Fida Hussain – GC Powerlist
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India 2022

Industrials and real estate

Fida Hussain

Vice president legal affairs | Qatar Navigation – Milaha

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India 2022

legal500.com/gc-powerlist/

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Fida Hussain

Vice president legal affairs | Qatar Navigation – Milaha

Team size: 11

How has the increasing consciousness of climate change and sustainability affected your company and the team’s priorities?

As members of the shipping industry, we are under increased pressure to cut our emissions. International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has already adopted mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from international shipping, and various regulatory frameworks have been implemented by IMO, such as MARPOL (for marine pollution), EXI, CII, SEEMP (Energy Efficiency Measures) and GHG Strategy (emissions cut). Compliance with these frameworks is critical to our strategy and operations as ship owners and operators.

There are many compliance targets by IMO to achieve these goals, already effective and being phased in progressively. This has led to a colossal shift in priorities relating to decarbonisation and climate change within the industry. In Milaha, the striving and commitment to achieve these targets is now part of our day jobs. At a macro-level, futureproofing our operations and marine assets with these goals has taken centre stage, and it drives the priorities for all of us at a micro level. As lawyers, we are deeply embedded and work with stakeholders to ensure that we are legally and operationally compliant, commercially competitive and meeting industry benchmarks.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?

For us, this is one of the salient metrics to watch out for a while selecting external counsel. Our philosophy is that external lawyers must act as an extension of in-house teams, which can only be achieved when there is an alignment of values. Quality of service delivery and compatibility with clients’ values often separate firms. External counsel with shared values is most likely to deliver bespoke services and achieve desired results efficiently and effectively. We are constantly evaluating counsel on this metric and will continue doing so.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, you are passionate about and why?

One cause that I have become truly passionate about is mental wellness. With the onslaught of Covid-19, it has become imperative that supporting mental health, both in the workplace and personal space, is no longer a nice-to-have but a necessity. This has become an uncompromising priority for myself, my team, and my family.

Also, given that I have been part of the shipping industry since I joined the workforce, I am compassionate towards seafarers’ plight, especially given the developments during the pandemic. I was, therefore, one of the first stakeholders who advocated Milaha signing up for the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change.

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