated and drafted settlement agreements resolving shareholder, partnership and contractual disputes.
Represented clients in enforcement and compliance proceedings before SECP, CCP and other regulators.
Drafted and negotiated a range of commercial contracts including service agreements, employment contracts and consultancy arrangements for various corporate clients across sectors.
Advised clients on foreign exchange regulations applicable to the transfer of foreign currency into and out of Pakistan, including structuring of remittances, regulatory approvals, and compliance with SBP frameworks, in the context of both individual transactions and broader cross-border investment and commercial arrangements.
Advised major public and private gas sector entities on routine operations, including drafting of natural gas and LPG sale and purchase agreements, as well as drafting of the proposed Natural Gas Utility Companies Act, 2010 and other legislation relating to utility regulation.
Legal and policy advisor for the restructuring and capacity building of the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency, including review and redrafting of environmental laws of Punjab.
Appointed Legal and Policy Expert for the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of the Indus Basin and hydropower projects by SMEC International (USA) for the Ministry of Water and Power.
Represented Urban Unit (Punjab) on the Chief Minister Punjab Free Solar Panel Scheme (for domestic consumers using up to 200 electricity units per month), including review of the procurement strategy, pre-qualification documents, advertisements, evaluation reports, bidding documents, bid evaluation reports, and drafting of contracts, as well as providing support in contract management and dispute resolution.
Represented Urban Unit (Punjab) in the Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Pani Program, including drafting and negotiation of over 22 consultancy contracts.
Conducted a regional water governance study with international think tanks led by Chatham House (UK) focusing on transboundary water sharing and local management in South Asia.
Counsel to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) in the UNDP-funded "Right to Do Business" Project. Reviewed and translated over 300 templates of commercial contracts, forms, and notices to enhance legal literacy among SMEs and micro-enterprises in Pakistan.
Engaged by WEConnect International as an assessor for certification of women-owned businesses in Pakistan.

Contact Mehr Saleem

T: +92 321 4355559

E: mehr@saleemmamdot.com

Maryam Mamdot

Maryam Mamdot brings over 18 years of experience in both contentious and non-contentious corporate and commercial law in Pakistan. Her practice spans a broad spectrum, including providing strategic legal advice, drafting and negotiating complex contracts, structuring and leading high-value transactions, conducting legal due diligence, and handling dispute resolution matters.

Ms. Mamdot has advised clients across a wide range of sectors—such as oil and gas, energy, construction and real estate, manufacturing, media and IT, retail, hospitality, telecommunications, and healthcare. Her expertise encompasses foreign and strategic investments, public and private sector projects, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, intellectual property and e-commerce, environmental regulation, employment and labour law, non-profit governance, private international law, banking and finance, regulatory compliance, and capital markets and securities law.

She is known for her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and deliver tailored solutions that align with clients’ commercial objectives.

Ms. Mamdot, an Advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan is a Barrister-at-Law of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and a law graduate (LL.B Honours) of the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. Ms. Mamdot also holds a post-graduate professional diploma from the College of Law, London.

Notable Engagements

International Arbitration – successfully represented a leading real estate development company in an international arbitration proceeding under the ICC Rules of Arbitration seated at Singapore and obtained an award for PKR 2.4 Billion plus costs.
Privatisation – represented and advised the foreign purchaser in the successful privatisation of the National Power Construction Corporation (Private) Limited purchased for PKR 2.5 Billion comprising general advice, due-diligence, review and negotiation of Share Purchase Agreement, preparation of requisite documents for statutory compliance and implementation of the transaction, preparation and filing of the pre-merger application for obtaining NOC from the Competition Commission of Pakistan.
Local Arbitration – successfully represented a leading construction company in arbitration proceedings under the Pakistan Arbitration Act, 1940 for a claim of approx. PKR 1.2 Billion.
Merger – prepared the Scheme of Arrangement, Merger Petition and requisite documents for statutory compliance for a leading business entity in the hospitality sector and represented the client for implementation of the merger.
Litigation – successfully represented one of the leading sugar mills of Pakistan before the Lahore High Court, Lahore in proceedings challenging the ban imposed by the Government on establishment and expansion of sugar mills in the Punjab.
Litigation – successfully represented a number of leading privately owned sugar mills of Punjab before the Punjab Environmental Tribunal, Lahore against Environmental Protection Orders passed by the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency, Lahore re: alleged disposal of waste and effluents adversely affecting the environment.
Advisory/Transactional – engaged as the legal specialist in Pakistan by an international development finance institution for the Punjab Cities Improvement Investment Program. Advised on company related matters, public private partnership laws, procurement laws, prepared constituent documents of the proposed companies to implement the Project, prepared and negotiated the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Services and Asset Management Agreement and the Tripartite Grant Agreement for the said companies and advised on various matters including the applicability and effect of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001, the Cantonment Laws, the proposed Municipal Water Act and other local laws.
Advisory/Transactional – undertook the analysis and conception of a strategy for a foreign department for international development for implementation of the Shadbaad Cholistan Livestock Farms Project and prepared a comprehensive report for implementation of the Project containing an assessment of the legal framework as well as the financial feasibility of the Project.
Drafted and negotiated a JV agreement for a foreign investment company dealing in real estate and private equity investments, reviewed constituent documents for a foreign JV company with paid-up capital of AED 1 Million for operations and management of hotels and related hospitality business in the Middle East and North Africa regions and the Asia region, drafted Trademarks License Agreement and reviewed Project Management Agreement and other service agreements.
Advised and represented the client, a producer of writing instruments and stationery products, on its merger with two private limited entities and its subsequent conversion to a public company to be listed on the stock exchange including preparation of the Scheme of Arrangement, Merger Petition and other documentation for statutory compliance.
Advised a leading independent international investment banking organization and a stock exchange on the proposed demutualization and corporatization of one of the three stock exchanges in Pakistan; reviewed the proposed Stock Exchanges (Demutualization and Corporatization) Act, 2009; assisted in preparation of the constituent documents for the demutualized and corporatized stock exchange and advised on general stock exchange related matters.
Advised private companies in the education sector on the foreign exchange regime; drafted and negotiated shareholders’ agreements involving foreign investment and a subscription agreement; drafted documents for acquisition of land/schools in Pakistan and abroad along with escrow agreements for the said transaction; drafted standard employment contracts.

Contact Maryam Mamdot

T: +92 300 4219809

E: maryam@saleemmamdot.com