asma irfan, head of employee relations

asma irfan

head of employee relations

Coca Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited

Location
Pakistan - Lahore
Education
Bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Law and BA
Experience
12 years, 11 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :12 years, 11 Months

head of employee relations at Coca Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited
  • Pakistan - Lahore
  • June 2014 to August 2015

Steered and implemented the employee relations strategy throughout Pakistan and also devised the disciplinay and grievance process in alignment with local labour laws and implemented same theough trainings. Resolved labour union issues and negotiated charter of demand in alignment with local labour laws as well as the organizational interest. ensured legal and hr policy compliances throught Pakistan and guided and supported the territories on all employee and union related issues.

Company Secretary & Head of Legal Department and Corporate Affairs at FINCA Microfinance Bank Limited
  • Pakistan - Lahore
  • November 2008 to May 2014

Steered all the legal and regulatory issues of the bank with external and internal stakeholders.
Company Secretary & Head of Legal Department and Corporate Affairs (November 2008 till date)

Key Responsibilities:
* Develop and implement short and long term goals, plans, policies, and procedures with respect to the Secretarial and legal function.
* Develop a team of skilled legal professionals with an appropriate skill mix and to provide legal support to the branches, and head office departments in meeting their legal needs.
* Establish legal department and develop standard operating procedures and devise annual strategy and planning framework.
* Handle and supervise the equity raising process of the Bank in alignment with the business, regulatory and investor needs and coordinate with the financial advisor, external lawyer, regulator and investors for seamless execution of the entire process.
* Oversee compliance with regulatory requirements under Companies Ordinance, 1984 with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan within the prescribed timelines.
* Oversee compliance with regulatory requirements of State Bank of Pakistan under Microfinance Institutions Ordinance 2001, Prudential Regulations for Microfinance Institutions/ Banks and Circulars issued by State Bank of Pakistan from time to time.
* Maintain complete record of secretarial, regulatory along with legal documentation, correspondence and statutory books as per requirements of law.
* Conducting and managing the committee meetings, board meetings, and general meetings of the Banks in alignment with the legal and regulatory requirements and preparing documentation for the same (Notice, agenda, follow-ups, board material and minutes of all meetings, circulation of minutes to directors, members and SBP etc)
* Development of board/members book in coordination with foreign consultants in consonance with the legal and good corporate practices.
* Correspondence with the directors and members to advise and align them in accordance with good corporate governance practices and regulatory requirements.
* Vet and draft legal documents, agreements, contracts, deeds, power of attorneys, manuals, policies, legal notices, reply of notices, Standard Operating Procedures etc.
* Interact, coordinate and align with other departments and branches to determine and accordingly provide timely solution to their legal queries within the requisite timelines.
* Draft legal opinions to resolve internal and external issues.
* Provide legal input regarding service matters of employees of the Bank such as disciplinary proceedings, conducting inquiries, provident fund, leave matters and other related issues between the employees and the Bank.
* Build and maintain relationship with externally outsourced law firms and coordinate with them for smooth execution of our legal requirements in alignment with the business needs.
* Plan, strategize, organize, direct, control, monitor and ensure the implementation, progress and outcomes of the litigation by and against the bank in criminal and civil matters including but not limited to execution of post dated cheques and representation of bank before other law enforcing agencies and authorities.
* Active participation in the bank's committee meetings i.e. management committee, fraud and forgery committee, risk management committee to review, assess and make recommendations from legal perspective to the committees regarding action steps

Senior Associate at Chattha, Khan & Raza (Attorneys & Corporate Consultants), Lahore
  • Pakistan - Lahore
  • July 2005 to October 2008

 Dealt with non contentious corporate law matter including drafting various agreements and reviewed banking, finance, real estate & investment documents;
 Prepared memorandums; Acted on behalf of clients in business transactions and the fulfillment of contract negotiations
 Critically reviewed and analyzed legal issues;
 Provided legal opinions; and acted on behalf of clients in business transactions and the fulfillment of contract negotiations
 Provided legal opinion in relation to M&As, share transfers, trading rights, intellectual property rights, contract disputes and new legislation on trade and tax issues
 Prepared an extensive law report upon the status of a prosecutor during criminal proceedings in Pakistan which was presented in Geneva in 1998.
 Drafted skeleton arguments, statements of case, applications, orders
 Provided guidance regarding contractual obligations, breach and infringements, etc.

Associate at Hassan and Hassan
  • Pakistan - Lahore
  • April 1998 to December 2000

Hassan and Hassan (Advocates), Lahore
Associate (February 1997 to June 2005)
Key Responsibilities:
* Dealt with non contentious corporate law matter including drafting various agreements and reviewed banking, finance, real estate & investment documents;
* Prepared memorandums; Acted on behalf of clients in business transactions and the fulfillment of contract negotiations
* Critically reviewed and analyzed legal issues;
* Provided legal opinions; and acted on behalf of clients in business transactions and the fulfillment of contract negotiations
* Provided legal opinion in relation to M&As, share transfers, trading rights, intellectual property rights, contract disputes and new legislation on trade and tax issues
* Prepared an extensive law report upon the status of a prosecutor during criminal proceedings in Pakistan which was presented in Geneva in 1998.
* Drafted skeleton arguments, statements of case, applications, orders
* Provided guidance regarding contractual obligations, breach and infringements, etc.

Education

Bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Law and BA
  • at Pakistan College of Law
  • January 1996

* Bachelor of Laws, Pakistan College of Law, 1996. Gold medalist in law and topped in the whole of Punjab.

Bachelor's degree, Statistics and Economics
  • at Government Kinnaird College for Women
  • January 1993

* Bachelor of Arts, Government Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, 1993

High school or equivalent, Satistics and Philosophy
  • at Government Kinnaird College for Women
  • January 1991

* Intermediate (F.A), Government Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, 1991

Specialties & Skills

Governance
Acquisition Integration
Banking Law
Corporate Law
Regulatory Affairs
ASSOCIATE
BANKING
CLIENTS
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
CORPORATE LAW
FINANCE
FULFILLMENT
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
TRADING

Languages

English
Expert
Urdu
Native Speaker
Punjabi
Native Speaker

Memberships

Life Member Lahore High Court Bar Association
  • Member
District Bar Association of Lahore
  • Member

Training and Certifications

(Certificate)
Date Attended:
July 2010
Valid Until:
July 2010
 Microfinance Leadership Seminars Management Development Program for Executives (Certificate)
Date Attended:
August 2010
Valid Until:
August 2010