Sarita Menon Mohan

Sarita Menon Mohan

Sarita Menon Mohan read law at the University of the West of England, Bristol where she graduated with a Second Class Honours Upper Division in 2014. She then completed her Bar Professional Training Course at the same university and was called to the English Bar at the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn.

Upon returning to Malaysia, she commenced her pupillage at Messrs P S Ranjan & Co and was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court in Malaya in 2018. She gained experience in matters relating to civil procedure, professional negligence especially medical negligence and the conduct of trials and appeals.

In 2019, she graduated with a Masters in Law from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur after studying part-time during pupilage and in practice.

She joined the Firm as an Associate and is part of our Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group 5. She works under the supervision of our Partner, Natalia Izra Dato Nasaruddin.

Details

Sarita Menon Mohan

Associate

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5090

Mobile Phone:
+6012 434 1406

E-mail:
sarita.mohan@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Nasbal Harun

Nasbal Harun

Nasbal Harun graduated from Universiti Malaya with a LL.B (Hons) in 2015.

Passionate towards litigation practise, Nasbal spent the term of his pupillage at Messrs Shaikh David Raj (now known as Messrs Shaikh David & Co) and was actively involved in Banking Litigation, Insurance disputes as well as Shipping & Maritime. He was admitted to the role of Advocates and Solicitors by the Malayan High Court in April 2017.

Thereafter, he proceeded to complete his pupillage in Sabah under Messrs Zainal & Associates and Messrs Ken Yong & Co and gained exposure in general banking litigation, general litigation as well as criminal defence. He was admitted to the role of Advocates of the High Court of Sabah & Sarawak in September 2018.

Nasbal joined Messrs Haniff Khatri as a Legal Associate in December 2018. Under the guidance of Mr. Haniff Khatri, he was actively involved in matters involving constitutional issues as well as public interest litigation.

Thereafter, he joined Messrs S.L. Leong, Kartina & Partners as a Legal Associate in December 2020 gaining exposure in Construction, Debt Recovery, Contractual and Commercial disputes and in February 2022, Nasbal joined Messrs Rao & Kamal and was involved in matters involving city townhall disputes, accident cases as well as employment disputes. He also acted for Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) in debt recovery and meter-tampering actions.

Nasbal joined Azmi & Associates in November 2022 and was dedicated to Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group (3) under the supervision of our Partner, Abu Daud Abd Rahim. His notable assignments include :-

• Obtained an Order staying the execution of Bankruptcy Order including the gazettement of the same which resulted in the setting aside of the Bankruptcy Order against the client;

• Provided extensive research and drafted the cause papers for Judicial Review against the smoking ban in eateries [Mohd Hanizam Yunus Dan Lain-Lain v Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia [2020] 9 MLJ 273];

• Substituted 7-years imprisonment sentence imposed on the client with a Bond of Good Behaviour;

• Opposing Judicial Review applications as appeals to Appeal Boards by dissatisfied developers and residents against the decision of the city townhall council;

• Involved in the preparation for trial for malicious prosecution suit initiated by a political figure against the Government of Malaysia which resulted in the Court awarding a Judgment in the sum of RM300,000.00 towards the client.

Details

Nasbal Harun

Associate

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5056

Mobile Phone:
+6017 224 4176

E-mail:
nasbal.harun@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Muhamad Zuraidi Zulkifli

Muhamad Zuraidi Zulkifli

Zuraidi Zulkifli graduated from International Islamic University Malaysia with a LL.B (Hons) in 2016.

Upon graduation, he joined the Firm in March 2016 to undertake his pupilage under the supervision of our Partner, Abu Daud Abd Rahim.

He was called to the Malaysian Bar in March 2017 and retained as an Associate in Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group 3. Throughout his tenure, he had involved in a broad range of general litigation matters and disputes.

In December 2018, he left the Firm and pursued his Master’s Degree in University of Malaya. He completed his Master’s Degree in Commercial Law in August 2020.

In February 2019, he joined Attorney General’s Chamber as a Deputy Public Prosecutor. He has conducted numerous criminal prosecutions in the Magistrate Courts, Sessions Courts and the High Court. He was a team member in the prosecution of former First Lady of Malaysia for anti-money laundering and corruption case.

He was awarded the Excellent Service Award in 2021 by the Attorney General’s Chamber in recognition of his excellence in service as a Deputy Public Prosecutor.

