Zainab M. Bachoo

Name: Zainab M. Bachoo
Position:
Head of Legal – Commercial
Company:
Port Management Limited

Sector: Handling and logistics

Worked in the current position for (number of years/months):  2 Years and 6 Months.

Years in-house:   2 Years 6 Months.

An overview of my role is:  I provide legal advisory services to various companies using the port and ensure regulatory compliance and legal risk management across those companies.

The best thing about my current job is: 

The entity I represent has business interests in a variety of sectors. This enables me to utilise the knowledge and expertise that I have accumulated over the years, in a range of different environments whilst enabling me to push further, learn more and cultivate new skills. Through this position, I believe I have learnt a great deal about business and developed a strong business acumen.

The most challenging thing about my current job is:

As head of the legal department, I utilise my strong legal nous to successfully counsel the board of directors and to manage risk within the business. I further collaborate with government and private stakeholders on a number of different projects, in order to achieve our mutually beneficial goals. Combined, this requires excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and continuous learning, to keep abreast of the evolving nature of the legal system at a national and international level. Succeeding and maintaining this high standard of work is the challenge I face on a daily basis.

My most pivotal career move: 

In 2018, I made the decision to leave private practice after dedicating twelve (12) years of service to take up the role as in-house counsel. I was drawn to the idea of using the knowledge and skills I had developed in private practice to provide advice directly to the business and to see it “in action”. The diverse range of legal work that one is exposed to as an in-house counsel also appealed.

The hardest lesson I have learned as a lawyer:

I’ve learnt that it can be challenging to offer solutions, especially in cases where the law is black and white but that as a commercial lawyer, one needs to be very nimble, understand one’s client’s business and it/his commercial needs and to cultivate a solution-oriented approach to be able to give advice that is relevant.

What advice would you give your younger self?

  • Dedicate at least two (2) hours of your day to read up and keep abreast of what is going on in the business and legal world.
  • Develop and foster interpersonal relationships with members of the fraternity and business community.
  • Most of all, enjoy what you are doing because if you are not then, eventually, it will just become a laborious task.
  • Make a conscious effort to ensure you dedicate time to your hobbies as this will act as your “comfort cushion” when you’ve had an inevitable bad day at work.

Who are the key influencers that have shaped you along the way? I have been very lucky to meet and interact with amazing personalities. The one that would stand out is Mrs. Mona Doshi, managing partner at the Mombasa office of the firm of Anjarwalla & Khanna, LLP, where I previously worked.  Of course, I can never downplay the impact my parents have had on my life. They are the driving force behind what I do and the reason why I am where I am today.

My favourite pro bono or volunteer activity is: 

I occasionally provide legal services to in-house pro bono projects and numerous other support services to the Memon Community, be it within my field of work or otherwise such as charity functions and fundraisers.

The worst job I ever held was: 

Luckily, this does not apply to me as I’ve held two long-term positions, which have both been invaluable to my career.

Most valuable life lesson that I still apply today is …

Through my professional career and personal life, a key life lesson I’ve learnt is that there is no replacement for hard work, and nothing comes before your integrity and dignity.

I achieve work-life balance by: 

I set aside enough time during the day, each day, to spend with my family. I also believe that one must prioritise their time, plan their day and religiously stick to the plan (or try very hard to!). I love arts and crafts so I also try to spend time during the week indulging my creative side.

If I were not practising law, I would probably be:  A Fashion Designer

I’m currently reading:  Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

My current music playlist includes:  Currently, I listen to podcasts on spiritual guidance and self-development.

 

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