Jawad Sarwana
Partner | Abraham & Sarwana

Jawad is a practicing CEDR accredited commercial and investor-state mediator, an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and a Partner at Abraham and Sarwana, Pakistan. His mediation and mediation advocacy practice covers commercial and corporate disputes in Pakistan and abroad, including family-run business disputes, intellectual property disputes (trademarks), international trade (textile sector disputes); financial facilities (domestic credit lines involving small-medium enterprises) and shareholder disputes. He sits on CEDR's Global Panel of Mediators and the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Mediation Panel. He co-chaired the IBA Mediation Committee (2016-17) and the Mediation Technique Sub-Committee (2018-19). He is also an Appraiser on IMI's CMTP Appraisals Committee and Director Training of the Pakistan Mediator Association (PMA). Jawad has authored the chapter "Making the First Offer" published in the "IBA Mediation Technique Handbook"; co-authored the ICC publication "Mediation Practice: 8 Cultures, 16 Cases, 128 Creative Solutions" edited by Greg Bond; and authored chapter for the ABA publication, "Stories Mediators Tell: The World Edition."

Mercy Okiro
Advocate of the High Court and Accredited Mediator
(Judiciary of Kenya and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London)

Mercy Okiro is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, trained Arbitrator and Construction Adjudicator. She is an Accredited Tutor and Assessor of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London) and is on the panel of Arbitrators for the Kigali International Arbitration Centre, the Tanzania Institute of Arbitrators and the COVID-19 ADR Initiative (CADRI) Panel of Neutrals. She sits on the Global Steering Committee of the Young Members Group of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and is an ICC Young Arbitrators Forum Representative for Africa, Middle East and Turkey amongst leadership in other groups.

She is the Joint Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Africa Asia Mediation Association and a Fellow of the World Mediation Organization. She sits on two Kenya Private Sector Alliance Sector Boards, the National Technical Committees of the Kenya Bureau of Standards and Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture Working Groups. She was the Winner of the East Africa International Arbitration prize award 2019 for "The Young African Arbitration Practitioner of the year 2019." She published articles on sports law, gender empowerment, mediation and arbitration regularly.

Altaf Qureshi
Partner | Ijaz Ahmed & Associates

Altaf is a barrister and solicitor (non-practising) of England and Wales, and an advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan.

Altaf started his career with a US law firm in London, specialising in offshore finance and technology companies. He subsequently completed his pupillage at Hardwicke Chambers, Lincoln’s Inn, which included appearances before the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Appeal.

Altaf is currently a partner in the full service national law firm of Ijaz Ahmed & Associates in Karachi (part of the Dentons Nextlaw Network) where he advises on cross border matters with leading international law firms and multinational clients. The firm is ranked in Chambers & Partners and Legal500 as a recommended law firm. He is also an Associate Member (or door tenant) with Hardwicke Chambers, Lincoln's Inn.

Altaf recently qualified as an accredited mediator and negotiator with ADR-ODR International, is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of INSOL International (the first for Pakistan) and a member of the international panel of Select Counsel, out of San Francisco.

Syed Mustafa Mahdi
Advocate High Court & Arbitrator (FCIArb, FMIArb, FAMINZ), Syed Mahdi Chambers

Syed Mustafa Mahdi is a common law qualified lawyer practising at the Bar in Sindh (High Court), Pakistan. Syed specialises in corporate law, aviation, hospitality, shipping, customs, construction, arbitration, financial markets, and cross-border transactions to which he brings a commercial, pragmatic and organised approach with a depth of experience and knowledge.

Syed is regarded by his peers as one the prominent and accomplished attorney in this field. Syed is known for his formidable legal intellect, his excellent skills in advocacy, and his impeccable presentation style. Syed possesses an innate ability to delve straight to the heart of any matter and offer simple yet effective advice that will best serve a client's interest and lead to the best outcome possible. As a reflection of his expertise, Syed qualified as a Fellow at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators ("FCIArb") and is one the youngest Arbitrators to have achieved this enviable and distinguished title in Pakistan.