What do you see as the main points that differentiate Hafeez Pirzada Law Associates (‘HPLA’) from your competitors?

Briefly, I would focus on three points which differentiates HPLA from our competitors; our history, our experience and our qualifications.

HPLA was established by my late father, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada BSc., LL.D, Barrister and Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, in 1959, who is famously known for being the author of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973. He is remembered as a leading expert in the field of Constitutional and Administrative Law. Through his mentoring and guidance, the current practitioners of HPLA have developed an excellent command over Constitutional Law and more particularly, the interpretation of the law and legislative instruments.

As Manager Partner, I have steered HPLA with a vision to grow and to have a diverse range of practice. So far, HPLA has grown considerably in size with flourishing results. Unlike most firms, my focus has always been to promote counsels who wish to dedicate their skills to the needs of the firm and to simultaneously, develop their own practice. Thus, while the members of the firm are fully committed to and understand that, primarily, their duties lie with the firm but they have also been provided with the independence to develop their own practice. Furthermore, the extensive experience of practitioners means that the counsels of HPLA can assist with anything and everything, with a growing success rate.

As a firm with a strong historical background, I have always ensured that our practice is one which follows the wisdom of ‘quality over quantity’. That is to say that we primarily focus on a select clientele to ensure that the needs of our clients are given top priority. This allows us to give ample time and lean our focus on delicate and/or intricate issues arising out of various matters and provide quicker responses to our Clients. The counsels of HPLA are widely known to have the ability to identify the key difficulties surrounding a case and specify the manner and strategy necessary for success, especially for constitutional and civil litigation matters.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

HPLA has always been involved in a range of cases falling within different areas of the law. Most recently, we have been engaged in cases involving Environmental Law, Energy Law, Intellectual Property law, Customs and Taxation laws and Election laws.

Specifically, as our Country is, and rightly so, becoming more conscious of how various factors affect the environment, we have increasingly been engaged in matters arising out of Environmental issues. Even the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken an avid interest in Environmental issues by taking up more public interest matters in respect of Environmental Law. As a result, I have been regularly appearing before the Superior Courts and the Judicial Commission headed by a former Judge of the Honourable Supreme Court constituted in respect of issues relating to water.

Having said the above, though it is difficult to generalize any particular area of practice but I am confident that our expertise over the Constitutional Law and Environmental Law, in addition to our other areas of practice, is most likely to grow with exceptional results.

What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?

As explained above, I have always believed in the quality over quantity approach in the legal profession. Due to the nature and complexity of work that HPLA deals with on a regular basis, it is key to have a select clientele in order to cater to their growing needs with exceptional attention to detail. This approach has been met with great positivity as our Clients always have our undivided attention and are satisfied with our services. This provides us with the opportunity to deliver meaningful solutions within an expeditious time line.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, most certainly. Owing to the growing variety of telecommunication apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, Video Calls and the various features available on e-mail forums, the manner and way in which we interact with clients has dramatically changed. A simple example is that of WhatsApp group whereby all counsels and clients involved in case are part of the group and communication between everyone involved is only a text message away. It can safely be said that the advancements in technology have reduced the need to have a personal interaction as communication, coordination and exchange of documents is made easier through these developments.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

Yes. Some of our clients have, on occasion, requested us to train their In-house counsels so that the counsel is able to deal with and manage the queries that arise on a day to day basis without the need to consult external counsel. I have always accepted these requests and provide training and guidance to the In-house counsel. This not only benefits the client with saving time and expenses but also ensures that a competent and well-trained counsel is available at all times to provide insight on the legal issues and develop strategies on how to tackle day to day concerns.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

My primary goal and focus, in respect of the firm, is on expansion and growth. Currently, we have plans in the pipeline aimed at providing a platform for the firm in all major cities of Pakistan. In Karachi, we are planning on moving our current office to bigger premises. Additionally, we have a fully functional and operational office in Islamabad and we are looking to expand other cities to ensure a national presence. Additionally, I am also devising a strategy to establish our global presence and hopefully, we should be able to achieve that in the upcoming years.