The firm undertakes all forms of civil and commercial work, both contentious and non-contentious, and regularly represents its clients in civil courts and before local and international arbitral tribunals.

Its particular strengths are advice on and implementation of

  • Admiralty/Maritime
  • Aviation
  • Arbitrations
  • Banking/Finance
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Constitutional Laws
  • Conveyancing
  • Corporate Laws
  • Custom Laws
  • Energy
  • Engineering Contracts
  • Environment Estates, Trusts and Probate
  • Government Contracts
  • Income Tax/Excise, Sales Tax and Customs
  • Industrial & Labour Laws
  • Insurance
  • International Investments
  • Law of Damages
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Sale of Goods
  • Securities
  • Shipping Laws
  • Intellectual Property/Trademarks & Patents
  • Civil Claims of all kinds including litigation

THE PRACTICE

Admiralty/Maritime

The Firm has a number of lawyers, who specialize in Shipping laws and has been advising most of the foreign and local shipping lines operating in Pakistan including P&O Nedlloyd and American Presidents Lines.

The Firm represents and advises protection and indemnity clubs, including the Swedish Club, West of England, North of England, UK Mutual Steamship Assurance Limited, American P&I Club and UK P&I Club etc., and banks and courier companies in all aspects of maritime law and practice, including ship financing and environmental pollution claims. The firm has recently been engaged in respect of an action in admiralty jurisdiction for security under arbitration proceedings under Lloyd's standard form of salvage LOF 1995. he firm has protected the interests of the owners and the P&I Club in a high profile and much publicized case of oil spillage off the coast of Karachi against the Port authorities.
Asset Finance/Securitisation

The Firm has represented and advised several of its clients on Asset Financing and securitisation, including cooperation and coordination with international law firms in matters of credit facilities, generally and under the Islamic banking system.

Arbitration

The Firm has acted as counsel for and on behalf of various multinational and domestic companies in large number of domestic as well as international arbitration through International Court of Arbitration under the ICC Rules. The Firm also assists and coordinates litigation with local advocates to develop strategy, evaluate facts and formulate legal positions and acts for clients in the enforcement of awards and judgments.

Aviation

The Firm has the privilege of drafting the Carriage By Air Act 1966 under the instructions of the Government of Pakistan. It has been advising large number of air lines, including KLM, British Airways, Gulf Air and Thai Airways, Emirates Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, and has attended a number of claims for loss of baggage and claims from legal heirs of passengers who lost their lives on account of air crashes. The Firm has represented BNP Paribas in hire-purchase transaction of three Airbus Aircraft by Pakistan International Airlines and has been advising Airbus Industries SA on leasing of four A310-324 aircraft to PIA and, generally, on the laws on aircraft financing in Pakistan. The firm also advised SAAB Aircraft Leasing in its intended operations in Pakistan.


Banking & Finance

The Firm has represented and advised large number of banks, foreign as well as local, including Citibank, Bank of America, Standard Chartered Bank, Grindlays Bank, Soneri Bank, Emirates Bank International, UBS AG, Credit Suisse, National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited in matters such as credit facilities, syndication and works-out and in regulatory matters, and has also conducted large number of recovery cases for and on behalf of banks.


Civil Claims of All Kinds, including Damages

A large number of civil claims including liquidation, mergers, and a variety of corporate work and civil litigation in these and other matters is being handled on a regular basis by the Firm.

Commercial Law

The Firm has advised several multinational and local companies on matters relating to the sale of goods with its attendant legal complexities and has also conducted large number of cases for and on behalf of companies/corporations. Some of the main clients who are routinely advised by the firm in this area include Khlaeej Times, Kraft Foods, Sony Inc., Reckitt Benckiser, Johnson & Johnson, Gillette, Inc., Phillip Morris and General Tyre etc.
Constitutional Law

The Firm has advised and conducted large number of matters/cases under the Constitutional Law for and on behalf of various companies/corporations in the High Courts and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Construction/Engineering Contracts

The Firm has advised and represented large number of multinational and local engineering contractors in connection with contracts with the Government of Pakistan. Some of those are Mangla Dam Project, where the Firm has advised Mangla Dam Contractors with the managing partners being Guay F. Atkinson, the construction of link canal in Punjab, Kaisar Engineers and Canal Contractors, both American construction companies, and ED Zublin, a German construction company involved in the construction of Marala Barrage. Besides these, the Firm has also advised several multinational contractors during the construction of Tarbela Dam, which includes Cementation, a British construction company of Trafulgar House and Hydro Montaza, a Yugoslavian construction company. The Firm has also advised Daewoo Corporation, a South Korean company, responsible for the construction of Lahore-Islamabad Motorway Project. In addition to this, the Firm is also advising the Al-Ghurair Group (a prominent Dubai based Group of Companies), on the construction of container services at Port Qasim on the Sind Coast.

