At the core of its litigation practice, RIAA BARKER GILLETTE adeptly handles complex cases before the Supreme Court, tribunals, and regulatory bodies. With four offices across the country, the firm leverages its expertise and 'profound depth of legal knowledge' to represent clients from a wide range of industries. The team is led by Omer Soomro from the Karachi office, whose particular focus is on energy-related litigation and new power producers. Meanwhile, Islamabad-based practitioner, Yousaf Khosa, is a noted expert in the telecoms, oil and gas, and construction sectors. Mayhar Mustafa Kazi is experienced in both foreign and domestic arbitration and has particular expertise in pre-arbitral determination proceedings, and Mazhar Bangash is another key figure.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Very professional firm, able to provide clear, concise and constructive advice. Proven very astute in formulating overall strategies of engagement.'
- 'Advise claimants on whether they have a valid claim, and defendants on whether to settle or fight a claim made against them.'
- 'The team is very commercial and responsive, which makes them reliable and easy to use.'
- 'Mayhar Mustafa Kazi is a pleasure to worth with. He clearly explains the issues and makes recommendations.'
- 'We feel extremely fortunate to receive the services of RIAA Barker Gillette to attend all the legal needs of our company. The team has profound depth of legal knowledge with a strategic agility and superior skills of crafting customised strategies. The firm has, and is, representing us in international arbitration matters before the London Court of International Arbitration and have so far brought positive results.'
Key clients
- Naya Jeevan Health Quest (Pvt.) Limited and Docthers (Pvt.) Limited
- Sindh Nooriabad Power Company Phase -1 (Pvt.) Ltd
- Sindh Nooriabad Power Company Phase – II (Pvt.) Ltd
- Star Hydro Power Limited
- Siddiqsons Energy Limited
- National Transmission and Despatch Commission
- Central Power Purchasing Agency
- Sino Hydro Corporation Limited
- Halliburton Worldwide Limited
- McKinsey & Company Pakistan (Private) Limited
- Alhaushabi Stevedores (Pvt) Limited
- South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited
- RG Pharmaceutical (Pvt.) Ltd.
- Pakistan Petroleum Limited
- Cargill International Singapore Pte Limited
- Grant Thornton Anjum Rahman
- Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company
Work highlights
- Acted for a client in filing a suit seeking to restrain Karachi Port Trust from the encashment of a bank guarantee amounting to USD2m.
- Acted for a client in obtaining a rarely granted Mareva injunction to freeze the proceeds of encashment and place them in a separate interest bearing account.
- Advised a client on the application of competence-competence principle in Pakistan and the arbitrability of allegations of fraud.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Omer Soomro