He rejoined the Firm in December 2022 as Senior Associate 2 and is part of our Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group (3) under the supervision of the Partner, Abu Daud Abd Rahim.

Details

Muhamad Zuraidi Zulkifli
Senior Associate 2

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5067

Mobile Phone:
+6014 505 9474

E-mail:
zuraidi@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Mohd. Shah Hashim

Mohd. Shah Hashim

Mohd. Shah obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and is a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. He is an Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya and is a Licensed Company Secretary and a Trade Mark and Industrial Design Agent.

He was called to the Malaysian Bar in September 1984 and was in private practice in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Corporate and Private Conveyancing, Banking Documentations, Government Licensing and Private Clients.

In September 1996, he joined Nestlé Malaysia as a Legal Manager and was appointed as the head of the Legal Department of the Nestlé Group of Companies in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998. His areas of responsibilities were Legal, Company Secretarial and Government Relations. Mohd. Shah was the Executive Director, Legal & Secretarial of the Nestlé Group of Companies until 30 June 2013.

During his tenure, he has been exposed and participated in various areas of legal and commercial transactions affecting the food industry, including, manufacturing, warehousing, sales and marketing, purchases of landed properties, sale and purchase of shares, licensing of intellectual properties and applications of various types of licences and fiscal incentives from the regulatory authorities.

Mohd. Shah served as the Company Secretary of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad and all of its subsidiaries and associated companies. He advises the Board of Directors on all aspects and was responsible to ensure adherence to integrity, compliance and governance of the Companies to related corporate compliance and governance requirements. In 2011/2012, he was instrumental in the setting up of a comprehensive and all-encompassing Corporate Compliance Framework for the Nestlé Group of Companies in Malaysia and Singapore.

He was also involved as an industry representative in various dialogues and discussions with the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism on the drafting of the Competition legislation since 1998, including participating in a PEMANDU Lab, prior to the passing of the Competition Act 2010.

In his capacity as the Executive Director, Legal and Secretarial of Nestlé Malaysia, he initiated a Companywide awareness program to train every employee on the impact of the Competition Act 2010, on the business operations of the Nestlé Group of Companies in Malaysia. He also had the opportunity to supervise the drafting and filing of an application for an individual exemption under the Competition Act 2010, including attending to dialogues with the Malaysia Competition Commission. In the area of Competition Law, his main interest is in the area of Competition Law Training, Competition Law Audit and Investigation and Competition Law Advocacy.

He has held various industry positions, and these include, Chairman of FMM Food Manufacturing Group, Member of FMM Branding & Intellectual Property Committee, Vice-Chair of FMM Ethical Business Practice Committee, Vice-Chairman of ICC Malaysia, Trustee representing ICC Malaysia in ASEAN CSR Network, Country Chair for Malaysia in ASEAN Food and Beverage Alliance and Industry Representative in JAKIM Halal Certification Advisory Council.

He is experienced in all aspects of In-House legal issues for a Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry, Company Secretarial and Corporate Governance and Compliance requirements affecting Public Listed Companies and various aspects of the Competition Act 2010 affecting Companies with dominant market positions in Malaysia. His passion are in the areas of Compliance, Governance and Integrity.

He was attached to a small banking law firm from 2013 to 2016. He served as the Company Secretary of Asian Finance Bank, now known as MBSB Bank from September 2016 to February 2018.

He serves as Prudenz Corporate House as Chief Operating Officer, on part time basis, since July 2018. Mohd. Shah currently sits as Director of a number of companies.

Details

Mohd. Shah Hashim

Senior Associate 1

Direct Line:
+603 2110 5888

Mobile Phone:
+6017 322 4621

E-mail:
mohd.shah@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Sherena Khairul Suman

Sherena Khairul Suman

SHERENA KHAIRUL SUMAN graduated from University of Cardiff with a LL.B (Hons) in 2018 and proceeded to complete the BPTC at City, University of London. Having being called to the Bar of England and Wales and she is a member of Middle Temple. She also continued to pursue her LL.M at the City, University of London focusing on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.

Sherena is part of the Senior Partner’s Office at Azmi & Associates where she deals with matters of cross-border mergers and acquisition, due diligence reports, oil and gas related advisory and negotiations for take-over of asset and businesses and the drafting of agreements that falls within each purview. During her university years, she was focused on commercial and company law matters as well as fraud and economic crime disputes.

