Our People Archive - Page 12 of 12

Suhara Mohd Sidik

Suhara Mohamad Sidik

Suhara holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree and a Bachelor of Law (Shariah) (Honours) degree from International Islamic University Malaysia. She also holds a Master of Business Administration (Corporate Governance) degree from Universiti Putra Malaysia and an ICSA qualification from Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Suhara started her practice at Azmi & Associates where she was involved in corporate matters, including in advising an airline company on its sale and purchase of aircrafts; advising a holding company of listed companies on the exit structure of a shareholder by way of capital reduction exercise and sale and purchase of shares; managing bidding process in relation to sale and purchase of shares which involved a number of potential purchasers; advising a private company in relation to the taking over of sewerage services from local authorities; advising high net-worth clients on Muslim wills, trust deeds and conveyancing matters; advising on a settlement agreement of a failed joint venture company involving a public listed company; and advising foreign parties in relation to their application for remittance licence to Bank Negara Malaysia.

Suhara joined Shook Lin & Bok in 2010 and was involved in corporate commercial, corporate finance and banking matters including in advising on the issuance of RM15.0 Billion Sukuk Musharakah by a public listed company that is involved in an energy business; advising on the issuance of Sukuk Musharakah amounting to RM380.0 Million by a private company; advising on the acquisition of 85% shares of a government linked company involved in a fertiliser business; and advising on the validity of Ijarah structure practised by local financial institutions.

Suhara joined Abdul Raman Saad & Associates in 2012 and was involved in corporate financing matters including in advising on the establishment of Al-Salām REIT, an Islamic Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that invests in Shariah-compliant diversified portfolio of income producing real estate; advising on the issuance Sukuk Ijarah amounting to RM1.0 Billion by a special purpose vehicle company of a REIT; advising various financial institutions on financing facilities ranging from RM1.0 Million to RM450.0 Million; advising a REIT involved in a healthcare industry in its various nature of transactions (including in the acquisition of various properties for the purpose of injection into the REIT, the lease agreements and the development agreements between the REIT and various hospital operators); advising a public listed company in its related parties transactions and recurrent related parties transactions; advising a public listed company in its Employees Share Option Scheme; advising a public listed company on the issuance of Bonus Issue and Rights Issue; and advising a statutory body in relation to a financing scheme to be used by the government servants in the entire Malaysia.

She re-joined Azmi & Associates in June 2016 and is currently the partner of Mergers & Acquisitions/ Corporate Practice Group 4.

Some of the notable assignments that Suhara was part of since 2016 include:

• Advised a public company listed in New York Stock Exchange on its 100% acquisition (through its subsidiary company in Malaysia) of a Malaysian company that is involved in a sterilization business.

• Advised a China company on its acquisition of a Malaysian company and its Malaysian subsidiary’s legal compliance for the purpose of initial public offering in China.

• Advised a government linked company on its acquisition of a fuel terminal in Malaysia.

• Advised on a proposed acquisition of factoring companies by a financial institution.

• Advised on an acquisition of a property of a company in a liquidation.

• Advised a government linked company on the winding-up of its 8 subsidiaries for the regularization of its business.

• Advised in relation to an acquisition of a foreign company that involves in a parcel delivery business that has a Malaysian subsidiary.

• Advised on a proposed acquisition of 100% shares in 7 companies and 4 properties of companies in liquidation.

• Advised in relation to an investment in/acquisition of a company that involves in laboratory and pathology services.

• Advised on an investment of a government fund into a company for small and medium enterprises purposes.

• Advised on a proposed acquisition of a company that was developing hotel and residences project

• Advised on development and lease agreement of hotels.

• Advised in relation to operation and management of cafetarias of a university by a subsidiary of a public listed company.

• Advised on renovation, operation and management of a premier university housing located at a university.

• Advised Russian party on the transfer of property in Malaysia.

Details

Suhara Mohamad Sidik
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5025

Mobile Phone:
+6019-319 1201

E-mail:
suhara@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Sharizan Sarif

SHARIZAN SARIF graduated from International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) in 2004.

After graduation, he joined legal department of SME Bank Berhad where he advised on all aspects of corporate financing offered by the bank and the overall operation of the bank.

He left the bank to undertake his pupillage at Azmi & Associates under the supervision of Dato’ Azmi Mohd Ali. He was called to the Malaysian Bar in January 2009.

He was seconded twice to Gas and Power Business (Legal) Department, PETRONAS and was stationed at Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd, Bintulu, and at KLCC to assist on review of the template agreements and contracts related to floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG), respectively.

