Breaking Barriers: How One Woman Turned Her Dream of Law into a Life of Impact
Growing up in a traditional Muslim household, becoming a lawyer felt almost impossible. “Where I came from, women were expected to be quiet, to serve, not to speak up,” Shabna Hashim says. “So even daring to dream about law felt like a rebellion.”
But that dream was sparked early, in the most unexpected way: at a casual quiz night at home, my mom asked who the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India was. I didn’t know the answer, but when I found out it was Justice Fathima Beevi, something clicked. She came from a background like mine. If she could do it, maybe so could I.”
There was no internet back then, no easy way to find role models. Instead, she spent hours at the local library, poring over books and old magazines, often thanks to her father, who quietly supported her curiosity with a steady supply of reading material. “Reader’s Digest, old newspaper clippings, anything he could find—he made sure we had access to ideas.”
Getting into law school was its own victory. “I never went on school trips, never stayed out late. I was the nerdy 9-to-4 student,” she laughs. “But when I finally got into law, it wasn’t just an academic achievement. It felt revolutionary. It challenged everything I was told growing up.”
Her early career meant navigating a legal world still dominated by men. “It wasn’t easy. You had to be twice as prepared just to be heard. But I was lucky. I found mentors who believed in me.”
Over the years, her legal career spans across industries and key markets in MENA, APAC and the US. She played a pivotal role in shaping large-scale mixed-use developments from Mall of the Emirates luxury expansion to iconic Palm Jumeirah and Duba World Islands. These were complex high-stake negotiations with key luxury brands, global F&B giants, entertainment IP powerhouses like Ski Dubai – Snow Penguins – “That was a wild one,” she says. “It involved export laws, animal welfare, quarantine protocols—you name it. But I loved that it had a real-world impact. It was alive.”
Beyond real estate and entertainment, she has led tech implementation, business process reengineering and corporate restructuring with a focus on creating meaningful sustainable impact.
A deeply personal moment also helped shape her path. “My dad called me one day, and I was rushing to a meeting. I told him I’d call back. I never got that chance.” That loss, she says, brought her closer to the human side of law. It led her to explore health law and projects that blend public welfare with legal innovation.
As a former ACC Board member, she has also contributed to shaping industry standards and practices. Additionally, she mentors students from underserved backgrounds, helping to create opportunities for those who need it most. She brings a rare, global perspective to the table. “Working in different regions taught me that there’s no one-size-fits-all. You have to understand local nuances and stay anchored in universal values like fairness, dignity, and impact.”
A proud alumna of Georgetown Law and UC Berkeley, she reflects the values instilled by both institutions: integrity, service and justice. “Law is just the means – justice is the end”- its about people and making their lives better.
