Winston & Strawn LLP

International Arbitration/Commercial Litigation & Disputes

Imad is an international disputes lawyer who represents and advises sovereigns, multinational companies, state-owned entities, and intergovernmental organizations through all aspects of international dispute resolution. He is particularly experienced in investment treaty and international commercial arbitration under all major arbitral rules, including the ICC, ICDR, AAA, HKIAC, LCIA, ICSID, and UNCITRAL. His practice includes enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. He frequently publishes articles and lectures on topics related to international arbitration and dispute resolution and serves in leadership of leading international organizations and arbitral institutions.

In addition to international arbitration and complex commercial litigation, Imad’s practice extends to handling recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards, including for judgments and awards involving states, state agencies, and state-owned entities which involve state immunity issues. Imad also advises clients in navigating complex discovery involved in international disputes. Imad has a wide variety of experience representing and advising clients across diverse economic sectors, including energy, oil and gas, electricity, renewables, technology, waste management, mining, and pharmaceuticals in numerous arbitrations.

He maintains a deep understanding of his practice by frequently speaking and publishing on topics related to his practice and industry/business-sector focus. He currently holds leadership positions with the ICC International Court of Arbitration, ABA Section of Litigation, American Branch of the International Law Association, and Friends of the Hague Academy. Imad also serves on the Houston Chapter Board of Directors for Developments in Literacy, a non-profit committed to empowering children through education in Pakistan.

International Arbitration – Investment Arbitration

Represented claimant in Eskosol v. Republic of Italy, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/50 (Energy Charter Treaty) Represented Bulgaria in EVN AG v. Republic of Bulgaria, ICSID Case No. ARB/13/17 (Austria-Bulgaria BIT; Energy Charter Treaty) Represented Bulgaria in ENERGO-PRO a.s. v. Republic of Bulgaria, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/19 (Czech Republic - Bulgaria BIT; ECT) Represented Uzbekistan in Oxus Gold v. Republic of Uzbekistan, UNCITRAL (UK-Uzbekistan BIT; Uzbek Investment Law) Represented claimants in Edgeboro International, Inc. Global Environmental Sustainability, Inc. v. Kingdom of Morocco (U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement) Represented El Paso in annulment proceedings in El Paso Energy International Company v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/03/15 (US-Argentina BIT) Represented Uzbekistan in Güneş Tekstil Konfeksiyon Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi and others v. Republic of Uzbekistan, ICSID Case No. ARB/13/19 (Turkey-Uzbekistan BIT; Uzbek Investment Law) Representing the claimant in Cascade Investments NV v. Republic of Turkey, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/4 (Belgium-Luxembourg -Turkey BIT) Represented claimants in Gabriel Resources Ltd. and Gabriel Resources (Jersey) v. Romania, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/31 (Canada-Romania BIT; UK-Romania BIT) Advised a major global telecom. company in an ICSID annulment proceeding Advised a dual national regarding potential investment claim against the Arab Republic of Egypt (US-Egypt BIT) Advised an information technologies company regarding potential investment claim against Republic of Tunisia (Greece-Tunisia BIT) Advised a multinational oilfield services companies regarding potential NAFTA claims Advised claimants-side stakeholders in an ICSID arbitration against a Latin American State

International Arbitration – Commercial and Construction Arbitration

Representing state-owned entity in two LCIA arbitrations seated in Houston under Texas law against multinational energy corporations pursuant to the parties’ contract for sale and purchase of natural gas based on the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) form contract Represented a subsidiary of a global food delivery company in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration arising out of its investment with a leading food delivery company in Saudi Arabia Representing a technology company in the aviation industry in an ICDR arbitration seated in NY and governed by NY law Representing a multinational technology company against another multinational technology company in an ICC arbitration seating in Singapore governed by Singapore Law. This is a global dispute involving patents in the North America, EU, Africa, and Asia Represented an intergovernmental organization against an airline services provider in an UNCITRAL arbitration governed by general principles of international law and the UNIDROIT Principles of international Commercial Contracts Represented the respondents in Eurotec Vertical Flight Solutions, LLC v. Turbomeca, S.A., Turbomeca USA, Inc., Turbomeca Canada, Inc., Safran, S.A., and Safran USA, Inc. in an ICDR governed by U.S. law Represented an international construction contractor against the owner in an ICC construction arbitration governed by Indonesian law Represented the master franchisor against sub-franchisee in an ICDR arbitration governed by UAE law Represented the owner against a design firm in an HKIAC construction arbitration governed by Hong Kong law Represented a supplier against the distributor in parallel DIFC-LCIA/UNCITRAL arbitration governed by DIFC law Advised a Chinese turbine manufacturer against wind-farm developer concerning potential ICC arbitration governed by US law Advised an international EPC company against the owner concerning potential ICC construction arbitration governed by Indian law Advised various energy companies on dispute resolution and forum selection clauses, and remedies available under international law when negotiating E&P contracts, petroleum agreements, and natural gas exploration contracts with Latin American and African State-owned entities