He obtained Professional Certificate in Islamic Finance from International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) which was set up by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

He has advised on various corporate and commercial work, mergers & acquisitions, corporate restructuring, joint venture arrangement, fund and investments, renewable energy projects, public-private partnership (PPP), project development and various concession arrangement, including:

Corporate, Joint Venture, Investments, Mergers and Acquisitions, Fund, etc.

• advising on the disposal of 100% shares in a company owning and operating palm oil plantation of around 600 hectares, located at the State of Kelantan;

• advising a subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) for the disposal of 100% shares in a company owning hotel building and office buildings;

• advising Midea Group, a China’s leading electrical household manufacturer, for an acquisition of 51% shares in a Malaysian company;

• advising Saraya Co. Ltd, a Japan’s leading manufacturer of healthcare hygiene solutions, for an acquisition of 100% shares in a Malaysian company involved in the manufacturing and distribution of household cleaning products;

• advising Global Maritime Ventures Berhad (GMV) for an acquisition of 35% shares in Syarikat Borcos Shipping Sdn Bhd, a company involved in the business of providing marine transportation and support services for the offshore oil and gas industry;

• advising disposal of substantial minority shares in Weststar Aviation Services Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian leading provider of offshore helicopter transportation services, to KKR, a leading global investment firm based in New York;

• advising Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad for setting up of a joint venture company (JVCo) with an Australian and an American entities, and for the purchase by the JVCo of a biodiesel plant worth USD22 million, to be refurbished and retrofitted to operate on a new technology;

• advising Johor Corporation (JCorp) in relation to joint venture with Dubai-based Oilfields Supply Center Limited, for construction, management and operation of common user supply base at Tanjung Langsat Port, Johor;

• advising Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas) for its investment in a company involved in food & beverage businesses;

• advising Koperasi Angkatan Tentera Malaysia Berhad for its investment in a startup technology company, based in Australia;

• advising on the establishment of a RM50m musharakah fund which won the Islamic Financial News’ Musharakah Deal of the Year 2024;

• advising Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) for various matters in respect of its investments and projects including establishment of the Centre of 9 Pillars ( Co9P), a centre to promote Industry 4.0 ecosystem;

Renewable Energy, Project Development, PPP, Concession Arrangement, etc.

• advising Rising Promenade Sdn. Bhd., for the development of three (3) run-of-river small hydroelectric renewable energy plants, with an aggregate installed capacity of 84 megawatt along Sungai Galas in Kuala Krai, in the State of Kelantan (“Hydropower Project”);

• advising RPSB for the participation by Malakoff in the Hydropower Project by way of purchasing 70% ordinary shares and subscribing up to 250 million (worth RM250 million) preference shares in project company;

• advising TH Plantation Berhad, in respect of a joint venture with Cenergi SEA, for the development, construction and operation of a biogas power plant with an installed capacity of 1.2 MW, in the State of Johor. The agreements involved include Shareholders Agreement, Build-Operate-Own-Transfer, Technical Management Services Agreement, EPCC and OMA;

• advising a major independent power producer in the structuring and acquisition of shares in the developer of 29MWac Large Scale Solar photovoltaic power plant;

• advising a client for disposal of 30% shares in a developer of a hydroelectric project at Sungei Brook, Kelantan (under the Small Renewable Energy Power Programme), to an energy company based in Ireland;

• advising Zecon Berhad on a concession agreement for the construction of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Specialist Children’s Hospital, for a cost of RM606 million, through Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) on a Build, Lease, Maintain and Transfer (BLMT) concept;

• advising AWC Berhad on a concession agreement in relation to provision of building maintenance and support services for Federal Government’s buildings for southern region’s states and the state of Sarawak; and

• advising Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) in respect of development of three (3) Rumah Selangorku projects at Kota Puteri, Selangor Cyber Valley and Siera Alam.

Details

Sharizan Sarif
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5019

Mobile Phone:
+6013 352 5400

E-mail:
sharizan@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Pierre Brochet

Pierre was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1996, as a French avocat in Paris in 1998 and as a registered foreign qualified lawyer in Malaysia in 2018.

Pierre holds an LL.M. in International Business Law from King’s College London, a Maîtrise en droit in Business and Tax Law from the University of Paris Sceaux and a Licence in Law from the University of Paris Sceaux and the University of Edinburgh.

Pierre Brochet is a senior lawyer with over 20 years of experience London, Wall Street and Emerging Markets private practice experience. He has acted as a French and an English counsel for private and listed companies and well-known multinational companies and global investment banks on a wide range of transactions, in Europe, the USA and Southeast Asia.

