Who we are
Who are we?
Meet Our Managing Partner
As part of the Attorney General’s team, Mr. Muhammad Usman Piracha (Managing Partner, Pirachas) played a vital role in the out-of-court settlement of International arbitrations such as the Tethyan Copper v. Pakistan (Riko Dig) and Karkey Karadeniz v. Pakistan disputes, collectively worth over 12 Billion USD.
He assisted on Technology and Telecommunications related disputes at the High Courts and leading constitutional cases including that pertaining to the vote of no confidence and status of defecting lawmakers (horse trading), before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Mr. Usman Piracha has Chaired expert level negotiations of the 57 Member Countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He has represented Pakistan at UN led negotiations on reforms pertaining to investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms.
As an international legal expert, Mr. Piracha has been invited to share his views at the World Investment Forum, UNCATD’s High-Level International Agreements Conference and FutureFest (a leading technology conference) where he spoke on matters ranging from International Investment Agreements and Investment Policy Principles to Intellectual Property Disputes.
As one of two lead negotiators, he participated as a key member of Pakistan’s delegation to the United Nations (UN). Here he negotiated on issues pertaining to a new investment dispute resolution mechanism being formulated for all UN member states.
Prior to working on the above, Mr. Piracha undertook a federal judicial clerkship at the Chambers of Judge Delissa A. Ridgway as a Cornell Law School Fellow, at the US Court of International Trade (NYC). Here he reviewed and analyzed briefs and other complex materials filed by foreign and domestic producers as well as the U.S. Government.
These included extremely complex, high-stakes litigation and arbitration matters challenging U.S. Department of Commerce determinations in antidumping duty cases. Mr. Piracha conducted legal research, drafted bench memoranda (including questions to be posed to parties) and prepared the Judge for oral arguments. His responsibilities also included researching and drafting procedural orders and sections of judicial opinions.
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Mr. Piracha’s UK professional experience includes working in London for the Home Office and one of the premier law firms of the world, Linklaters LLP where he assisted on multi-jurisdictional banking disputes of international importance such as the LIBOR Scandal and its associated litigation.
At the Home Office, Mr. Piracha presented research-led deductions and made recommendations to the Chairperson Baroness Nola O’ Loan, independent Panel Members appointed by Theresa May and the Queen’s Counsel to conduct an investigation on a matter of national importance. He presented important observations and findings to Panel Members and the Chairperson on a weekly basis.
The final report of the investigation was presented to the Houses of Parliament in June 2021.
He attended Cornell Law School (CLS) for a LL.M. degree on a merit-based scholarship, and secured commendable grades including a CALI Award (Negotiation & Facilitation). Based on his academic excellence and contribution to the LL.M. program, he was awarded the prestigious and highly competitive Cornell Law School (CLS) Graduate Legal Studies Fellowship.
Prior to attending CLS, Mr. Piracha studied law in the UK at the City Law School and the University of Sussex. His non-law academic background includes a Masters degree in Management (University of Edinburgh, UK) and a Bachelors degree in Computer Science / IT (NUST, Pakistan). During graduate studies at NUST. Mr. Piracha contributed as a scientific researcher at CERN Labs – credited with the discovery of the Higgs boson particle.
After graduate studies at NUST, Mr. Piracha worked for an international telecom giant in Pakistan as a Data Communications Product Manager.
He had the privilege to lead the graduating class and deliver the Commencement Address at the 2016 Cornell Law School Convocation Ceremony, and with it became the first student of Pakistani origin in the last decade to speak at an Ivy League Law School’s graduation ceremony.
Mr. Muhammad Usman Piracha therefore has a cross-cultural background; having worked and studied in different parts of the world. Where he is a dual Pakistani and British Citizen, his pursuits have led him to call three continents his home.