Sama is a Partner in S&A’s corporate practice. She has a breadth of experience working on complex and high-value transactions across myriad of sectors including tourism real estate, banking and finance, and renewable energy. From 2020 to 2024, Sama progressed through the firm as a Trainee Associate and subsequently as an Associate. During this period, she played a key role in transactional due diligence, drafting CP documents for private M&A transactions, preparing banking and finance documentation including facility agreements and security documents, foreign investment incorporations, and cross-border legal opinions. Her practice also encompassed construction disputes, particularly under FIDIC contracts, local and international arbitration, litigation, and employment matters. In addition to her transactional and dispute resolution work, Sama has extensive experience providing general corporate advisory services, often in her capacity as company secretary to several private companies, and as the focal point for a number of the firm’s retained corporate hospitality clients. She has also been actively engaged in advising the firm’s pro bono clients.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Outstanding Achievement in Bar Exam (2023)
- University Level Award: President’s Award (2021)
- Law Faculty Level Awards: Overall Best Student Award (2021) and Best Student in Company Law (2021)
- Rector’s List - IIUM
NOTABLE MATTERS
· Represented an American private equity fund on the pre-IPO reorganisation and cross-border structuring of a Maldivian hospitality company as part of a regional listing.
· Represented a Canadian renewable energy developer on the establishment of the first Special Economic Zone in Maldives for a USD 187 million floating solar project.
· Acted as part of the local counsel team representing buyers in multiple high-value resort acquisitions, with responsibilities including preparation of due diligence reports, review of transaction documents such as sale and purchase agreement, correspondence and coordination with external counsels and counterparties, and managing closing and post-closing formalities. Key transactions include the acquisition of:
- leasehold rights to ‘W Maldives’ and ‘Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa’ by an American private equity fund;
- leasehold rights to ‘Maafushivaru Resort’ by an American hospitality company;
- leasehold rights to ‘Kanuhura’ and ‘Raafushi’ by a Singaporean hospitality management company;
- sub-leasehold rights to ‘Olhahali’ by a United Arab Emirates company through acquisition of 100% shares in the entity holding sub-leasehold rights to the resort;
- leasehold rights to a plot of lagoon in Male’ Atoll for the development of a tourist resort by a United Arab Emirates company;
- leasehold rights to ‘The Standard’ by a Singaporean real estate investment manager.
· Represented a state-owned Chinese construction enterprise on disputes relating to a USD 200 million airport expansion and a USD 65 million university development.
· Represented a Singapore-based construction company in a major dispute against the Government of Maldives, including mediation proceedings, for a mixed-use urban complex development project (USD 427 million claim).
· Organised and conducted employment law seminars for human resources and senior management teams of several tourist resorts and collaborated with the human resources departments to draft and review employment contracts and policies.
EDUCATION
Master of Corporate Law
University of Cambridge, England
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
IIUM, Malaysia
MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS
Member
Maldives Law Institute
Member
Cambridge University Law Society
Attorney at Law
Republic of Maldives
PRACTICE AREAS
Capital Markets
Construction and Infrastructure
Foreign Investments
Information Technology, Media and Communications
Tourism and Hospitality