Pierre was a partner at US firms McDermott Will & Emery and Greenberg Traurig in Paris and London from 2008 to 2015, and was previously an associate at White & Case and Clifford Chance in New York and London.

Pierre Brochet joined Azmi & Associates in 2018 as a registered Foreign Qualified Lawyer for the following permitted practice areas: Corporate Finance, Capital Market, Banking & Finance and Derivatives. Azmi & Associates is the first law firm in Malaysia to have been granted a licence by the Bar Council of Malaysia to employ a Foreign Qualified Lawyer.

Some of Pierre’s most notable matters include:

• Advised a global automobile manufacturer on the acquisition of the minority interest of its joint venture partner in an assembly plant in Malaysia.

• Advised a global construction group on the establishment of a joint venture for the development of luxury hospitality projects in Indonesia.

• Advised a Singaporean portfolio manager on a first-loss capital fund arrangement with a US asset manager for currency/ forex trading.

• Advised a global components and parts supplier to the commercial vehicle industry on a European and Asian working capital multi-currency revolving credit facility.

• Advised a European manufacturer of savoury snacks on a syndicated multicurrency revolver and senior debt to refinance its acquisition of a snack business.

• Advised a global golf equipment company on a senior note offering secured by European and Asian collateral.

Details

Pierre Brochet
Special Advisor, Banking & Finance

Direct Line:
+ 603 2118 5160

Mobile Phone:
+ 6012 374 3481

E-mail:
pierre.brochet@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Khairul Fazli Abdul Kadir

Khairul Fazli graduated from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) with Second Class Upper LL.B (Hons) in October 2005.

He joined Messrs. Azmi & Associates in November 2005 as a pupil and was called to the Malaysian Bar and admitted to the roll of Advocates and Solicitors on 17 November 2006.

He holds different positions in Azmi & Associates from November 2006 to May 2012 before he was promoted to Partner of Messrs. Azmi & Associates and Head of the Multimedia, Technology and Intellectual Property Practice Group on 1 June 2012.

He left Messrs. Azmi & Associates in May 2014 to another law firm, where he leads the Intellectual Property and Commercial Practice Group of that firm prior to his resignation on 28 February 2017. He re-joins Messrs. Azmi & Associates on 1 March 2017 as a Partner in charge of Multimedia, Technology and Intellectual Property Practice Group.

To date, he has been dealing with various matters relating to intellectual properties, biotechnology, information and communication technology, technology, franchise, corporate and commercial, amongst others, as follows:

• He has attended to the registration of trademarks and industrial designs in Malaysia and foreign jurisdictions for various local as well as foreign companies and provided legal advices and services in respect of copyright and trademark infringement issues. His previous and current clients include Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), MISC Berhad, Sime Darby Property Berhad, Ayamas Food Corporation Sdn Bhd, DRB-HICOM Berhad, Padiberas Nasional Berhad, KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Berhad, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad, Malaysia Building Society Berhad (MBSB), Al Rajhi Banking & Investment Corporation (Malaysia) Berhad, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Biotropics Malaysia Berhad, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Open University Malaysia and Eastern Pacific Industrial Corporation Berhad (EPIC);

• He assisted companies to conduct intellectual property due diligence on the target companies for the purpose of merger and acquisition as well as investment His clients include Malaysian Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP), Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), Malaysian Debt Ventures Berhad (MDV) and Khazanah Nasional Berhad;

• He assisted research and educational institutions as well as companies in Malaysia in respect of the development and commercialization of their intellectual properties, amongst others, by drafting Licensing Agreement, Option Agreement, Technology Transfer Agreement, Commercialization Agreement, Graduate Research Fellowship Agreement, Scholarship Agreement (Foreign Students), Collaboration Agreement – Student Joint Supervision Program, Consultancy Services Agreement, Collaboration Agreement, Research and Development Agreement, Intellectual Property Assignment Agreement. His clients include Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Sime Darby Research Sdn Bhd and Biotropics Malaysia Berhad;

