AZIM AZFAR
Lahore, Punjab,Pakistan
Summary
I have worked at the intersection of law and policy for over two decades meeting the needs of clients in the private sector, government, and non-profit entities. I have also taught law at the undergraduate and high school level.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Legal Advisor
Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab
03.2016 - 12.2024
Lead defence counsel for Government of Punjab in arbitration claim by Norwegian telco contracted to provide latest apps & technology solutions to farmers for boosting agricultural productivity
Legislative draftsman for law improving marketing channels for farmers in Punjab
Led policy reform of fertilizer legislation to enable farmers to have access to quality agriculture inputs
Partner
Azfar Law Associates
05.2015 - 07.2023
- Acted as local counsel for fintech company EP Systems, which through its Dutch parent company, raised USD 4 million in Series A financing from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2001-22
- As counsel for EP Systems, successfully negotiated share subscription & shareholder agreements raising USD 2 million from International Finance Corporation (IFC) IN 2020
- Handled contracts, labour and commercial law issues for various local & foreign investors
- Represented overseas Pakistanis in local courts pursuing property & inheritance claims
Specialist, Business Enabling Environment
Chemonics International (USAID Firms Project)
03.2009 - 06.2013
- Led policy & legislative reforms to allow private sector investment in fruit & vegetable markets across four provinces in Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan)
Partner
Hassan & Hassan (Advocates)
09.1998 - 11.2008
Handled contracts, labour and commercial law issues for various local and foreign investors along with non-profit organizations
Education
Master of Laws -
Victoria University
Wellington, New Zealand03.2002
LLB (Hons) - Law
University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton, United Kingdom09.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Area Studies-Middle East Studies
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA08.1992
High School Diploma -
United Nations International School
New York, NY06.1988
Skills
- Legal drafting
- Contracts
- Legislation
- Microsoft Office Programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
- Multi-disciplinary teamwork
- Dispute Resolution
- Regulation strategy
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Publications
- Teaching English as a Second Language
Publications
Law Journals
(i) Parvez Hassan and Azim Azfar "Human Rights and the Environment: A South Asian Perspective", 5 (2) Journal of Human Rights and the Environment (UK, 2014)
(ii) Azim Azfar and Parvez Hassan "Securing Environmental Rights through Public Interest Litigation in South Asia", 22 (3) Virginia Environmental Law Journal 215 (2004)
(iii) Azim Azfar and Parvez Hassan "Moving towards an Islamic Financial Regime in Pakistan" (2001, Harvard Islamic Legal Studies Center)
Magazines and News Letters
(i) Azim Azfar "Foreign Investment and Dispute Resolution in Pakistan", Asialaw, August, 2004
(ii) Azim Azfar "Islamic Finance Market continues to Develop", 1 (7), Asialaw, December 2003/January 2004
(iii) Azim Azfar "Child Labour Legislation in Pakistan", (2000), The Future, Newsletter of the Child Labour Unit, Ministry of Labour, Government of Pakistan
(iv) Tariq Hassan and Azim Azfar "Privatization in Pakistan", (2000, The Liberal Times, Friedrich Newman Foundation, New Delhi)
Teaching
(i) Instructor, Law 223, "Commercial Law", Spring 2010, Law & Policy Department, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
(ii) Instructor, Law 431, "International Commercial Arbitration", Fall 2009, Law & Policy Department, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
(iii) Tutor, A-level Law , Academic Year 1999-2000, LACAS School, Lahore.
Certification
(i) Introduction to Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL), University of St. Andrews, September, 2025
(ii) Intro to Individual Taxation, UDEMY (July, 2024)
(iii) The Language and Tools of Financial Analysis, 2023, University of Melbourne through Coursera
(iv) Advanced MS Office, 2016, Pakistan Institute of Management, Lahore.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Urdu
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Legal Advisor
Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab
03.2016 - 12.2024
Partner
Azfar Law Associates
05.2015 - 07.2023
Specialist, Business Enabling Environment
Chemonics International (USAID Firms Project)
03.2009 - 06.2013
Partner
Hassan & Hassan (Advocates)
09.1998 - 11.2008
Master of Laws -
Victoria University
LLB (Hons) - Law
University of Wolverhampton
Bachelor of Arts - Area Studies-Middle East Studies
University of Virginia
High School Diploma -
United Nations International School
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