| ARBITRATION
Our team of lawyers specializes in handling arbitration cases. Our arbitration group is there to serve the interests of our clients. We also provide legal assistance to enforce arbitral awards.
The major cases already handled or currently being handled are:
- Christopher Associates of Denmark v. Lahore Development Authority – The arbitration proceedings were held in Geneva.
- WAK Orient Power & Light Limited v. Westinghouse International Service.
- Dallah Real Estate and Tourism Holding Company of Saudi Arabia v. Ministry of Religious Affairs of Government of Pakistan (arbitration proceedings are held at Paris, under the auspices of the International Court of Arbitration).
- EcoWest International Private Limited v. Lucky Cement Limited – the proceedings are held at Lahore and Islamabad.
- Ali Power Engineering System vs City School (pvt.) Ltd. The proceedings held at Lahore.
- Marathon Construction vs OGDCL.
- Perks Engineering vs Federation of Pakistan
Arbitration is often used together with (or after the failure of) other methods of dispute resolution including mediation, adjudication, expert determination and dispute adjudication boards. We have broad experience of the use of these techniques. Such approaches can provide very good opportunities to resolve or limit disputes at an early stage.
POWER GENERATION AND ENERGY LAWS
Our Firm also renders assistance in handling legal issues with expertise in the power sector. Our team of lawyers has in-depth experience of Implementation Agreements, Power Purchase Agreements, Fuel Supply Agreements, Gas Supply Agreements, Water Use Agreements and other relevant documents pertinent to private power project implementation. The Firm further specializes in preparation of proposals for setting-up new power projects including Pre-Qualification Document and Statements of Qualifications.
We have provided legal advice on Letters of Interest, Letters of Support, Implementation Agreements (IAs), Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs), and Water Use Agreements (WUAs). We have also provided legal opinions and support to various government and private organizations
BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
The Firm handles offerings of debt, equity and securities, letters of credit and other credit enhancement modes. We advise on regulatory and legislative matters, which include capital adequacy, merger and acquisition proposals, and functioning of various financial institutions, such as Leasing Companies, Modarabas, Banks and others. We regularly advise our clients on laws, rules and regulations applicable to financial institutions. The Firm also specializes in advising foreign investors on the safe custody of assets and transactions.
The principal areas in which we work are:-
- Loans and other credit facilities: representing financial institutions and borrowers in all types of loan and other credit facilities, ranging from syndicated loans to general banking arrangements, often involving multi-jurisdictional collateral;
- Project finance: we have experience of transactions involving power stations, telecommunication projects, construction of roads and bridges, ports, industrial plants, transportation systems and infrastructure, and mining projects;
- Capital markets: we advise arrangers, issuers and trustees on issues of bonds, notes, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and other capital market instruments; and advise on listing requirements for the major international exchanges;
- All types of derivative transactions and treasury products, including financial, commodity and equity based derivatives, and foreign exchange and securities lending transactions, as well as the establishment of dealing operations;
- We advise on securitization, trade finance, export credits and rescheduling and restructuring;
- Advising custodians and institutional investors on issues relating to safe investments, safe custody of assets, clearance and settlement of trades.
- Banking regulatory advice: this includes advice on regulatory developments, as well as advice on investment regulations.
CORPORATE AFFAIRS
The Firm handles all kinds of corporate affairs including corporate finance and securities, on behalf of both issuers and underwriters in public and private equity, and debt offerings involving a wide variety of securities. We advise multi-national companies, financial institutions and foreign investors on corporate transactions. We assist our clients in takeovers tenders, revising equity and debt capital and act on behalf of underwriters and issuers.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Our Firm renders specialized assistance in information on transfer of technology and related intellectual property issues and disputes, including those relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and litigation related thereto for a wide range of companies. We also negotiate licensing deals and acquisitions, and provide ongoing counseling and intellectual property reviews.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND WTO LAWS
The Firm has legal expertise in the field of international trade law including dispute settlement under the World Trade Organization’s Agreements and ministerial understandings on Goods, Services, Intellectual Property, Agriculture and Settlement of Disputes, with particular reference to agreements on anti-dumping norms subsidies, countervailing duties and safeguards. The Firm has highly qualified lawyers of international repute with experience in WTO Agreements, and it offers its services to Governments and private sector companies. One of our associates has vast experience of advising various Governments including the Governments of U.S.A., China, European Union, Malaysia and a number of other countries. He has also been on WTO panels for the resolution of disputes, and has been a consultant to WTO.
PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, OIL AND GAS LAWS
The Firm possesses sound legal expertise in the field of Petroleum Exploration, Exploitation, and Production Laws and Gas Laws. The Firm is well acquainted with the government regulatory and statutory bodies and legal norms governing this sector. We are advising a number of national and multi national companies working in these fields.
IT/TELECOMMUNICATION LAWS
Our IT/ Telecommunication group offers a broad spectrum of Legal issues relating to intellectual property, information technology, international telecommunication laws, telecommunication contracts, telecommunication laws, telecommunication licensing, telecommunication litigation, telecommunications regulation and satellite communication. Our Firm is presently advising the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in regulatory matters and, also its clients, in drafting international contracts for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of projects.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
The Firm has been handling legal issues relating to Environmental Laws, Maritime Laws, Marine Pollution and Trade & Environment. Studies have also been conducted by the Firm on the following environmental issues:
Vessel-source Pollution
- International Financing of environmental protection in developing states
- Marine Pollution
The Firm also handles litigation on environmental issues.
DISTRIBUTORSHIP AND AGENCY
We render assistance to our clients in planning and negotiating licensing and distribution agreements, provide counseling on franchise, tax and export control matters and handle distribution disputes in courts.
EMPLOYMENT MATTERS
The Firm also renders advice to client companies on issues concerning employment matters, including suspension, dismissal, benefits, compensation, retirements, golden handshakes and employment agreements. We represent a number of corporate employers and their officers in a variety of disputes with their employees who have been discharged or likely to be discharged. In addition to administrative proceedings and court actions, the Firm advises on such issues as discrimination and harassment etc.
INSURANCE
The Firm possesses expertise in all aspects of the law of insurance and re-insurance, including general corporate and international insurance matters, regulatory and government affairs in all Pakistani jurisdictions, mergers and acquisitions, coverage advice and litigation, complex claims litigation and reinsurance arbitrations.
CUSTOMS AND TAXATION
Our Firm also deals with litigation matters concerning Customs and Taxation for a variety of corporate clients, and advises them in these fields.
JOINT VENTURES
We render advice to our clients in designing and negotiating joint ventures. We advise them on tax matters and other legal implications of joint operations. We have rendered assistance in setting up a number of joint ventures in Pakistan.
AGENCY ADVOCACY
We have been effectively representing individual companies and group of companies before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Production and Ministry of Commerce, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Board of Investment and other governmental bodies in order to protect their legal rights and to promote their business interests.
PENAL LAWS / CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The Firm has the expertise to handle all kinds of criminal litigation, including advocacy and representation in Courts. We also deal with initiation of criminal proceedings, private complaints, bail matters, trials, criminal investigation and harassment petitions. We also provide advisory services in respect of all the matters relating to penal and criminal justice, emigration, prevention of money laundering and human trafficking, etc.
LITIGATION
Our Firm regularly handles disputes and issues involving:
Arbitration and alternative disputes resolution
- Banking
- Constitutional Law
- Construction
- Employment matters
- Environmental laws
- Fraud and Fraudulent Conveyances
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property: copyrights, patents, trademarks, know- how and licensing
- Internal investigations
- Satellite & Telecommunication
- Taxes
- International Trade Law and World Trade Organization Agreements
- Transnational disputes and proceedings.
TRUSTS AND ESTATES
The Firm makes its expertise available to closely held business entities and individuals in their future planning, both for their families and their companies. In addition to the legal assistance on problems of privately held companies, we take part in planning, administration, negotiation and arranging sale of real estate. We advise foreign individuals and companies on investments in Pakistan.
PRIVATIZATION
Our Firm has rendered legal assistance to the Privatization Commission in drafting national legislation on privatization and rules and regulations of the Commission. Our Firm has also assisted a number of private bidders in the preparation of bids and their pursuit.
PROJECT ADVICE
The Firm advises on all aspects of commercial and industrial projects covering construction and engineering aspects, including structuring of projects, documentation, contracts and settlement of disputes. |