Upon returning to Malaysia, she underwent pupillage at Messrs Shearn Delamore & Co where she worked primarily on general disputes, banking litigation and retail banking matters while assisting on general dispute files. Sherena is a trained litigator from her experiences in the litigation department. Previously, she interned at Messrs Benjamin Dawson and Messrs Ariff Rozhan & Co while completing her LL.B. She was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in April 2022.

Some of Sherena’s assignments are as follows:-

• Assisted in drafting Share Sale Purchase Agreements, Collaboration Agreements, Joint Venture Agreement, Employment Contracts and Supplemental Agreements.

• Spearheaded cross boarder negotiations involving an oil and gas take-over between client and governmental officials of different nationalities.

• Due diligence and legal advises relating to taking over operatorship of platforms, oil fields and vessel.

• Assisted in advising clients on matters of foreign investment procedures and specially curated investment agreements.

• Assisted with legal advisory for a Korean Company on forming their Joint Venture Company and their potential liabilities with regard to importation of vehicles and liaising manufacturers in Malaysia.

• Advises and liaises with corporate companies on ESG and sustainability related matters together with a team of experienced lawyers.

• Legal Researcher for Court of Appeal and Federal Court cases.

• Headed the retail banking cases involving the lease and auction of properties owned by the bank.

• Frequently liaises with Heads of Government Departments on importation matters and government incentives.

• Managing a portfolio of files and liaising with clients and solicitors for adverse parties / counter parties in particular trial matters for electricity theft, execution proceeding (auction, post auction, post auction and Land Office matter) in Banking and Finance litigation on high profile litigation cases.

• Assisted in Summary Judgment and Default Judgment matters for corporate companies as a process of debt recovery, its cause papers, injunction, and interlocutory relief.

• Frequently assists with corporate development matters with foreign clients and solicitors.

Details

Sherena Khairul Suman

Associate

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5083

E-mail:
sherena@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

John Vercoe

John Vercoe

John Vercoe qualified as both barrister and solicitor with over 40 years legal and commercial experience in working at leading international companies and law firms in the O&G and I.T businesses.

John is highly experienced in working successfully with international oil and gas teams in Europe, Central Asia (especially Kazakhstan), Africa, and Southeast Asia. His focus has particularly been in the upstream including HSE, and he knows the oil and gas industry and the key people in the industry very well.

John has acted for both large and small international oil and gas companies and contractors in their day-to-day business with Governments and regulatory agencies. He has participated in major oil & gas pipeline negotiations in Moscow and Kazakhstan. His experience has also included providing legal services to a major international oil and gas company in respect of its gas networks in Europe and Africa.

John was the senior legal expert in a project sponsored by the European Commission in Brussels known as Enhancement of Environmental Protection Measures in the Oil and Gas Industry of Central Asia (EPMOGI).

John was the general counsel of British Gas E&P for many years, and was involved in the huge BG privatization and then the acquisition of large international oil companies on the market.

John has worked in Kazakhstan for over six years and a stint at Shell’s headquarters in the Hague, Netherlands, having been senior attorney for Baker & McKenzie; Head of Legal Services for OKIOC, the North Caspian oil and gas joint venture leading to the discovery of the giant Kashagan field; Vice President of Legal Services for Hurricane Hydrocarbons (now PetroKazakhstan); and a partner in two international law firms, PLLG and Dr KC Mildwaters. He was also a partner at Fasken Martineau Stringer Saul, London, UK, a leading British-Canadian law firm where he specialized in O&G.

John has taken great interest in the interaction between law and business and has followed business schools programs at leading business schools, Cranfield University and Nottingham Law School, both in the UK. At BG (British Gas), he gave regular presentations and training to in-house professional staff; he has given talks and lectures on O&G at Dundee University Center for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy; and external conferences on gas transportation and health & safety.

Prior to being registered as a Foreign Lawyer in Malaysia, John has had a strong interest in Malaysia which stretches back to 1990. He has participated in UK Law Society missions and visited Malaysia to participate in talks and seminars concerning the Oil & Gas sector and provided advisory services on various projects.

John was called to the Bar at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn and is currently a practising solicitor in the United Kingdom. John is also a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (‘AIPN’) and the Energy Institute (UK).

