Sameera Mahmud

Sameera Mahmud has a LL.B (Hons) degree from Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK and has a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Commercial law specializing in Banking and Finance from the City University of London, UK. She has been called to the Bar of England and Wales in the year 2011 by the Hon’ble Society of Lincoln’s Inn. Sameera also qualified as an Advocate in Bangladesh in 2014 and enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh in 2017.

Sameera’s main practice area is Mergers and Acquisition, Telecommunications, Banking and Finance, Power and Energy, Employment & Labour, Civil and Corporate matters. Sameera has 13+ years of experience in the field of law and her legal career began as an associate for two leading law firms of Bangladesh between the years 2011-2016. During her tenure at the chambers she gained extensive experience in drafting and a negotiating numerous contracts, ensuring legal compliance and business efficiency. She played a key role in the strategic growth of clients and fostered trust and long-term client relations.

Sameera joined The Legal Circle in 2016 and is currently a Co-Managing Partner in the Firm where she oversees the Firm’s practice in the areas of her expertise. In terms of M&A, she has extensive experience in conducting due diligence on a target company, negotiate the deal structure, price and terms and lock the definitive purchase agreement. She has directed due diligence processes of over 10 corporate transactions and has managed, prepared and reviewed transaction documents, reducing the potential legal exposure of clients. She has spearheaded legal aspects of cross-border transactions and assisted in implementation of innovative strategies for corporate restructuring.

In the area of Banking and Finance, she has extensively dealt with complex loan advisory transactions including loan syndication. She has experience dealing with security enforcement matters, including enforcement in Artha Rin Adalat (Money loan Court). She has facilitated issues between clients by assisting in out-of-court settlements and compromises. Her experience and legal practice also includes advise in relation to regulatory matters for banking and financial services, including syndication, lease finance, corporate finance and mobile banking.

As a Power and Energy practitioner, Sameera has comprehensive knowledge in the energy laws and policies of Bangladesh including environmental compliance, renewable energy policies, and energy market regulations. She has the ability to provide interpretation and practical advice to clients on governmental regulations. She has assisted in review of complex agreements between the project company and the GOB including Power Purchase Agreements, Implementation Agreements, Land Use Agreements and Facility Agreements. She has also represented clients during Pre-COD, construction phase and the post-COD operation phase including review and negotiations of EPC/O&M contracts for development of power projects.

In terms of Telecommunication laws, she has advised on regulatory matters, including award and licences. She is aptly versed with the telecommunication guidelines issued by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission from time to time and has assisted clients in making submissions as stakeholders in materializations of the guidelines.

She has previously at an initial stage of her career worked as a Legal Counsel for bKash Limited, the first and only unicorn of Bangladesh, and was responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory affairs, advising on employment matters, company matters, litigations, mobile banking and finance.