logo

Zain heads the commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution practice. He is also involved in assisting clients with M&As, infrastructure projects, financing and foreign investment set-ups. 

Zain has won awards for his outstanding client service. Zain has canvassed years of experience in complex high value, contentious and non-contentious work for large blue-chip clients and hospitality clients such as Hilton, Jumeirah, Pontiac, KSL, Blackstone Group, Google, Amazon, Adobe, Ball Corporation, Unilever, Deloitte UK, PwC UK, Grant Thornton UK, Cannacord Genuity, Ipsos Mori, Emirates Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, easyJet and British Airways.

Zain was previously at global top tier firms in the City of London and New York City before joining S&A in 2020.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Up and Coming Notable Practitioner, Chambers & Partners Global Guide 2024
  • Taylor Wessing's People of the Year Award 2018

NOTABLE MATTERS

• Acting for a leading global private equity fund on a proposed strategic acquisition of the largest seaplane operations in the Maldives, as part of a wider regional consolidation strategy. (Project Aqua)
• Acting for a prominent Turkish tourism conglomerate in the cross-border acquisition of an operational resort property in Raa Atoll comprising 136 keys. (Turkey / Italy / Maldives)
• Acting for a UAE-based investment group and its hospitality arm in the acquisition of an operational resort, hotel and attached airport located within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. (UAE / Maldives)
• Representing a leading Indian commercial bank on its entry into the Maldivian market through a USD 110 million financing to an international hospitality group for the refinancing of a resort property. (India / Maldives)
• Acting for a Singapore-headquartered alternative asset manager on the cross-border acquisition of an operational resort property in Raa Atoll, involving a complex financing structure and coordination with multiple international stakeholders. (Singapore / Germany / Maldives)
• Acting for a Maldivian borrower in the refinancing of a USD 36 million term loan facility arranged through Singapore-based lenders. (Maldives / Singapore)
• Advising a Canadian renewable energy developer on the establishment of the first Special Economic Zone in the Maldives for a USD 187 million floating solar project, including concession negotiations with the Government. (Canada / UAE / Maldives)
• Representing a major Indian infrastructure contractor in a high-value dispute with the Government of Maldives relating to the USD 500 million bridge project connecting the capital to nearby islands. (India / Maldives)
• Acting for a Singapore-based construction company in two major disputes: the 25-storey hospital extension (USD 9 million claim) and the mixed-use urban complex (USD 427 million claim). (Singapore / Maldives)
• Advising a state-owned Chinese construction enterprise on a South Asian regional retainer, including disputes relating to a USD 200 million airport expansion and a USD 65 million university development. (China / Bangladesh / Sri Lanka / Maldives)
• Acting for a Dubai-headquartered luxury hospitality group in an international arbitration against a local hotel management conglomerate concerning a USD 90 million dispute. (Singapore / BVI / Maldives)

EDUCATION

BA (Hons) Law and Politics

Queen Mary University of London, England

LLM Corporate and Commercial Law

Queen Mary University of London, England

Legal Practice Course

The University of Law

MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS

Admitted to Practice

England & Wales and New York

Attorney at Law

Republic of Maldives

Solicitor

Taylor Wessing LLP, London

Solicitor

Devonshires LLP, London

Member

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

PRACTICE AREAS

Aviation

Banking and Finance

Capital Markets

Construction and Infrastructure

Dispute Resolution

Foreign Investments

Information Technology, Media and Communications

Regulatory and Compliance

Restructuring and Insolvency

Shipping and Maritime

Tax and Finance

Tourism and Hospitality