Conveyancing

The Firm specializes in Conveyancing and has drafted large number of commercial contracts, construction contracts, agreements, joint-ventures, manufacturing license agreements, lease agreements, lease-deeds, franchise agreements, trademark users' agreements, sale/purchase agreements, etc.

Corporate Law/Corporate Restructuring/Insolvency

The Firm has been responsible for incorporation of large number of multinational companies/corporations including Cisco Systems, Inc. and ACE Insurance, since the establishment of Pakistan and has also advised those companies/corporations in day to day corporate/secretarial matters. The Firm advises its clients on securities work, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and leveraged buyouts, asset-based and lease financing and transactions involving commodities, futures and other derivatives. The Firm has vast experience in venture capital and private equity transactions, including representation of domestic and off-shore investment funds and advisers. The Firm acts for clients on a broad variety of matters in respect of their inward and outward direct investment and joint ventures and on-going general corporate, financial and commercial needs.

Employment Law

The Firm has specialized department with number of lawyers who specialize in the Industrial and Labour Laws and have advised most of the multinational and local companies/corporations and also conducted cases for and on behalf of employer and has represented its clients in various industrial/labour disputes between employer and employees. Some of the firm's leading clients include Glaxo Smithkleine, Novartis, Abbot Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson, British Airways and Deutsche Bank AG.

Energy & Natural Resources

A large number of energy/power projects are being dealt with by the Firm. Specifically the construction, operation and leasing rights of LPG as well as all transmission/distribution and gas sale/purchase agreements for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, a government-controlled company, regulating supply of gas in the company.

The Firm has also advised on the Fauji Kabirwala Electricity Generating Project, the Hub Power Project as well as the privitsation of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation. Currently, SHV Energy N.V. involved in the transmission, production, distribution of LPG is being represented/advised by the Firm. The firm is also advising the foreign lenders on the AES Lalpir and AES PakGen projects in Pakistan and also advised Caltex Pakistan, a Chevron Texaco Company, Saudi Aramco, and Shell Pakistan.
Environment

Much research has been done by the members of the Lahore Office in the preparation of petitions for the High Court concerning air and noise pollution of the environment.


Foreign Direct Investment

The Firm has been involved in a number of foreign investments in Pakistan, both in the public and private sectors. Recently, the Firm prepared legal documentation pertaining to a joint venture between SHV Calor Asia B.V. and a local private company Lifeline (Private) Limited, CCFriesland/Cooperative Company, a Dutch company, involving investment worth millions of U.S. Dollars. The firm has also been advising the Export and Credit Guarantee Department, UK, International Finance Corporation, Svenska, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi and the OPEC Fund.

Government Business/Regulatory

All current Service Rules and Rules regulating various matters for the Pakistan Television Corporation Limited and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited were formulated by the Firm under instructions of the Government of Pakistan. A legal opinion was sought upon the proposed draft of the Natural Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance, which was formulated by the Firm.

Infrastructure Development

The Firm has acted as counsel for and on behalf of various international and local companies in a large number of domestic as well as international infrastructure and project finance ventures. The Firm assists with the preparation of documentation, negotiation between the parties, and works with the clients to evaluate and compile the facts and legal position of the said client.

Insurance

The Firm has advised most of the multinational Insurance companies in Pakistan, which include commercial insurance companies, such as the AXA Group, Norwich, Commercial Union, Royal Exchange, Royal Insurance, American Life, ACE Insurance and several others and have also conducted cases for and on their behalf with respect to corporate and regulatory issues facing insurers, brokers and agents, including problem investments, permitted insurance activities, director and officer liability and insurance and reporting requirements. The Firm also acts on behalf of its clients with respect to insurance coverage disputes. The Firm represented Royal Exchange Assurance (REA) in the matter of transfer of REA to Royal Sun Alliance and conversion of the branch office of ACE Insurance Limited into a public limited company.

