Urban Redevelopment & Conveyancing

Ahmad Edham has been instrumental in Kuala Lumpur's urban transformation, leading landmark projects with a combined Gross Development Value (GDV) exceeding RM17.7 billion. A true pioneer in the city’s urban redevelopment movement, his involvement in major acquisitions and conveyancing has effectively shaped KL into a more walkable, vibrant commercial hub while preserving its unique heritage. Bringing the tenacious and strategic acumen of a seasoned litigator to his practice, he successfully navigates the complex title disputes and compulsory acquisitions inherent in large-scale land development. His specialized portfolio focuses on high-value estate acquisitions, crucial development land transactions, and contentious legal matters for landmark redevelopment projects.

Key highlights:

• Pioneering Urban Redevelopment (First in Malaysia): Led the Kampung Kerinchi Urban Redevelopment (GDV RM2 billion), recognized as Malaysia’s first successfully executed urban-redevelopment project.
  
• Major Integrated Developments: Key involvement in large-scale integrated projects, including the award-winning KL Gateway (GDV RM2.4 billion) and the Kampung Sungai Baru joint-venture redevelopment (GDV RM7 billion).
  
• Strategic Land Acquisitions: Oversaw the acquisition for the redevelopment of Flat Sri Pahang in prime Bangsar (estimated GDV RM5 billion)
  
• Innovative Key-to-Key Models: Executed multiple urban redevelopment projects using the novel Key-to-Key Home Swap model (e.g., Flat Taman Rajawali and Flat Taman Segar in Cheras, combined value RM1.3 billion).
  
• Advisory Role: Ongoing advisor to multiple new urban-redevelopment projects of comparable scale.

International Advocacy (ICC & Human Rights)

In addition to his commercial practice, he represents MyAQSA Foundation in matters involving international humanitarian law:

• 16.3.2020 — Appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) as amicus curiae on the Prosecutor’s Article 19(3) request concerning Palestine’s territorial jurisdiction.
• 5.2.2021 — The ICC ruled that its territorial jurisdiction covers areas occupied by Israel since 1967: Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
• 22.11.2023 — Prepared and filed a detailed dossier for MyAQSA alleging genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza.

Banking & Finance

Ahmad Edham has broad experience in conventional and Islamic financing, advising on major cross-border, corporate, and retail banking transactions.

Key highlights:

• AUD 80 million financing for Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad to Magna Prima Australia Pty Ltd for The Istana project in Melbourne, Victoria.
• USD 75 million Overseas Project Financing-i for WZR Property Sdn. Bhd.
• Corporate and business loan documentation for annual facilities totaling RM500 million to RM1 billion across multiple financial institutions.
• Extensive work on Islamic structures including BBA, Mudharabah, Musyarakah, Ijarah, Istisna, Cash Notes, Letters of Credit, Letters of Guarantee, and more.
• Drafted loan documentation for Al Rajhi Bank under the then-new Tawarruq concept.

Institutions advised include Maybank, RHB, AmBank, CIMB, Bank Rakyat, BSN, Affin, Bank Muamalat, Al Rajhi, among others.

Litigation highlight: Successfully defended Al-Rajhi Banking & Investment Corporation (Malaysia) Bhd v Hapsah Food Industries Sdn Bhd & Ors [2011], affirming the bank’s rights under Islamic financing facilities.

Corporate Transactions & Due Diligence

As a pioneer in urban redevelopment law, Ahmad Edham has spearheaded projects designed to transform Kuala Lumpur into a dynamic, pedestrian-friendly city and regional business hub. Ahmad Edham has led major corporate, land, and plantation-based transactions, particularly for cooperatives and government-linked entities.

Key highlights:

• Koperasi Permodalan FELDA Malaysia Berhad (KPF) — Advised and prepared Share Sale Agreement with Felda Global Ventures amounting to RM2.2 billion.
• KPF — Sarawak acquisitions (Samarahan & Sedilu-Gedong) — Acting for KPF in acquisitions from Lambang Sinar Mas Sdn Bhd, including assets valued at RM5 million and mills at RM55 million, overall land acquisition value of about RM1.2 billion.
• Legal Due Diligence (Sabah) — Prepared the full legal due diligence report for the proposed sale and purchase of 11,579.31 hectares of plantation land (or 100% equity in Pertama Land & Development Sdn Bhd).
• Joint Venture (Kelantan) — Yayasan Kelantan Darul Naim × First Nation Plantation for development of a 10,000-acre palm-oil plantation project (estimated value > RM100 million).
• Felcra Sdn Bhd — Loan documentation for a RM100 million facility granted by Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad.
• KPF — Gua Musang — Land acquisition from Cuffland Resources Sdn Bhd for RM292,800.00.

Litigation Milestones

Ahmad Edham has represented clients in several landmark cases, including:

• Tenaga Nasional Malaysia v. Batu Kemas Industri Sdn Bhd & Another Appeal [2018] 5 MLJ 561 — Federal Court decision defining the extent of liability claimable against public bodies in negligence cases (overvoltage damage to advanced machinery).
• Saleha Hussin v. Ab Wahid Nasir & Ors [2004] 2 CLJ 2004 — A leading Malaysian authority on copyright law.
• Mayban Finance Bhd v. Otahulu Industries (M) Sdn Bhd & Ors — Successfully led the case where the High Court held Mayban Finance liable for defamation and conspiracy to injure, including issues of forged signatures and FIS listing.
• Re Mohamad Supardi Md Noor; Ex P Public Finance Bhd [2004] 4 CLJ 646 — Contested bankruptcy concerning whether a hire-purchase vehicle constitutes security.
• Jupiter Securities Sdn Bhd v. Mohd Fauzi Awg Ali [2001] — Secured judgment for the plaintiff in a claim for contra losses from share transactions.

Additional representative matters (from the original record)

• EPF v. Japanese company — On whether commission is “income” subject to EPF contributions; client succeeded at both Lower Court and High Court.
• Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) — Breach of contract (claim RM5.0 million); matter settled after several days of trial.
• Listing-exercise dispute — Suit and injunction; resolved at the hearing of injunction applications (Shah Alam High Court).
• Mareva & Anton Piller applications — In a dispute involving a lucrative Johor Bahru law firm.
• Anton Piller Order — Against a private company to restrain further infringement of automobile copyright owned by a public-listed company.

Summary

With over two decades of practice, Ahmad Edham has combined strategic vision with rigorous execution—spanning complex banking & finance (conventional and Islamic), major corporate transactions and due diligence, pioneering urban-redevelopment work, and landmark litigation. His strategic vision, legal acumen, and pioneering spirit continue to shape both the Malaysian legal landscape and the international arena.