Belal Awais’ practice spans constitutional and civil law, with a strong specialization in corporate and commercial transactional work, as well as complex corporate dispute resolution. His expertise extends across corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, foreign direct investments, banking and finance transactions, real estate development, and arbitration, making him a highly sought-after legal counsel for businesses navigating Pakistan’s corporate and regulatory landscape.

With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of Pakistan’s evolving legal framework, Belal provides strategic guidance to both domestic and international clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters. His extensive knowledge of corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and commercial contract structuring ensures that his clients operate within the best legal and financial frameworks. His expertise covers shareholder agreements, investment structuring, franchising, joint venture negotiations, and cross-border commercial transactions.

In addition to his corporate advisory work, Belal is actively involved in resolving complex corporate disputes, representing clients before regulatory bodies, arbitration tribunals, and superior courts. His practice in corporate dispute resolution includes shareholder disputes, breach of contract claims, partnership disagreements, and financial fraud litigation. His experience in negotiating and litigating corporate conflicts makes him a formidable advocate in high-stakes commercial disputes, ensuring swift and strategic resolution for his clients.

Belal also has significant expertise in real estate and banking transactions, advising on property acquisitions, land development projects, real estate financing, and banking regulatory matters. He frequently counsels financial institutions, real estate developers, and investment funds on risk management, contract negotiations, and financing structures. His ability to analyze, structure, and negotiate complex financial transactions adds a strategic advantage to clients engaged in high-value investments.

His international practice is another key aspect of his work, as he serves as a trusted advisor to multinational corporations looking to establish and expand their operations in Pakistan. He assists foreign investors with market entry strategies, corporate registrations, regulatory compliance, and tax structuring, ensuring a seamless transition into Pakistan’s business environment. Whether it involves structuring joint ventures, setting up franchises, or advising on foreign investment laws, Belal’s insights and legal acumen are invaluable for international clients seeking long-term success in Pakistan.

With a strong track record in corporate and commercial transactional work, coupled with proven expertise in resolving complex corporate disputes, Belal Awais continues to be a leading legal strategist and corporate advisor for both domestic and international businesses. His ability to blend legal knowledge with business strategy makes him a key asset to clients looking for effective legal solutions in Pakistan’s corporate sector.

Ali provides strategic legal counsel to private equity and financial advisory firms, structuring fund formations, M&A transactions, and international investments across various sectors. His advisory portfolio includes guiding major corporations on corporate governance and compliance matters, ensuring alignment with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) regulations and international best practices. His expertise extends to boardroom advisory, where he regularly counsels CEOs, Boards of Directors, and senior executives on investment strategies, corporate expansions, risk mitigation, and governance structures that drive sustainable business value creation.

With a strong track record in structuring complex financial transactions, Ali advises investment banks and private equity funds on a spectrum of matters, including M&A, structured finance, capital raising, and project placements. His international transactions experience covers large-scale infrastructure and project finance, with a particular focus on Islamic finance solutions for infrastructure projects involving power plants, hydroelectric facilities, pipelines, municipal water and wastewater treatment plants, highways, and airports. He is also instrumental in designing and executing corporate governance frameworks, risk management structures, and internal compliance policies, ensuring corporate entities adhere to evolving global regulatory standards.

In addition to his role at AwaisLaw DRT, Ali is a Partner at the U.S.-based law firm Diaz, Reus & Targ, where his practice is focused on infrastructure projects, corporate M&A, and banking and finance transactions. His international legal expertise is further complemented by his tenure as Senior Counsel at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., where he played a key role in developing financial and legal strategies for post-conflict and frontier markets across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. He was the World Bank’s lead lawyer on critical initiatives, helping shape the institution’s legal strategies for economic development, infrastructure investment, and financial restructuring in emerging markets.

Ali started his legal career with Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP in New York, one of Wall Street’s most prestigious law firms. He later worked at leading international law firms, including Baker Botts LLP (Washington, D.C. & Dubai offices) and Jones Day (London & Dubai offices), where he advised on high-stakes corporate, banking, and energy transactions. Beyond private practice, Ali also has significant experience in investment banking, having spent five years as the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at a Dubai-based investment banking firm operating out of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), where he led financial structuring, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance efforts for cross-border investments.

Beyond his legal practice, Ali is an acclaimed visiting faculty member at LUMS Law School, Lahore, where he teaches courses on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Project Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Company Law. His dedication to legal education and mentoring the next generation of lawyers has further cemented his standing as a thought leader in the industry.

His professional excellence has been recognized in Legal 500, where he has been ranked as one of the Leading Lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region. Client testimonials highlight his exceptional service, pragmatic approach to problem-solving, and top-tier drafting skills, with clients noting:

“Ali Awais has been extremely supportive and helpful. Both in person meetings and also in online interactions.”

“Ali Awais has always given exceptional service. He is easy to work with and has a great manner. He is very knowledgeable, and his advice is always steered to problem-solving and coming up with appropriate solutions to issues that arise rather than just pointing out the issues. His drafting skills are excellent.”

With his deep sector expertise, international experience, and leadership in corporate finance and legal strategy, Ali continues to shape the financial and legal landscape, delivering cutting-edge legal solutions for clients in Pakistan and beyond.”