Huma Soomro Advocate High Court of Pakistan

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Huma was educated at King’s College London. She is a Barrister-at-Law and a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. Huma has extensive experience in intellectual property, dispute resolution, corporate and commercial matters.  She now focuses mainly on intellectual property. Huma is a senior associate at Vellani & Vellani and joined the firm in 2004. Prior to joining Vellani & Vellani, Huma worked in London at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in their dispute resolution department and at Haidermota & Co. in Karachi.  She is a member of the Karachi Bar Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association, Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) and International Trademarks Association (INTA). Huma is also an internationally certified yoga instructor and conducts weekly yoga and meditation classes at Vellani & Vellani for her colleagues.



Education

  • Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln’s Inn) - 1999
  • LLB Law (King’s College London) - 1998

Recent Practice

Intellectual Property

  • Manages a number of high-profile trademark portfolios of both local and overseas clients in a wide range of sectors, such as healthcare, IT, retail, financial services and banking, communications, recreation, media and entertainment, food and beverages, edible oils, soaps, and detergents and other consumer products.
  • Advised and represented major American and European clients in IP disputes involving trademark, copyright, and other related rights.
  • Provided strategic advice and representation in relation to trademark clearance searching, prosecution of trademark applications and opposition, infringement and enforcement proceedings.
  • Advised on the intellectual property aspects of commercial and corporate transactions, from the scope of property included in the transaction through to risk or liability issues. 
  • Advised major manufacturers and distributors on competition law issues relating to the distribution, pricing, and marketing of goods and services. 
  • Appeared before the high court and trademark tribunal for multi-national companies involving IP rights in Pakistan.
  • Developed cost-effective strategies for clients for the enforcement of IP rights in Pakistan.

 

Corporate and commercial

  • Advised on interpretation and applicability of the competition legislation in Pakistan, filing applications to the Competition Commission of Pakistan for obtaining premerger clearances and exemptions in relation to prohibited contracts, appearing before the Competition Commission of Pakistan in hearings relating to show cause notices issued by the Competition Commission of Pakistan or for premerger clearances.
  • Advised on corporate restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, demergers, spin-off, divestments and tender offers.
  • Advised on Pakistan law issues and general legal assistance to domestic and foreign financial institutions providing finance to major projects, including the review of project documents and reviewing off-shore finance documents.
  • Prepared and drafted joint venture, articles and memorandum of associations, shareholders agreements, and other related contracts.
  • Advised on a broad range of legal and contractual matters, including, labour laws, property law, leases, stamp duty, customs, tax, import and export, environment and consumer protection.