Sajid Ahmed

Recent Representations – Arbitration Matters

• An Asian Exploration & Production company in an ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration against the Government of India with respect to cross-boundary gas migration issues.
• An Indian pharmaceuticals company in a LCIA arbitration in London against a major Canadian generics producer with respect to a breach of exclusivity provisions in a licence agreement.
• A significant oil & gas company in two ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitrations against an Asian sovereign state, one relating to the company’s right to cost recovery under a PSC and the other relating to gas pricing.
• The Republic of Turkey and Turkish state-owned entity BOTAS in an ICC arbitration in Paris against the Republic of Iraq in relation to a dispute concerning an intergovernmental pipeline agreement.
• A significant Turkish E&P company against the Republic of Kazakhstan in an ICSID arbitration brought under the Turkey–Kazakhstan bilateral investment treaty relating to a tax stabilization clause.
• An Indian electrical engineering company in an ICC arbitration in London against a UK company involving claims of defective products provided pursuant to a Supply Agreement.
• A multinational life sciences company against a US company in an ICC arbitration in London concerning a breach of a licence agreement with respect to the marketing of a biopharmaceutical product.
• A significant Asian company in an LCIA arbitration in London against a U.S. investment bank relating to breaches of a services agreement in connection with an M&A deal.
• A significant pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration proceeding in New York against a German company relating to breaches of a manufacturing and supply agreement.
• Recent Representations – Export Controls and Sanctions Matters
• A major financial institution on EU-Russia sanctions concerning the provision of loans, capital market instruments and other types of financial instruments to Russia-related persons.
• A major Middle East petrochemicals company on EU sanctions with respect to Iran and Syria and potential exposure based on business transactions with Iranian and Syrian entities.
• A significant Middle East sovereign wealth fund on the successful de-listing of one its associated companies from the EU sanctions list.
• A major Asian oil and gas company in connection with the EU relaxation of sanctions on investments in the Iranian hydrocarbons sector and on Iranian oil exports under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• A significant aircraft manufacturer on export sales of aircraft and aircraft parts from certain EU countries to the Middle East region and South America.
• An aerospace client in its UK voluntary self-disclosures due to potential violation of UK/EU export control rules. The representation included review of customer due-diligence policies and procedures as well as sales contracts for the purposes of export controls and sanctions compliance.

Sajid Ahmed focuses on international arbitration and international trade matters, acting for clients across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions.

Sajid’s practice is centred on high-value, complex disputes, many of which raise sensitive political, commercial and/or social issues involving State-owned entities and governments. He represents both claimants and respondents in arbitral proceedings conducted under all of the major arbitral rules and institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL. Although his practice is sector agnostic, Sajid is particularly well-regarded for his work on disputes in the energy, mining, life sciences, financial services and media sectors, where he is recognised as a “name to note”. While he has experience across a wide range of geographies, Sajid is especially well-known for his disputes work relating to India, Turkey and Central Asia, and his global client base reflects this regional focus, comprising multinationals as well as States and State entities from those regions.

Sajid has received a number of recognitions from legal directories and industry commentators over the years in acknowledgement of his standing in the field. He has been described as demonstrating “indispensable leadership” (IBLJ, 2022) and as “an excellent lawyer with good business acumen and understands client’s perspective and overall business context and comes out with pragmatic solutions” (Legal 500 UK, 2021).

In addition to his arbitration practice, Sajid has notable experience advising on international trade matters, including export controls and economic sanctions. He assists clients in preparing voluntary disclosures of violations of export control and economic sanctions laws, and represents them in related regulatory investigations.