Husnain Arshad

LL.M (London)
Senior Partner

Mr. Husnain Arshad, born 1985, is an advocate of High Courts with vast exposure in commercial, corporate and regulatory laws. Mr. Husnain has a vast experience in energy sector laws; on regulatory, advisory and dispute resolution matters. After obtaining vast experience as a litigation lawyer from a renowned Litigation Firm as a Senior Associate for over 6 years, Mr. Husnain worked as Assistant Legal Advisor of NEPRA and Head Legal Department of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Pvt Limited.

As the energy sector of Pakistan is going to enter into a phase of open market and privatization of different utilities, Mr. Husnain remained part of the in-house legal team of NEPRA (energy sector regulator of Pakistan), closely observing the energy market requirements and assisting the Authority by providing legal services, inter alia, drafting different rules, regulations and preparing & vetting various project related documents. At NEPRA Mr. Husnain assisted the Authority in the matters relating to K-Electric (formerly KESC) and all IPPs on tariff determination for the generation, transmission and distribution companies i.e. IPPs (including thermal), KESC, Nuclear Power Plants, Captive Power Plants and other Renewable Energy Projects. His area of responsibilities included compliance of all legal requirements of applicable laws and rules including PPRA Rules. Reviewing all the documents and agreements submitted by parties applying for tariff determination or opting the upfront tariffs or for regulatory compliance in accordance with relevant rules and regulations including approval of bid documents (RFPs and review of the bidding process), reviewing PPAs and EPC contracts etc.He also represented the Authority on various electric power related issues before different courts of Pakistan including Sindh High Court of Sindh, Islamabad High Court, Lahore High Court Lahore and Wafaqi Mohtasib . He also drafted pleadings (writs, comments/replies etc) which were filed in the relevant courts.

After NEPRA, Mr. Husnain joined Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power (Pvt.) Limited (QASPL), first ever utility-scale, grid-connected solar power plant of Pakistan in Cholistan, Bahawalpur and remained Head of the Legal Department.  At QASPL, Mr. Husnain handled all the legal, corporate and regulatory affairs of the Company as departmental head including compliance of regulatory and procurement laws. He supervised litigation cases and arbitration / negotiation / mediation directly or through engaged Counsels (external consultants). Mr. Husnain rendered legal opinion to the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and other functional heads / divisions of QASPL on all legal issues including procurement laws. In addition to legal advice on procurement laws, Mr. Husnain prepared and vetted various bidding documents as per the needs of the Company in compliance with all relevant laws including the Punjab Procurement Rules, 2014. He has also remained part of various procurement committees. Mr. Husnain was engaged in drafting, filing and presenting Tariff petitions and licensing issues on behalf of QASPL before NEPRA. He also negotiated, drafted and vetted various agreements, deeds and instruments and provided legal opinion to the Management on contract management and interpretation. Mr. Husnain also conducted various departmental trainings and disseminated appropriate legal requirements to staff and also reviewed and advised the management on legal implications of internal policies and procedures.