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.