John Vercoe joined the Firm in November 2021 as a registered Foreign Lawyer and will be the Firm’s International Energy and Oil & Gas Consultant. John has been permitted to practise in the following areas by the Malaysian Bar Council: Corporate Commercial, Energy, Oil & Gas and International Joint Venture.

Details

John Vercoe
Special Advisor, Energy and Oil & Gas

Direct Line:
+ 603 2118 5160

Mobile Phone:
+ 44 7919 415846

E-mail:
john.vercoe@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Halimah Saadiyah Abdul Rahman

Halimah Saadiyah Abdul Rahman

Halimah Saadiyah Abdul Rahman has a degree of Bachelor in Law (LL.B) (Hons), 2014, from International Islamic University Malaysia.

Halimah chambered at Messrs. Mohamed Ridza & Co and was admitted to the Bar in January 2015. She subsequently became associate in the same firm and gained exposure in drafting of sale and purchase agreements as well as financing documentation for various financial institutions.

In March 2019, she made a move to join Messrs Lee Hishamuddin Allen & Gledhill but later in July 2019, she rejoined Messrs. Mohamed Ridza & Co and continued her practice until December 2020.

Halimah joined Azmi & Associates in October 2021 as a member of the FS1 PG. She has been attending to various Islamic banking and conveyancing transactions.

Details

Halimah Saadiyah Abdul Rahman

Senior Associate 2

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5044

Mobile Phone:
+6019 302 8700

E-mail:
halimah.saadiyah@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Narina Aireen Hilmy Zaini

Narina Aireen Hilmy Zaini

Narina Aireen Hilmy Zaini completed her LLB Law degree from University of Surrey in 2018. In 2019, she did the Bar Professional Training Course from University of the West of England and was then called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

During her university days, she had undergone two internships. In 2017, she did her first structured internship with Zaid Ibrahim & Co and in the following year, she undertook an internship with Albar & Partners.

She was also an active member participating and organising fundraising events for the UNICEF Society during her university days.

She is currently part of Construction & Engineering Practice Group under the supervision of our Senior Partner, Dato’ Azmi Mohd Ali.

Details

Narina Aireen Hilmy Zaini

Associate

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5084

Mobile Phone:
+6012 796 0166

E-mail:
narina@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Nafis Zain Safwan Majid Zain

Nafis Zain Safwan Majid Zain

Nafis Zain Safwan Majid Zain graduated from University of Essex with a LLB (Hons) in 2018. He then pursued the Bar Professional Training Course and Master of Laws (BPTC LLM) at The University of Law, London and was subsequently called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in November 2019. As part of the BPTC LLM, he provided Pro Bono legal services in the field of Immigration under the supervision of the Legal Advice Clinic of The University of Law.

He spent the term of his pupillage at Messrs Zul Rafique & Partners where he gained a growing interest in corporate and commercial law and was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in December 2020.

In pursuit of his desire to learn more about the corporate world, he joined Azmi & Associates in August 2021 as an Associate under the Construction & Engineering Practice Group which is spearheaded by our Senior Partner, Dato’ Azmi Mohd Ali. He has since gained experience in several areas of law including Construction, Energy, Oil & Gas and Mergers & Acquisitions.

Details

Nafis Zain Safwan Majid Zain

Associate

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5080

E-mail:
nafis.zain@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas

Asiah Siddiqah Abdurrahman

Asiah Siddiqah Abdurrahman

Asiah Siddiqah Abdurrahman graduated from the University of Bristol with LL.B (Hons) and obtained a Certificate in Legal Practice soon after. She was called to the Malaysian Bar in March 2023.

Prior to joining Azmi & Associates in 2022, she worked under the Investigation and Enforcement Division at Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC). She developed an interest in Competition Law while she was working at MyCC.

During her law school years, she interned at Wong & Partners (member firm of Baker & McKenzie), Thomas Philip, Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, and Azmi & Associates.

She joined Azmi & Associates in May 2022 as a Pupil-in-Chambers. She is currently a Legal Associate and a part of our Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Practice Group 3 under our Partner, Sharizan Sarif.

Details

Asiah Siddiqah Abdurrahman

Associate

Direct Line:
+603 2118 5063

E-mail:
asiah.siddiqah@azmilaw.com

Practice Areas