• He has assisted foreign and Malaysian clients in respect of ICT-related projects, amongst others, by drafting agreements in respect of the data centre and disaster recovery centre, Software Licensing Agreement, Software and Hardware Purchase Agreement, Software and Hardware Maintenance Agreement, Collaboration Agreement, ERP Project Agreement, IVV Services Agreement, Master Services Agreement for Registrar Transfer Agreement, Application Development Tools Supply and Services Agreement, Robo-Advisory Licensing and Services Agreement, CYSECA Software Licensing and Services Agreement, Virtual Private Network Broadband Rental Services Agreement, Telecommunication System Services Agreement, Supply, Delivery, Installation, Customization, Integration, Testing And Commissioning, Training And Warranty (Including Maintenance) of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Including Post Warranty Comprehensive Maintenance Agreement, Consultancy Agreement, Perjanjian Perkhidmatan Sewaan Naiktaraf Sistem Kawalan Pertahanan Internet (IPS) UPMNET and Collaboration Letter in Respect of The Beta Testing. His clients include Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd, BIMB Investment Management Berhad, Pernec Intergrated Network Systems Sdn. Bhd., Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, CyberSecurity Malaysia, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Malaysia Building Society Berhad (MBSB), Al Rajhi Banking & Investment Corporation (Malaysia) Berhad and Malaysian Software Testing Board;

• He assisted Malaysian Debt Ventures Berhad (MDV) in respect of the setting up of the Intellectual Property Financing Scheme which includes the review of the relevant documents to reflect the intellectual property elements;

• He has provided the necessary legal assistance to a government-linked company which has been entrusted by the Government of Malaysia in respect of the establishment of the Malaysian Software Testing Hub;

• He has attended to franchise matters (related to Islamic pawnbroking business, Islamic clothing businesses and stationeries business) which include the drafting of the franchise agreement as well as the registration of franchise with the appropriate authority; and

• He has assisted various clients on commercial matters involving collaboration as well as joint venture

He is also the author of several articles on laws relating to franchise, pharmaceutical, personal data protection, domain name, copyright and trademark, which have been published in local as well as international newsletters.

He presented several papers on intellectual property related matters, amongst others, on Introduction to Intellectual Property Laws, Procedures of Trademark Registration in Malaysia, Intellectual Property Due Diligence: Its Importance and Franchise Laws in Malaysia.

He is a trademark as well as industrial design agent registered with the MyIPO.

He is currently the Partner in charge of Multimedia, Technology and Intellectual Property Practice Group at Messrs. Azmi & Associates.

Details

Khairul Fazli Abdul Kadir
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5017

Mobile Phone:
+6018 980 9093

E-mail:
khairul.fazli@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Melinda Marie D’Angelus

Melinda Marie D’angelus

Melinda graduated in 2003 with a LL. B (Hons) from the University of London. Melinda was called to the Malaysian Bar and admitted to the roll of Advocates and Solicitors in April 2007.

Thereafter, she began her career in Messrs De Silva, which subsequently merged into the firm known as Bodipalar Ponnudurai De Silva up until end of 2011. During her employment, she handled various legal practices such as civil litigation, industrial relations and constitutional and administrative matters.

Melinda joined Azmi & Associates in 2012 and led a unit within the Litigation and Arbitration Practice Group, specialising in Labour and Employment. Melinda was then elevated to a Partner of the firm in 2016. In 2017, Melinda was named in the Asian Legal Business (Asia Edition) as the Top 40 under 40 outstanding legal professionals in the Asian region. Some of Melinda’s interests outside of law include travelling, baking, and reading.

Melinda has been involved in many matters since she began her career in law, some of the more notable cases include:

• Obtaining an award of unfair dismissal for two expatriate employees which were subsequently successfully relied on in an international arbitration and advising the foreign counsel handling the said arbitration.

• Successfully represented a subsidiary of national housing company in arbitrations against the Government of Malaysia an obtaining awards for the said national housing company in a construction dispute.

• Successfully obtaining orders from the High Court of Malaya for selective Capital Reduction exercises, one of recent being for a subsidiary of a State Government investment arm.

• Representing a National Trade Union in successfully obtaining an interpretation of a provision in the Trade Unions Act 1959.

• Obtaining a Mareva injunction against a public listed company in the High Court and successfully maintaining the decision at the Court of Appeal.

Details

Melinda Marie D’angelus
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5021

Mobile Phone:
+6019 388 2009

E-mail:
melinda.dangelus@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Ahmad Syahir Yahya

Ahmad Syahir graduated from International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) with a First-Class Honours Degree in 2008.

During his study, he obtained several awards for his academic performance including the Ahmad Ibrahim Kuliyyah of Laws Dean’s List Certificate for all eight semesters of his studies. He was also awarded the Best Student in Islamic Banking Law and was named in the Rector’s List during the 24^th IIUM Convocation 2008.

He attended International and Executive Legal Education (IELE) training at University of California, Berkeley, United States in 2015 and he has successfully obtained a Certificate of American Law from Berkeley School of Law, University of California, U.S.A.

