Rabel Z. Akhund
Founder and Managing Partner
CV & Contact Details
H M Shanjid Siddique
Managing Partner – Bangladesh
CV & Contact Details
Sahar Iqbal
Partner
CV & Contact Details
Bilal Awais
Partner
CV & Contact Details
Mia Forbes Pirie
Of Counsel
CV & Contact Details
Rabel Z. Akhund
Founder and Managing Partner
Email :rabel.akhund AT akhundforbes.com
Rabel has practised law for over 20 years in London, Pakistan and internationally. He is a graduate of University College London where he obtained his LL.B and LL.M degrees and is a Solicitor of England & Wales and an Advocate in Pakistan. Prior to founding Akhund Forbes and during his 8 year career in leading global law firms in London, Rabel successfully worked on and completed cross border private equity buy-out transactions with a combined value in excess of £5 billion. Rabel trained and qualified as a solicitor at a leading global law firm in London.
Rabel is deeply involved in all Non-Litigation client matters at Akhund Forbes. He himself leads all Corporate and Finance transactions and Projects work for his major clients supported by his able team of Partners and Associates.
In 2019 alone, Rabel advised his major clients on corporate and finance transactions in excess of USD 2 billion and major projects with an aggregate value of nearly USD 3 billion.
Chambers and Partners ranks Rabel as a leading lawyer for Corporate and Commercial in Pakistan and describes him as “knowledgeable, supportive of the client requests and responsive”, “prompt, precise and courteous” and “very skilled”.
Legal 500 recognizes Rabel as a “leading individual” for Capital Markets and quotes clients as saying the following about him: ‘Rabel Akhund is a reassuring lawyer to have working on any transaction. With his experience of working in London, he understands well what is in an international counsel’s mind and can respond accordingly‘
The latest edition of Asialaw recognises Rabel as a Distinguished Practitioner for Banking & Finance and Corporate and M&A in Pakistan.
Sahar Iqbal
Partner
Email :sahar.iqbal AT akhundforbes.com
Sahar joined Akhund Forbes in 2009 immediately after being called to the Bar of England & Wales and was made a Partner in 2013. Sahar obtained her LL.B (Hons) degree from University of London and is an Advocate of the High Courts in Pakistan. Sahar draws upon her strengths acquired from assuming responsibility of and working on important and complex transactions throughout her career at Akhund Forbes and has advised the Firm’s major clients on multi hundred million dollar transactions.
Sahar is recognized by Legal500 as a leading partner in multiple practice areas (Corporate, M&A, Projects, Energy, Capital Markets, Labour and Employment Law) and is also well regarded for her work on TMT and Banking & Finance.
Legal500 quotes clients as saying the following about her: Sahar Iqbal – overall, one of the best lawyers to have on your side during any transaction. Sahar Iqbal stands out for her exceptional expertise in complex litigation and corporate law, providing innovative solutions tailored to client needs. She differentiates herself with a deep commitment to transparency and client communication, ensuring clarity in legal matters. I have worked with partner Sahar Iqbal and can attest to her commitment and professionalism. Her sense of urgency and creativity are worthy of note. Sahar Iqbal is great and provided me with accurate information about regional regulation. Team led by barrister Sahar Iqbal is highly competent and with clear understanding of corporate as well as public sector requirements. Sahar Iqbal offers a unique skill set of utmost professionalism and in-depth knowledge of legal landscape, providing innovative solutions in light of prevailing challenges.
Sahar is also a ranked lawyer for Corporate/Commercial in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners and is described as: “very fast and responsive, well versed in matters of corporate law and very reliable.”
Sahar is recognised as a Notable Practitioner for Capital Markets and Corporate and M&A in Pakistan in the latest edition of Asialaw. Sahar is ranked as a Band 1 Practitioner by Legal Media 360 and is also ranked by Top Ranked Legal.
Sahar is an officer of the International Bar Association & a member of the American Bar Association and is regularly called upon to contribute publications and speak at national and international platforms. She is also a member of Women’s Standing Committee of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
H-M-Shanjid Siddique
Managing Partner – Bangladesh
Email : shanjid.siddiqueATakhundforbes.com
Shanjid has been practicing law for over 12 years. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London in 2010 and was then called to the Bar of England & Wales by the Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 2011. He is a leading corporate and commercial lawyer in Bangladesh and also advises on employment law, trade law, and white-collar criminal investigations. Shanjid is uniquely capable of providing both litigation and corporate transactional services. He is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Additionally, Shanjid is on the List of Assistants to Counsel of the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, Netherlands. He is a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, Supreme Court Bar Association, and Dhaka Bar Association.
Bilal Awais
Partner
Email : bilal.awais@akhundforbes.com
Bilal commenced his legal career in 2015, honing his skills initially as a general commercial litigator. In 2017, he joined Akhund Forbes as an associate, where he thrived for two years before transitioning to provincial civil service. Driven by his passion for legal practice, Bilal returned to Akhund Forbes in 2021 as a senior associate, eventually becoming Partner in February 2024.
With a diverse skill set, Bilal specializes in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, energy, intellectual property, and general corporate advisory matters. He actively contributes to the firm’s Corporate and Commercial practice, being actively involved in significant transactions for both local and international clients of the firm.
Bilal holds an LL.B from the University of London and an LL.M from the University of Sindh. He is also enrolled as an Advocate of High Courts, Pakistan.
Mia Forbes Pirie
Of Counsel
Email :mia.forbes AT akhundforbes.com
Mia Forbes Pirie is Of Counsel to Akhund Forbes.
Mia has practised law for over 7 years in the London office of a leading global law firm. She specialises in matters related to the environment, competition/antitrust, trade and European Union law.
Mia has advised many FTSE 100 corporations on some of the largest transactions in Europe.
She draws upon her strengths as a senior lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of modern environmental technologies and the international regulations governing climate change.
Mia is currently advising the UK Government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on environmental technologies. In addition, she also advises on the implementation of building energy efficiency legislation.
Mia read law at University College London where she obtained her LL.B. (Hons) in 1998. Mia also holds a Masters in Law from Bruges and a Masters of Science in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.
Mia is based in London.