Advocate Sibah Farooq

International Lawyer | Senior & Founding Partner, S&S Law Associates | Human Rights Advocate | Legal Policy Advisor

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In a legal profession often marked by tradition and conservatism, Sibah Farooq stands out as a compelling force of reform, resilience, and representation. With over two decades of experience as a litigator, public interest lawyer, and international legal consultant, she has carved a formidable reputation both within Pakistan and on the global stage.

A graduate of some of the world’s most respected institutions, Sibah holds an Advanced LL.M in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy in Switzerland, an LL.B (Hons.) from the University of Leeds, a Diploma in Law from the International Development Law Organisation (Rome), and an MBA from the University of Lahore. This academic foundation, combined with her hands-on experience, enables her to approach legal challenges with both intellectual precision and practical strategy.

 

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In 2014, Sibah established S&S Law Associates, known today as Pakistans First Women Only Law Firm. Sibah serves as its Senior and Founding Partner, overseeing the firm’s operations nationwide. Under her leadership, the firm has grown into a full-service practice, providing legal counsel to a wide spectrum of clients, including diplomatic missions, government ministries, regulatory authorities, corporations, and private individuals. The firm’s international portfolio includes clients from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other jurisdictions.

 

Sibah’s areas of specialisation include Public International Law, Energy Laws, Family Laws and International Agreements. As a legal consultant, she has worked with organisations such as UKAID, UNHCR, UNAIDS, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She has also collaborated with the Ministry of Law and Justice of Pakistan in drafting legislation aimed at domestic implementation of international treaties.

Her influence extends deeply into the legal infrastructure of Pakistan. Sibah currently serves as Chairperson of three key committees of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association—the Committee on International Law, the Committee on Legal Awareness, and the Committee on Women Empowerment. She is also an Advisory Board Member of the International Dispute Resolution Institute of Pakistan, where she champions Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and judicial reform.


A vocal proponent of Pakistan’s Mediation Movement, Sibah was a panelist at the inaugural national ADR and Green Litigation Conference held in Islamabad, attended by leading international experts and local stakeholders. She works closely with High Court justices in both Lahore and Islamabad on academic and legal research, particularly focused on institutional reform and the promotion of out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms.

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Sibah’s career is equally defined by her unwavering commitment to human rights and public interest litigation. Early on, she worked alongside Asma Jahangir, the legendary Pakistani human rights lawyer, on the Samia Sarwar case, a landmark moment in Pakistan’s legal history that drew international attention to the issue of honour killings. She is a mentor to aspiring female lawyers across the country and her firm offers a space free of gender biases and disparity for both female legal professionals and clients with gender sensitive issues. Her firm also provides extensive pro-bono services and free legal aid on a needs basis.

Her litigation work has since continued to push boundaries. She filed Pakistan’s first petition seeking anti-bullying legislation for educational institutions, which led to the successful drafting of new laws now applicable across Punjab. More recently, she filed a first-of-its-kind petition before the Lahore High Court (Rawalpindi Bench) calling for the criminalisation of wildlife captivity, the closure of illegal pet markets, the transformation of zoos into wildlife sanctuaries, and the introduction of comprehensive animal welfare legislation.

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Beyond the courtroom, Sibah has served in high-level quasi-judicial roles. At the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat of Pakistan, she was appointed Head of Legal and adjudicated over 2,000 cases, including those directly remanded by the President of Pakistan. She also held advisory roles with key national institutions such as NEPRA, the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, the Federal Board of Revenue, and PIMS Hospital.

Her contributions have not gone unnoticed. The University of Leeds recognised her as an Outstanding Alumna and a Trailblazing Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate in South Asia. In April 2024, her achievements were honoured in the national exhibition “100 Years of Women in Law in Pakistan” at the Alhamra Art Gallery in Lahore. Her academic work on human rights and torture prevention has also been acknowledged by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Today, Sibah continues to serve as a Legal Expert from Pakistan with Advocacy Advisory International, a London-based platform offering international advocacy training. She advises several UN agencies based in Geneva, and maintains a client base of British Pakistanis, for whom she is a recommended lawyer on the UK FCDO legal panel.


As a legal analyst, columnist, and guest speaker, Sibah regularly appears on national television, speaks at international conferences, and contributes to leading legal publications in Pakistan and abroad. With her unique blend of litigation excellence, institutional leadership, and cross-border advisory work, Sibah Farooq continues to redefine the role of the lawyer as not only a practitioner of the law—but a catalyst for justice, reform, and social impact.