He also attended an Arabic language course at the Abu Nour University, Damascus, Syria in 2006. In 2005, he was selected to participate in a course organized by Da’wah and Guidance Centre that was held in Makkah al- Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia. He received Certificate of Excellence for both courses he attended. He was a product of Darul Quran, JAKIM. He completed the memorization of the whole thirty chapters of al-Quran and received his Certificate in Tahfiz al-Quran Darul Quran-IIUM with jayyid jiddan (second class upper) in 2004.

He joined Azmi & Associate in May 2008 to undertake his pupilage under the supervision of our Senior Partner, Dato’ Azmi Mohd Ali. He was called to the Malaysian Bar on 10th April 2009. He was part of the team that advised on the issuance of Sukuk al-Ijarah and al-Mudarabah by Malaysian highway concessionaire Projek Lintasan Shah Alam Sdn. Bhd., which garnered the Islamic Finance News Deal of the Year 2008 award for its innovativeness.

He was also part of the team that advised Bursa Malaysia Islamic Services on the drafting of the rules governing the operations of Bursa Suq al-Sila’, the world’s first fully-automated secure online commodity-trading platform established by Bursa Malaysia Berhad based on the Shariah concept of Murabahah (tawarruq) which was awarded the “Most Outstanding Islamic Finance Product” at the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum (KLIFF) 2009.

He has also been actively involved in advising various financial institutions, corporations, cooperative societies and government agencies for the development of common Islamic finance and banking documentation.

He is listed under the Legal 500 as a recommended lawyer in the area of Banking & Finance.

His other notable assignments include:

• Advising syndicated lenders in relation to the Term Loan Facility of USD1.5 billion granted in favour of an oil and gas services company to part finance a floating production, storage and offloading vessel for the oil field in Brazil;

• Advising the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC) and Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission for the development of Islamic financing facility documents based on Shariah concept of Tawarruq;

• Advising the Government of Malaysia in relation to the Islamic Financing Facilities of up to RM577.0 million and RM480.0 million granted to a land development authority;

• Advising the Government of Malaysia in relation to the Islamic Financing Facilities of up to RM544.0 million and RM230.0 million only granted to a government-owned corporate entity for the purpose of financing of specific development and project;

• Advising a Malaysian bank in respect of Islamic financing facilities of RM570.0 million granted to a State Economic Development Corporation;

• Advising a Malaysian bank (being the Issuer) on the updating and upsizing of its existing multicurrency medium-term notes programme from USD1.5 billion to USD4.5 billion;

• Advising a listed oil and gas services company in relation to syndicated facilities up to USD550.0 million granted by syndicated financial institutions;

• Advising syndicated lenders in relation to the Term Loan Facilities of USD456.0 million granted in favour of three Labuan subsidiaries of a listed oil and gas company to finance the project costs of 3 vessels;

• Advising a Malaysian bank on aircrafts financing facilities of USD103.2 Million in favour of an Indonesian airlines company for the purchase of aircrafts;

• Advising a Malaysia bank in relation to a Line of Islamic Facility under Standby Letter of Credit-i (SBLC-i) of USD85.0 million granted in favour of a company involved in purchase and supply of Liquefied Natural Gas;

• Advising a Malaysian bank for the Structured Islamic Financing Facilities of RM0 million granted in favour of a concessionaire to finance development of facilities and infrastructure of Children’s Specialist Hospital;

• Advising a Malaysian Development bank in preparing the relevant legal documentation in relation to the novation exercise and settlement arrangement of the outstanding total loan facilities of up to RM1.863 billion involving a group of companies involved in water supply services;

• Advising a Malaysian bank in relation to the Commodity Murabahah Term Financing-i (CMTF-i) of RM500.0 million granted to a logistic services company;

• Advising the largest Islamic bank in Malaysia in relation to the fresh Islamic Short-Term Revolving Credit-i Facility of up to RM1.0 billion in favour of the federal land development authority;

• Advising a Malaysia bank in relation to a fresh Intra-Day Overdraft facility of up to RM2.0 billion in favour of the national energy provider; and

• Advising Bursa Malaysia Islamic Services on the drafting of the rules governing the operations of Bursa Suq al-Sila’, the world’s first fully-automated secure online commodity-trading platform established by Bursa Malaysia Berhad based on the Shariah concept of Murabahah (Tawarruq).

Details

Ahmad Syahir Yahya
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5020

Mobile Phone:
+6019-388 1655

E-mail:
syahir@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Philip Teoh

Philip Teoh graduated with Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from National University of Singapore in 1989 and later obtained a Master of Laws from University of Malaya.

