International Arbitration
Counsel in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations across leading seats and governing laws, from claims strategy through award and enforcement.
Dispute Resolution | International Arbitration
Qualified in New York and Pakistan, Umer has practised for over 17 years in international arbitration and complex commercial and construction disputes.
His practice is substantially cross-border. He has acted in international arbitrations seated in London, Singapore, New York, Geneva, Doha and Islamabad, under English, New York, Swiss, Qatari and Pakistani law.
He is regularly instructed by US, European and Chinese clients, including state-owned enterprises, in cross-border disputes and in the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Pakistan, where he has appeared in several of the leading reported decisions.
He represents contractors, employers and corporates through the full life of a dispute: claims strategy, dispute boards and adjudication, arbitration, litigation and enforcement. Clients also retain him outside formal proceedings—to advise during contractual performance, mitigate risk, and structure and negotiate complex settlements. His approach to arbitration was shaped in Singapore, where he practised with Clyde & Co LLP and Rajah & Tann LLP.
He has also sat as a member of a dispute adjudication board in a US$80 million power project dispute under a FIDIC-based EPC contract.
Counsel in institutional and ad hoc arbitrations across leading seats and governing laws, from claims strategy through award and enforcement.
Representing contractors, employers, and state-owned enterprises in construction, infrastructure, and EPC disputes under FIDIC-based contracts and other standard forms in arbitration, adjudication, and related litigation.
Umer is very responsive. His capability to provide practical and in-depth analysis of construction disputes in Pakistan is most impressive.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026
I highly recommend Umer to any business seeking a knowledgeable, reliable and business-savvy legal partner.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026
He has a knack for expressing legal matters clearly and concisely and succeeds in driving desired outcomes through strategic planning and dedicated effort.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
He is very straightforward when laying down the issues. He spells out the merits before beginning the battle as well.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
Representing a contractor against a sub-contractor’s claims of QAR 100 million arising out of the design and construction of an apartment complex in Doha.
Represented a Pakistani public listed company against a UAE-based company in claims of around US$3 million arising from a fertilizer sale and purchase contract.
Represented the state-owned national grid company against an independent power purchaser in an infrastructure dispute of around US$20 million.
Represented a Pakistani corporate group against Italian contractors in a dispute arising from services for construction of a fertilizer plant in the United States.
Represented a Singaporean company against a consortium of private equity firms in two arbitrations involving a claim and counterclaim of approximately US$600 million relating to two major South Asian power projects, arising from shareholders’ agreements.
Represented a US company against a Myanmar company in a dispute arising from a 25-year hotel management agreement.
Represented a leading Pakistani real estate company in proceedings arising from an aircraft sale and purchase agreement.
Represented a Pakistan-based information technology company against US-based customers.
Successfully represented a multinational oil and gas company against a local purchaser in a dispute arising from a gas sale and purchase agreement.
Acted as a member of the dispute adjudication board in a power project infrastructure dispute of approximately US$80 million between a Pakistani employer and a Chinese contractor.
Successfully represented Wateen Telecom Ltd in resisting recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award of around US$4.5 million (DIFC-LCIA Rules) before the Lahore High Court.
Successfully represented Metro Metals Northwest, Inc. in recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award of around US$2.5 million (ICDR Rules) before the Lahore High Court.
Representing New Metallurgy Hi-Tech Group Co., Ltd. (Chinese SOE) in recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award of around US$5 million (SIAC Rules) before the High Court of Sindh, successfully obtaining interim orders restraining asset sales.
Represented two independent power producers in proceedings for recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards (LCIA Rules) before the Islamabad High Court.
Represented Orient Power Company (Pvt) Ltd in recognition and enforcement of a foreign arbitral award of around PKR 800 million (LCIA Rules) before the Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Representing a Chinese SOE and its local partner in disputes arising from the EPC contract for the 1,200 MW RLNG-based power plant in Punjab, before the Civil Courts and Lahore High Court.
Representing a Pakistani public listed company in recognition and enforcement of an LCIA arbitral award before the Lahore High Court.