Public/Private International Law

Representing a citizen of England in Eastern District of Texas proceedings seeking the return of his sons to England pursuant to the 1980 Hauge Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, a multilateral treaty that seeks to protect children from the harmful effects of abduction and retention across international borders Succesfully represented a Venezuelan citizen in Southern District of Texas proceedings seeking the return of his daughter to Venezuela pursuant to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, a multilateral treaty that seeks to protect children from the harmful effects of abduction and retention across international borders Maritime Boundary Disputes: Advised an international petroleum and natural gas exploration and production company regarding Gulf of Guinea maritime boundary dispute Advised an international petroleum and natural gas exploration and production company regarding Nicaraguan maritime boundary dispute Advised an international oil and gas exploration and production company regarding various maritime boundary claims in West Africa Advised the energy ministry of a Middle Eastern State regarding Iran and Iraq’s maritime boundary claims Advised a Middle Eastern State-owned oil and gas company regarding the State’s proposed model bilateral investment treaty

Complex Commercial Litigation & Domestic Arbitration

Represented one of the largest electric cooperatives against a multinational power generation conglomerate in a dispute before the Middle District of Florida concerning construction of a power plant and long-term power supply contract Represented a global investment bank in a class action securities litigation in Texas state court Represented the defendants in a Texas state court action to compel arbitration based on contractual ICC arbitration clause with Guatemalan governing law, as well as in related appeal before Texas appellate court Represented an oil and gas company in 13 parallel AAA employment arbitrations Represented an energy company in a hydrocarbons drainage suit in the Southern District of Texas Represented affiliate companies in an asbestos liabilities and contractual indemnities suit in Texas state court

White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations

Represented a leading global information technology (IT) company based in Africa in an investigation by the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) relating to potential sanctionable practices; advising the company on post-settlement matters Represented several life sciences companies in antitrust compliance reviews and other internal investigations Represented a Pakistani power company in an investigation by the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) relating to potential antitrust violations, as well as related potential cross-debarment by the Asian Development Bank Represented an Indian construction company in an investigation by the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) relating to potential sanctionable practices Represented an aviation services company’s audit committee in internal investigation to determine potential violations of the FCPA Represented a construction company in an internal investigation to determine potential violations of the FCPA and the anti-bribery and corruption laws of Texas

English

Admissions

District of Columbia Texas New York

Imad received his A.B. in English and comparative literary studies from Occidental College in 2007. He received his J.D., cum laude from Washington University School of Law and M.B.A. from Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis in 2011. In law school, Imad served as the executive articles editor for the Washington University School of Law Journal of Law & Policy and team captain of the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court team.

He also received a Public International Law Certificate from Hague Academy of International Law in 2010.

Imad has intermediate proficiency in French and is conversational in Urdu and Hindi.

The Best Lawyers in America®—Recognized for International Arbitration - Commercial (2025) Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Recognized for Alternative Dispute Resolution (International Arbitration) and for Commercial Litigation (2021–2024) Recognized for Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2024) Benchmark Litigation US—“40 & Under” List for Dispute Resolution (2024–2025) The Legal 500 US Recognized as a “Rising Star” for Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (2022–2023) Recognized as a “Key Lawyer” for Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (2021, 2023–2024) Recognized as a “Key Lawyer” for Dispute Resolution: International Litigation (2025) Lawdragon “500 Leading Energy Lawyers”—Recognized for Global Energy Disputes & Litigation (2025) “500 X – The Next Generation”—Recognized for International Arbitration (2024) “500 Leading Global Litigators”—Recognized for International Arbitration & Litigation (2024) Houston Business Journal—Named a “Diversity in Business – Individual Honoree” (2025) Texas Lawyer Texas Legal Award—“On the Rise” (2022) Lexology Index:  Arbitration 2025—Recognized as a “Future Leader” for International Arbitration (2022–2025) Lexology Index:  “Client Choice Award” for Arbitration in USA, Texas (2024–2025) International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award

Activities

ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin, Editorial Board Member, second term (2021-2024; 2025-2027) ABA International Law Section’s 2024 Americas Conference – The Future of Energy Across the Americas: Helping Lawyers Predict and Adapt, Conference Co-Chair International Law Association Committee, Alternative Dispute Resolution in International Law (2023) American Branch of the International Law Association, Secretary and Board Member The Friends of Hague Academy of International Law, Treasurer and Board Member (2021) Institute for Energy Law (IEL) 2022-2023 Leadership Class, Cohort Member International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), Publications Committee (2020) CIArb North America Branch, Board of Directors and Chair of Young Members Group CIArb Global Young Members Group, Steering Committee Member ICDR Young & International, Executive Board Member Developments in Literacy Houston, Board of Directors