He chambered under the reknowned litigator Mr Harry Elias in Singapore and then commenced his practice with the shipping law practice of Koh & Yang. He later founded the Shipping and Insurance practice of David Chong & Co and practised in both its Singapore and Malaysian offices. He is admitted as Advocate and Solicitor of both the High Court of Malaya and the Supreme Court of Singapore. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the shipping & transport, admiralty, insurance and international trade matters.

Prior to joining the firm, he established his own firm Philip Teoh & Co. He has previously founded and headed the International Trade, Shipping and Insurance Practices of Messrs. David Chong & Co., and had led the Shipping, Insurance and International Trade practices of Lee Ong & Kandiah and Zaid Ibrahim & Co. respectively.

Through his years of practice, he has amassed experiences in:

• handling both contentious and non-contentious areas in the shipping, insurance and international trade matters.

• advising clients with respect to acquisition of insurance, shipping and transport companies and its regulatory requirements.

• advising clients on the various aspects of the insurance, shipping and transport and logistics industries including risk and insurance coverage and liability, application for licences, marine and general insurance and reinsurance claims and recoveries.

• where appropriate, appearing in all levels of Malaysian Courts (up to the Federal Court) and acting as arbitrator and counsel.

He argued and won the first reported decision of the Malaysian Admiralty Court in the case of The Istana VI. His cases have been reported in the law reports, many of which involved novel points of shipping law including:

The Istana VI [2014] 5 MLJ 124
Ing Hua Fu Marine Line Sdn Bhd v Vitachem (M) Sdn Bhd [2013] 9 MLJ 825
AXA Affin General Insurance Bhd v Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (M) Bhd – [2009] MLJU 888
Pemilik Kapal ‘Luna Indah’ v Admiral Shipping Sdn Bhd – [2006] 4 MLJ 296
Malaysia National Insurance Bhd & Anor v Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia & Anor – [2004] 4 MLJ 472

He has handled cases in several of the notable shipping incidents in the region:

Collision between the Nagasaki Spirit and Ocean Blessing
Collision between the Orakpin Global and Evoikos
Collision between the Maju Song and Jambo 90
Sinking of the An Tai
Explosion and sinking of the Ing Hua Fu No. 9

Philip other achievements throughout his practice years and associated credentials are better represented in the following:

Publications:

Malaysian Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents – Shipping, Insurance Claims, Wills and Wills Trusts.
Halsbury’s Laws of Malaysia –Shipping, Carriers (Land, Air and Sea), Marine Pollution, Bailment, Liens and Limitation of Liability, Sale of Goods, Conflict of Laws,
Annotated Statutes on Merchant Shipping Laws of Malaysia- Merchant Shipping Ordinance, Merchant Shipping Oil Pollution Act, Collision Regulations and Sale of Goods Act.

Presented Papers and Conducted Seminars At:

Legal Education Extension Programme at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya
ASEAN Shipper’s Council
Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA)
Malaysian Insurance Institute (MII)
International Chamber of Commerce, Malaysian Chapter
PORAM Malaysia
Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Centre Residential Programme for Maritime Agencies
IOPC Fund and Malaysian Maritime Institute Seminar on Oil Pollution
Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators Qualification Course
Malaysian Maritime Institute
AMMSAT Malaysia Maritime Awareness Programme

Specific Areas of Expertise:

General Commercial and Corporate
International Trade and Commerce
Commercial Transactions and Sale of Goods
Ship Finance
Shipping and Admiralty
Transport, Freight Forwarding and Logistics
Insurance and Reinsurance
Maritime and Commercial Arbitration
Environmental Laws

Relevant Engagements:

Accredited Arbitrator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Center for Arbitration
Advisor, Singapore National Shipper’s Council
Arbitrator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration
Former Council Member of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (4 consecutive terms)
Legal Advisor for Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF)
Legal Advisor of Association of Selangor Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association (SFFLA)
Tutor, Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators Qualification / Upgrade Course

Philip Teoh joined Azmi & Associates in January 2015 as a Partner and Head of the Admiralty & Shipping, Insurance and International Trade Practice Group.

Details

Philip Teoh
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5010

Mobile Phone:
+6012 286 8591

E-mail:
philip.teoh@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Abu Daud Abd Rahim

Abu Daud graduated from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) with LL.B (Hons) in May 2002, and earned his second degree in Bachelor of Laws (Shariah) in April 2003 with First Class; whereupon he immediately joined the firm and commenced his pupillage under the supervision of the then partner, Mohamed Musa Mohamed Haneefa.

