ZAINAB Al QURNAWI Zainab was born, raised and educated in Iraq. She is both an English and Iraqi qualified lawyer who was admitted to the Iraqi Bar Association in 2002 and qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2005. She undertook her English training in London with one of the largest leading international law firms (Clyde & Co) and practised there for a number of years. Zainab also worked on secondment with JP Morgan Chase Bank in London for one year and with ADWOC (a leading drilling company in Tripoli, Libya) for several months.

Zainab returned to the Middle East (Dubai – U.A.E.) at the beginning of 2011 to take up a post within Royal Dutch Shell's legal department concentrating on oil and gas matters in various parts of the region, particularly Shell's huge interests in Iraq.

In 2012, Zainab left Shell to take up a post with Clyde & Co Dubai in their Corporate Department again primarily specialising in advising clients wishing to undertake business in Iraq. In January 2014, Zainab left Clyde & Co to set up QC Law Firm.

Zainab is unique in that she is one of the few Iraqis qualified lawyers in both the common law and the civil law systems.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

INDICATIVE EXPERIENCE (NON-CONTENTIOUS)

• IPP Project: Heavily involved (as a main team member) in advising South Oil Company and a major Western oil company on a multi-billion US$ dollars IPP project for a mega oil field in Southern Iraq.

• Customs and Import: Advising a major US oil service company on a complex customs and import matter for their operations in South of Iraq.

• Supply Contract: Advising a major European international manufacturer and supplier of vehicles on a multi million dollar contract with the Government of Iraq including issues such as indemnities and warranties.

• Foreign Direct Investment: General advice on numerous foreign investment enquiries including setting up in Iraq, corporate structure, tax enquiries, employment, insurance, reinsurance and procurements.

• Shell Exploration and Production International Ltd, Dubai: Involved in Majnoon and West Qurna l Oil Fields and South Gas Project which included advice on Iraqi law issues such as employment and secondment, oil related commercial activities, corporate matters, social development activities, ABC issues, shareholders and company officials’ duties and liabilities, company incorporation and branch offices registration.

Also heavily involved in EPC and O&M contracts in relation to Iraq including advice on contracts (including issues relating to contractual and tortious liabilities), terms and conditions, termination and breach of contracts under both English and Iraqi law.

• Privately held business: Advising a privately held family import / export business on expansion of the business structure, setting up new import lines and carrying out due diligence on companies and factories in India, Bangladesh and Europe, arranging shipping and payment terms, organizing delivery and wholesale/ retail sales and liaising with overseas lawyers for registration of trade marks.

• JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London: Working with the Head of Energy Department on a major energy migration project which involved the transfer of all European physical and financial energy trading business from JPM USA entities to a JPM European entity. Also working with the Head of the Trade Finance Department in connection with advising, reviewing and negotiating cash collateral agreements, uncommitted facilities, indemnities, guarantees, documentary preparation agreements, SWIFT messages, letter of credit enquires and confidentiality agreements. Liaising with foreign legal counsel providing legal opinions on loan documents and securities.

• Kuwaiti client: Working on the procurement of finance from a major Arab banking corporation based in Bahrain and assisting in negotiations.

• Arab Drilling and Workover Company (ADWOC), Libya: Involved in advising and reviewing ADWOC’s shareholding agreement, services contracts, purchase agreement of rig and employment contracts. Also involved in a multi-million loan facility coordinating and drafting relevant documents, liaised with foreign counsel regarding legal opinion and registration of securities governed by local law.

• East European gold mine: Assisting with the acquisition transaction, drafting of related Board and Shareholders Resolutions and coordinating the collation of CP documents.

• Oil Majors (one USA and one West European): Advising both companies on Iraq’s new constitution law, new draft petroleum law and related Iraqi laws and regulations for operating PSAs in Iraq.

• Kurdistan Development Corporation (KDC): Advising on Iraq’s new draft Petroleum law and other Iraqi Federal laws.

• Western clients: Advising on Libya’s Investment Law.

• Commodities: Drafting terms and conditions of sale for large Belgian commodities house.

• Corporate: Advising and acting for Middle Eastern clients on setting up UK and offshore companies.

INDICATIVE EXPERIENCE (CONTENTIOUS)

• Insurance: Interviewing witnesses, taking statements and collecting evidence in an English High Court litigation case involving major Libyan and UK Insurance companies.

• Libyan Government and Libyan Embassy in London: Advising on sensitive and high profile defamation & libel matters (involving major Saudi Newspapers published in London) plus general litigation.

• Iraqi Embassy in London: Advising and acting in a High Court litigation involving ownership of multimillion pound properties.

• El Ajou Group (one of the biggest groups in Saudi Arabia): Advising in High Court litigation.

• London commodities house: Advising under Iraqi law in relation to demurrage claims. Also advising them on sugar sale contracts involving the Iraqi Ministry of Trade.

• Arbitration: Assisting in a number of London arbitrations and contractual disputes for major Iranian shipping and steel companies. The arbitrations involved shipping disputes under charter parties/bills of lading/letters of credit as well as claims for breach of contract.

Recent Speaking Engagements/Published Works Zainab has spoken at several conferences on Iraq oil/ gas and infrastructure in London, UAE and Iraq as well as having written a number of articles and broadcast on the BBC's World Service and Dubai Eye.