Sanaya Vachha

Senior Associate

Sanaya Vachha

Senior Associate


Sanaya joined the Firm as a paralegal in 2002 and is now a Senior Associate, enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court. Sanaya primarily advises on matters relating to corporate and commercial law and intellectual property matters. Additionally, Sanaya also advises on contentious intellectual property matters including opposition proceedings in relation to trademarks and copyrights and customs enforcement actions for protection of intellectual property rights. Sanaya has participated in litigation proceedings before specialized tribunals, lower courts and High Courts of Pakistan, and has assisted senior counsel in the courts of Pakistan up to the Supreme Court.



Mergers & Acquisitions; Restructuring

• Restructuring of a family group with interests in multiple sectors, comprising of private companies, companies listed on the stock exchange, unlisted public companies and joint-ventures
• Restructuring of companies involved in a well-known fast food franchisee’s business in Pakistan
• Advising a foreign global investor in the acquisition of a Pakistan company engaged in pest control services
• Proposed merger of a company engaged in the business of publishing.
• Advised Askari Bank Limited on the potential acquisition of Samba Bank Limited (a majority owned subsidiary of Samba Financial Group of Saudi Arabia)
• Carried out a due diligence exercise and advised on the potential acquisition of a local foods business by a global FMCG company
• Carried out a due diligence exercise and advised on the potential acquisition of the entire shareholding of a company engaged in the business of cattle and poultry feed and the transaction structure

 

Banking & Project Finance

• Advised foreign lenders and a consortium of Pakistani banks in relation to financing extended to Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company for the construction, operation and maintenance of a 3.8 Mt/a coal mine at Thar Coal Mine Block II and for the expansion of the coal mine to 7.6 Mt/a and its subsequent phases and milestones 
• Advised foreign lenders in relation to financing extended to Engro Powergen Thar Limited for the construction, operation, management and maintenance of a 2×330 MW mine mouth coal-fired thermal power project at Thar Coal Mine Block II and its subsequent phases and milestones
• Advised a consortium led by a state-owned multinational upstream oil and gas company acquiring working interest in undeveloped acreage for exploration and production of oil in Abu Dhabi and for setting up of a SPV 

 

Corporate & Commercial

• Advised local and international clients on matters related to the setting up of and incorporation of private companies, not for profit organizations, branch and liaison offices, anti-trust, corporate governance, project financing, banking and financing including microfinance banking, foreign exchange regulations, arbitration, labour laws, property matters, rent laws, cyber and media laws and due diligence exercises in various sectors including minerals, banking, beverages, consumer goods, steel, private equity, luxury goods, retail, real estate
• Advised on general commercial contracts including licensing (including copyright licensing) and franchising agreements, leases, employment contracts (including work for hire) supply and distribution agreements
• Acted for law firms and advisors internationally in undertaking due diligence exercises for local companies in relation to investments
• Advised on local compliance, including with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the Competition Commission of Pakistan, Board of Investment and other regulators
• Advised a foreign client offering investors exposure to carbon credits in relation to a mangrove restoration project which role comprised of carrying out a due diligence exercise and providing advice on the regulatory regime in relation to the Project
• Advised a global client in the information technology industry in relation to the establishment and operations of a liaison office in Pakistan 
• Advised the local franchisee of a well-known American-based multinational fast-food chain in relation to its franchise business
• Advised the branch of a publishing house in Pakistan in the setting up of a separate corporate entity and its subsequent merger with the Pakistani entity

 

Anti-trust

• Advising clients in relation to anti-trust matters and responding to enquiries from the Competition Commission
• Advising and assisting clients in preparing, applying for and securing pre-merger clearance from the Competition Commission of Pakistan in relation to mergers and acquisitions under the competition laws
• Advising and assisting clients in preparing, applying and securing exemptions from the Competition Commission of Pakistan in relation to prohibited agreements under the competition laws
• Advising and assisting clients in preparing, filing and pursuing complaints before the Competition Commission of Pakistan in relation to deceptive marketing practices

 

Intellectual Property

Advising on all aspects of brand management and protection including advising and assisting with portfolio strategy, registrations and brand protection, management, enforcement and dispute management for local and international clients belonging to various sectors including confectionaries, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, publishers and not for profit organizations, including with respect to:

• filing and pursuing oppositions, rectification and invalidation actions before the Trade Marks Registry and Copyright Office in Pakistan
• acting in and advising clients in relation to Intellectual Property litigation matters, such as preparing and pursuing civil actions for infringement, passing off and unfair competition and exploring settlement options before the Tribunals and Courts 
• advising clients in relation to border control measures, including initiating and pursuing enforcement actions before Customs Authorities 
• advising on the enforceability of domain names through civil actions and/or administrative proceedings under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy 

 

Not-for-Profit

Advising and assisting clients on the establishment of various forms of not for profit organizations and assisting them in relation to their day to day operations as required under the various laws and subsequent registrations.



• Sindh Bar Council
• Sindh High Court Bar Association
• Karachi Bar Association 
• International Trademarks Association (INTA) 
• Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
• Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)
• Member of the International Trademarks Association (INTA) Enforcement Committee for the second consecutive term (2022-2023)
• Co-chair of the Opposition and Harmonization Task Force of the International Trademarks Association (INTA) Enforcement Committee 
• Contributed regularly to the Competition and Antitrust Newsletter for the International Law Office (ILO)
• Contributed to journals published by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation in connection with cross-border investments in Pakistan