Abu Daud was called to the Malaysian Bar and admitted to the roll of Advocates and Solicitors in February 2004, and since his elevation to become a partner in 2011 is heading the Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group. Abu Daud is also an adjudicator under the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPAA) 2012.

In his practice journey, Abu Daud has equipped himself with advocacy skills valuable to court proceedings as well as out-of-Court settlements. An avid learner, he embraces the Firm’s philosophy of continuous progress by supervising the most numbers of litigation practitioners at the Firm.

Abu Daud’s experience amongst others includes the following:

• Reversing on appeal an Interlocutory Injunction resulting in the promissory note of RM800, 000.00 being honoured to the beneficiary.
• Setting aside a Mareva Injunction.
• Successfully obtaining an acquittal for a subsidiary company to a major oil and gas company in Malaysia for prosecution under the Malaysian Environmental Quality Act.
• Obtaining a Judgment preserving a private caveat beyond the statutory lifespan.
• Defending a client’s staff for a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the Penal Code.
• Acting as arbitration counsel for several construction disputes.
• Obtaining an Interlocutory Injunction for repossession of goods worth RM11 million.
• Recouping a portion of client’s substantial money lost due to forgery.
• Successfully defending a land development authority in a suit by the beneficiaries for alleged mismanagement of land development.
• Successfully recovering huge amount paid to the vendors on account of part payment in a frustrated transaction.
• Sustaining the certification of a Project Consultant of work done by a contractor and obtaining judgment against the contractor for defective work in a construction case.
• Obtaining sealed Court Orders confirming capital reduction of few companies within 1 month of the filing of the Court application.
• Delivering adjudication award in several disputes under the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPAA) 2012.
• Handling the litigation of a dispute between the beneficiaries of the estate of a prominent statesman leading to an amicable settlement after more than 20 years of acrimony.
• Obtaining the restitutionary remedy of a sale transaction that was found to be void by the Court due to illegality.
• Securing refund of RM8.4 million additional tax assessments and penalty for an automotive distributor following the decision of the Special Commissioners of Income Tax that the taxpayer’s practice of writing down its assets was valid. Abu Daud and his team also sustained the decision on appeal by the Inland Revenue Board to the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
• Securing payment of the full sums due to ex-employees under a voluntary separation scheme resulting from the Court’s decision that the ex-employees are beneficiaries of the assets of the wound-up company administered by the liquidator under an implied trust.

Details

Abu Daud Abd Rahim
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5013

Mobile Phone:
+ 6019 326 6870

E-mail:
a.daud@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Norhisham Abd Bahrin

Norhisham brings 23 years of corporate legal experience with him.

He is currently a Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions Partner at Azmi & Associates, a legal firm with more than 80 lawyers in Kuala Lumpur. His practice focuses on investments, corporate and commercial transactions, private equity & venture capital, corporate governance and compliance.

He has strong business acumen having advised major corporate transactions for listed companies and GLCs across a number of industries including automotive, palm oil plantation and real estate.

Norhisham also maintains a robust corporate governance practice and is a regular speaker in the market. He has conducted more than 85 public and in-house programs in the last 5 years for many entities including the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC), Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), Malaysian Insurance Institute (MII), and the Malaysian Directors Academy (now known as the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia). He also coaches board members of public listed companies and GLCs on corporate governance issues.

SKILL SET:

Corporate & Commercial Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Investments, Restructuring, Due Diligence, Joint Ventures, Cross-Border Investments, Private Equity, Companies Act 2016, Bursa Malaysia Listing Requirements, Compliance, Risk Management, Corporate Governance (MCCG, Board Responsibilities & Accountability, Shareholder Activism, Anti-Corruption, Cybersecurity, Sustainability and ESG), Strategic Planning and Negotiation Skills.

EDUCATION:

• LLB (Hons.) International Islamic University Malaysia (1999)
• MBA in International Business, Royal Docks Business School, University of East London (2012).
• Certificate in Business Sustainability Management (Cambridge, UK) (2024)

MEMBERSHIP:

• Advocate & Solicitor at the High Court of Malaya
• Member, Kuala Lumpur Bar
• Member, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM).

HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Norhisham’s key transactions are as follows:

• Advised a listed conglomerate in the restructuring of its subsidiaries under the automotive divisions valued at RM1.7 billion including successfully obtaining a stamp duty waiver arising thereof.

• Advised a listed company on its joint venture and shareholder agreements involving 5 separate companies.

• Advised an aviation company in relation to the restructuring of its aviation business by de-merging the business into 2 separate units including the assets, leases and licenses thereof.

