Press citations, speaking appearances, and academic publications by Safi Ghauri and Esquare Legal.
PressApr 2026
The Independent (UK)
Hormuz Blockade and Iran’s Asymmetric Naval Threat
Cited on unmanned underwater vehicles and asymmetric naval threat. Peer group: Chatham House, Kpler, Birkbeck.
Read →PressApr 2026
Bloomberg Arabic
Financial and Strategic Dimensions of the Hormuz Crisis
Three-question interview on dollar dominance, energy opportunism, and Pakistan as ceasefire broker.
Read →PressMay 2026
FinanceFeeds
Institutional Crypto: Volatility vs. Fragility
Quoted on institutional entry and what it means for order book depth, price discovery, and cross-border product mix.
Read →PressMay 2026
TechRound
The Gulf as Global Crypto Settlement Layer
Quoted on VARA licensing and why crypto founders choose the UAE over MiCA and the US.
Read →PressMay 2026
TechRound
Geopolitical Instability and MENA Fintech Capital
Quoted on why geopolitical risk drives capital into MENA fintech and the Gulf regulatory advantage.
Read →PressMay 2026
TechRound
Stablecoins Going Mainstream
Quoted on instant settlement, full traceability, and off-ramp friction running a cross-border practice on stablecoins.
Read →Press2025
Sunday Pakistan
Pakistan’s Most Prolific Tech Lawyer
Profile: cross-border crypto practice, VARA structuring, firm footprint across four jurisdictions.
Read →Press
Gulf News
UAE Legal Experts Welcome Crypto Rules
Cited on the legal implications of Dubai’s digital assets regulatory framework.
Press2024
China Business Law Journal
China Deals of the Year — RUDA Project
Coverage of the RUDA project, one of the largest Chinese infrastructure investments outside China.
Read →PressDec 2021
Dawn
First BNPL Licence in Pakistan
Credited for securing Pakistan’s first Buy Now Pay Later licence, establishing the lending fintech sector.
Read →Press
Dawn
PIA Privatisation: Associations Legal Challenge
Representing all associations of Pakistan International Airlines in the privatisation challenge.
Read →PressMay 2023
Dawn
NBFCs Grow on Back of Chinese Investments
Esquare Legal cited on entry of Chinese law firms into Pakistan and CPEC investment flows.
Read →PressMar 2022
Geo.tv
Pakistan’s Largest Defamation Award — Rs100 Million
Lead counsel in proceedings producing Pakistan’s largest-ever defamation award.
Read →PressJan 2024
Yahoo Finance
KuCoin Future Fest — Crypto Panel
Named as Managing Partner Esquare Legal during panel on crypto markets in Asia and Africa.
Read →PressJul 2025
Databird Business Journal
Navigating the Global Crypto Regulatory Maze
Full interview: gold-standard compliance strategy, VARA vs MiCA, and cross-border frameworks.
Read →Academic2025
SSRN / Chinese Arbitration Research Institute
Blockchain Arbitration and Smart Contract Enforceability
Expert interviewee, peer-reviewed paper indexed on SSRN.
Read →AcademicQ2 2023
NEPRA Official Newsletter
Blockchain in Energy Trade Webinar
Named as presenter alongside NEPRA Chairman Tauseef H. Farooqi.
Read →Academic2024
Company Law Reference Book
Judgements on Company Law 1947–2021
Named among key contributors by Jawed Hussain, author of Pakistan’s Companies Act 2017.
Academic2024
Journal of Indian Studies / Punjab University
CBDC Implementation in Pakistan
Lead author, peer-reviewed paper Vol.10 No.1, January–June 2024.
Read →SpeakingMar 2026
DARTE — European Commission + UNIDROIT
MiCA and the Travel Rule Across Latin America
Panellist at Digital Assets Roundtable Experts, co-organised by EC and UNIDROIT, World Trade Center São Paulo.
SpeakingFeb 2026
Singularity by Stellar, Goa
Legal Mentorship on Digital Assets
Legal mentor at Stellar’s flagship Goa conference.
SpeakingOct 2025
Horasis Global Summit / University of São Paulo
Digital Assets Regulation
Speaker at 1,000-leader summit from 50 countries, opened by the Vice Governor of São Paulo state.
Speaking2025
COP30 Side Events, Belém
Blockchain for Climate Finance Infrastructure
Speaker on blockchain for climate finance at the UN climate conference, Belém, Brazil.
SpeakingSep 2025
Stellar Meridian / Copacabana Palace, Rio
Crypto Legal Architecture in Latin America
Speaker at 1,200+ attendee conference. PayPal PYUSD launched at the event.
Speaking2025
ETH Latam, São Paulo
High-Level Regulatory Session
Panellist, closed-door session with ETH Latam leadership.
SpeakingJan 2024
FutureFest / Lahore Expo Center
Cracking Crypto + Regulating Virtual Assets in Pakistan
Panel and roundtable host at Pakistan’s largest tech event.
Speaking2023
FATF Panel on Cryptocurrencies
Financial Action Task Force — Crypto Panel
Panellist at FATF cryptocurrency session, Pakistan.
Speaking2023
UNODC Sensitization Workshop
Crypto, Dark Web and Terror Finance
Trainer at UN Office on Drugs and Crime workshop, funded by US Embassy / INL.
SpeakingJun 2023
NEPRA Blockchain in Energy Webinar
Blockchain Applications in Energy Trade
Co-presenter alongside NEPRA Chairman, Pakistan.
Speaking2023
Chinese Infrastructure Contracts, Islamabad
Address to Civil Service and Policy Officers
Invited address on interpretation and commercial implications of Chinese infrastructure contracts.
Speaking2018–2024
IMechE Speak Out for Engineering
Distinguished Judge — All Tiers, Every Year
Distinguished Judge across UAE nationals, Middle East regionals, Pakistan nationals, Africa regionals, and Global Finals.
