Admiralty & Shipping
The Firm is undertaking the overwhelming share of admiralty and shipping litigation being conducted in Pakistan, confirming the Firm’s place as a leader in this area of law. The Firm is often acknowledged as the first choice for most shipping companies and agents operating in Pakistan. Among the clients are North of England P&I Club, West of England P&I Club, the UK P&I Club, Britannia Steamship Insurance Association Limited, UK Mutual Steamship Assurance Association (Bermuda) Limited, Japan P&I Club, the American P&I Club, the American President Lines, the Swedish P&I Club, Glory Ship Management Pte Ltd, Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd, Multitrading Greece, Pacific International Lined (Pte) Limited, Madura Ships Pte Limited, Maersk Logistics Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, Tokyo Marine Co Limited, Malaysia International Shipping Corporation, Florida Navigation Inc., Spring leaf Maritime Pte Limited, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Delta Shipping (Pvt.) Limited, Pak Arab Container Terminal & Services (Pvt.) Limited, Gulf Dream Cruise (Pvt.) Limited, James Finlay plc and Gerry’s Dnata (Pvt.) limited.
The Firm advised the Government of Pakistan on a major concession agreement in respect of the first deep-sea port at Gwadar. The project involves construction, operation and maintenance of a Port facility at Gwadar with private sector participation on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. We acted for Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), which has been established for making arrangements for the planning, construction, operation, management and maintenance of the Gwadar Port and associated facilities and industries under the provisions of the Gwadar Port Authority Ordinance 2002. Our work entailed advising extensively on the tender process and evaluation of the bids, issuance of Letter of Intent to the shortlisted bidder, carrying out extensive negotiations with the successful bidder, preparing and finalising a 40-year Concession Agreement, the first of its type in Pakistan, and eventually grant of the Concession to Port Singapore Authority. The agreement covers a container terminal, a multi-purpose terminal, a free zone and miscellaneous marine services.
The Firm recently acted for Svitzer Middle East Limited, a Wijsmuller company, on a project pertaining to outsourcing of marine services by the biggest port in Pakistan, Karachi Port Trust. We helped Svitzer with the tender process and, subsequently, the negotiation and finalization of agreement with the Port.
In addition, the Firm advised Gulf Dream Cruise (Pvt.) Limited, who launched the first ever luxury cruise service in Pakistan.
Of the instructing solicitors, the Firm is privileged to be instructed by some of the top names in the admiralty and shipping sector, including Holman Fenwick Willan, Richards Butler, and Ince & Co etc.
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.
Aviation
Surridge & Beecheno continues to represent major aircraft manufacturers and lessors, including Airbus Industrie GIE, GE Aviation, International Lease Finance Corporation, AerCap BV, IAI XI, Inc., BAE Systems, Abacus International Pte Ltd. and Hamilton Sundstrand etc. The Firm has the privilege of drafting the Carriage by Air Act 1966 under the instructions of the Government of Pakistan. We are regularly instructed by foreign firms of solicitors including Barlow, Lyde Gilbert, Beaumont & Son, Gates & Partners and Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP etc., and have 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. Aircraft financing and acquisition is a particular specialisation at the Firm.
The Firm’s virtual monopoly over aviation law matters ensures it a fair share of aviation law related litigation in various courts in Pakistan. Some of the clients being represented by the Firm in the courts currently include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, British Airways, Pakistan International Airlines, Thai Airways and Kenya Airways. The Firm represented BNP Paribas in hire-purchase transaction of three Airbus Aircraft by Pakistan International Airlines and has advised 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, besides advising International Lease Financing Corp, IAI XI, Inc., Aercap BV, Finova Capital, Pembroke Capital Limited and GE Aviation on aircraft leases and other ancillary matters and BAe System on miscellaneous regulatory issues.
The Firm also writes chapters on Pakistan aviation law for international publications such as the Aircraft Liens (Sweet & Maxwell) and Aircraft Finance (Sweet & Maxwell),
Banking & Finance
The Firm has been representing and advising large number of banks, foreign as well as local, including the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, UFJ Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of New York, the State Street Bank, Lloyds Bank, UK, the Citibank, Fidelity Funds, JP Morgan Chase & Co, and Bank Julius Baer & Co Ltd., Switzerland etc. on their various operations in Pakistan, such as financing arrangements in respect of power projects, investment portfolios and custody of securities on behalf of their foreign clients and other development related projects
The Firm is conducting a legal due diligence of a Microfinance Bank in Pakistan on behalf of Soros Economic Fund. The other matters on which the Firm advised the aforementioned banks and financial institutions range from investments in Pakistan to acquisition of securities, acting as custodian of Pakistani listed securities, setting up of non-banking financial institutions and taking of securities against debts etc. The Firm is also representing some of these clients in various courts of Pakistan.