• Advised an aviation company in relation to the sale of a 30% stake to a private equity powerhouse for USD202 million.

• Advised a listed company on its proposed restructuring and de-merger exercise involving the upstream poultry cultivation and processing businesses.

• Advised a listed company in the internal restructuring of its heavy equipment companies in Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea under a joint venture company incorporated in Malaysia and the disposal of minority shares in the said Malaysian joint venture company to a Japanese conglomerate.

• Advised a listed company on the internal restructuring and disposal of its oil and gas companies and assets in Malaysia, Australia, China and Singapore.

• Advised QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd, the region’s largest quick-service restaurant operator for a joint venture arrangement with the Delivery Hero Group and Foodpanda Malaysia to establish a halal-compliant food logistic service provider as well as to complement the existing delivery services of KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants on Foodpanda Malaysia’s platform.

• Advised Malaysian Venture Capital Company Berhad (MAVCAP) for the setting up of and investment in a USD600 million Exempted Limited Partnership Fund based in Cayman Islands.

• Advised a GLC on its proposed land right acquisition for palm oil plantations involving equity and asset acquisitions amounting to RM1 billion.

• Advised an aviation company in relation to the proposed joint venture with the national oil company of Mozambique, Africa.

• Acted as the Malaysian counsel for the IPO of Arena Events Group plc on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of London Stock Exchange. Attended to the due diligence exercises on the Malaysian subsidiaries and prepared the legal opinions for the purpose of listing in our capacity as the Malaysian counsel. The IPO raised a total of approximately £60 million.

• Advised Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) for its investment in a RM300 million private equity fund focused on investing in Shariah-based industries.

• Advised a concessionaire in a concession agreement with the Government of Malaysia relating to the provision of hospital support services valued at RM1.3 billion.

Details

Norhisham Abd Bahrin
Partner

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5016

Mobile Phone:
+6013 338 1868

E-mail:
norhisham@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Ahmad Lutfi Abdull Mutalip

Ahmad Lutfi graduated in 1995 from International Islamic University Malaysia with a LL.B (Hons) and was subsequently admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1996. He has also obtained his professional qualification from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) and graduated from the Institute in February 1996.

He embarked on his journey as a legal practitioner by joining Hisham Sobri & Kadir from 1996 to year 2000 where he was made partner. Lutfi then became one of the founding partners of Azmi & Associates and now heads a team of 15 lawyers who specialise in financial services and Islamic banking. Azmi & Associates is presently the 8th largest law firm in Malaysia with more than 70 lawyers with offices in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Singapore and a joint-venture office in Jakarta, Indonesia.

He has advised various clients in numerous exercises ranging from private debt securities, syndicated and cross-border financing, structured and project financing, trade facilities; both conventional and Islamic, Islamic banking product development, Islamic profit rate swap, corporate debt restructuring, privatization and build-operate-transfer/build-operate-own projects, mergers and acquisitions, foreign direct investment, energy and power related transactions, joint ventures to telecommunication projects and building contracts and Islamic derivatives.

Lutfi has also advised clients in various transactions involving debt and equity structured on Shariah principles and concepts of Murabahah, Mudharabah, Musharakah, Tawarruq, Ijarah, Istisna’, Wakalah, Bay Sarf, Bai Dayn, Kafalah and Rahnu. His capabilities include the areas of Sukuk, syndication and structured finance. He also has significant expertise in Islamic product development, venture capital and private equity funding.

Asialaw Leading Lawyers, a publication of Asia Law & Practice in its 2015, 2013 and 2012 publications respectively has identified Lutfi as one of the leading lawyers in Islamic banking and finance. Islamic Finance news in its publication, Leading Lawyers for 2009, 2010 and 2011 has identified Lutfi as one of the leading lawyers nominated in the category of Islamic Banking and Finance.

Lutfi has been featured in ISLAMICA 500 in 2015 as one of the 500 most influentials to make Islamic Economy.

On 29 September 2016, Azmi & Associates has received the inaugural Best Islamic Finance Law Firm 2016 Award in Jakarta by Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA).

Lutfi has presented papers, conducted workshops, trainings, moderated and participated in forums on Islamic finance in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Russia, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Italy, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Austria, Saudi Arabia and had moderated the Malaysia Belgium Conference on Islamic Finance.

Lutfi is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF).

Details

Ahmad Lutfi Abdull Mutalip
Partner
Head of Global Financial Services and Islamic Banking

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5008

Mobile Phone:
+6012 238 7532
+6019 232 9977

E-mail:
alam@azmilaw.com