Intellectual Property Rights

The Firm has a department specializing in trademark and patent laws, which advises on patents, trademarks, copyrights, know-how and other intellectual property matters, including those arising in the course of general and transactional work. The Firm also advises on information and technology transfers and prepares and registers trade marks and patents in Pakistan and negotiates and drafts license agreements. It is the oldest firm of trade mark practitioners in Pakistan. Amongst others, the firm also represents Trademark Owners Association, Wal-Mart, Inc.

Medical Malpractices

The firm has acted in case of medical negligence and has been instructed by Medical Defence Union, London, and defend its doctors. The Firm stands as Legal Advisors to the United Christian Hospital and besides dealing with cases relating to medical malpractice has also dealt with various union and other staff/administrative members of the Hospital.

Mergers & Acquisitions

The Firm has conducted mergers of various multinational organizations and the bifurcation of Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited into Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited and Rafhan Best Foods Limited. It acted for Smith & Nephew plc and Beirsdorf AG in a global joint venture transaction. The firm also advised on the acquisition of Bank of America buy Union Bank and on the acquisition of USP by eCommerce Gateway, Singapore.

Non-Profit Organizations

The Firm has Salvation Army, Dar-ul-Hikmat Trust, the Bible & Watch Tower Society and Jehovah's Witnesses and YWCA etc. as its clients and has advised them from time to time on legal matters.


Privatization

The Firm has conducted the whole matters relating to privatization of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation Limited. It also represented and advised one of the bidders on the privatisation of Pakistan's largest bank, Habib Bank Limited.


Real Estate

The Firm has also been involved in acquisition of commercial properties and real estate by multinational corporations and foreign investors as well as Embassies.

Tax Law

The Firm has substantial experience and advises it clients in matters relating to taxes, such as income tax, sales tax and also duties such as customs duty, excise duty imposed by the Government from time to time on foreign as well as local companies.

The Firm has advised and conducted large number of cases for and on behalf of companies/corporations in connection with taxes and duties levied by the Government of Pakistan on income, services and manufactured items at the factories and imported goods.

Telecommunications & Media

The Firm has extensively advised on the laws relating to telecommunications, satellite communications and broadcasting, Information Technology, media and television laws, etc. It counts amongst its clients Home Box Office (HBO), London Telecommunication Exchange, MCI World and Cisco Systems, Inc.

Trusts & Probates

The Firm has a variety of private clients, for whom it has drafted wills, obtained probate and dealt with the administration of the estates. Besides this, the Firm has also drafted a large number of trust instruments for various non-profit organizations.

Regional Coordination

The Firm coordinates work involving multiple jurisdictions in the Region. The Firm recommends, briefs and supervises local counsel in relevant jurisdiction as necessary for the conduct of the matter. The Firm has developed extensive personal and professional associations with the most qualified lawyers throughout the world and often works with these lawyers on a closely coordinated and efficient basis.

AREAS OF EMPHASIS AND GROWTH

The Firm undertakes all forms of Civil, Commercial and Corporate work both contentious and Non-Contentious, including foreign investment and joint ventures, Corporate Law including mergers, takeovers, security and exchange, exchange control, transfer of technology, public flotations, insurance, local and international arbitration, Constitutional matters, banking and finance, admiralty and shipping, aviation, local and international building and engineering contracts including BOT projects, conveyancing, trade marks and patents, industrial relations. Its particular strengths are advice on and implementation of Foreign Investment Proposals, Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures formation, Corporate Restructuring, Corporate Law, Commercial Contracts, Building and Engineering Contracts, admiralty and shipping intellectual property. Petroleum Laws, Banking and Finance, Aviation, Industrial Relations, Leasing commercial landing and other Bank relation transactions, Technology Licensing and General Contract Negotiations. The firm regularly represents its clients in all civil courts before the Monopoly Control Authority and before local and international arbitral tribunals.

The Firm embraces practice in all corporate and commercial legal fields, takes its clients problems, irrespective of their nature and size, as its own. The Firm's approach is always to provide speedy and efficient service to its clients and to seek solution to problems on practical viable basis. The partners of the Firm are always accessible and involved in the matters entrusted to the Firm. The Firm's policy is simple; it provides legal service that represents value to its clients. The whole structure of the Firm is geared towards providing quality of legal services to meet the needs of each client. Fast growth of international trade and business transactions has prompted lawyers to cross national borders and establish themselves internationally. Our Firm has established close relations with most of the largest international law firms in U.S.A., U.K., Europe, the Far East and South-East Asia.

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