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 Khaleej 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. Surridge & Beecheno advised the World Bank in the Lahore Waste-to-Energy Project in association with McKenna & Co., UK. The project involved construction, commissioning, financing, lease, operation (including generation of electricity and disposal of residue) and maintenance of the facility through a company to be established by consortium of bidders, to which the concession was to be awarded through concession agreement relating to the financing, construction, lease and operation of the facility and further a sanitary landfill with gas recovery and power generation. The work handled by the Firm included opinion, documentation, meetings with officials, local taxation, preparation of agreements/contracts relating to provision of service, including the concession agreement, advise on legal and regulatory questions relating to, amongst other matters, waste disposal, power generation, civil engineering and environmental issues
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 Sindh Coast. The Firm has defended the interests of the Group at the highest judicial level, i.e., the Supreme Court of Pakistan and is currently representing the group in arbitration proceedings.
The details on Gwadar Port Project appear above.
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 & Commercial / Corporate Restructuring
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.
The Firm has an impressive corporate and commercial clientele, which is second to none. Some of the clients we advised during the last year include Cisco Systems Inc., Jones Lang Lasalle, American Business Council, Johnson & Johnson Pakistan Ltd., Kraft Foods, Shell Inc., Nokia, Inc., Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chevron Corporation, Corn Products USA, Advanced Micro Devices, Siemens Pakistan Engineering Co. Ltd., BOC Pakistan Limited, Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Television Corporation, Pakistan International Airlines, the AIG Insurance Group, Astra Pharmaceuticals, Stoller International, Sui Northern Gas, Bassi Terzi, Berger Paints, the Sindh Club, Karachi Boat Club, Golf & Country Club, Gillette Pakistan Ltd., Shell Gas LPG (Pakistan) Limited, Kodak Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Proctor & Gamble Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, Merck Sharp Dohme Pakistan Limited, Blackwood Hodge Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, the Holiday Inn Hotels, Abbott Laboratories, Phillip Morris, Mitsubishi Corp., China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation Limited, the Hamdard Foundation, Accenture, Auchan International, Nexsource International, L.L.C., Experian, Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, Telebrands, Reuters, Otis Elevator, IJM Construction and Tyco Fire & Security Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.
Among the law firms who instructed us over the last twelve months are Burges Salmon, Lovells, Baker & McKenzie, Addleshaw Goddard, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, Linklaters, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, Deacons, George Ide Phillips, Gevers, Ince & Co, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Lorenz, Lawrence Johnson, Michelmores, Marsh, Boatner & Hamad P.C., and Thompson Hine LLP etc.
Pharmaceuticals
During the last year, the Firm advised Abbott Laboratories Pakistan Ltd. and Astra Pharmaceuticals Pakistan (Private) Ltd, a subsidiary of Astra Zeneca Group of Companies U.K., on various property and commercial issues. It also acts for BSN Medical Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., a subsidiary of the joint venture of Smith & Nephew plc and Beirsdorf AG, and for Merck Sharp & Dohme. The Firm further advised entities such as Syngenta Pakistan Ltd, Novartis Pharma Pakistan Ltd., Chemdyes Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited (formerly Bayer) Pfizer Laboratories, Glaxosmithklein Pakistan Limited and Ciba Geigy Pakistan Limited etc. on various corporate and labour matters.
Surridge & Beecheno represented and provided legal services for closure of liaison office of Allergan Pharmaceuticals Inc. USA in Pakistan. The closure also involved termination of various distributorship agreements the company had with local distributors. We handled all these matters and after prolonged negotiations with the distributors, all those agreements were terminated successfully and the liaison office was closed smoothly. The closure of the liaison office was followed by the winding up proceedings of Allergan Pakistan (Pvt) Limited, a subsidiary company, under Members Voluntary winding up. We drafted various termination letters for the staff and finalized all negotiations.
The Firm is currently advising on the marketing/distribution of certain products of Stoller Enterprises, Inc. Houston, Texas and registration issues with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Pakistan.
We have also advised Tyco Healthcare Pte Limited recently on setting up of its business in Pakistan through a Liaison Office, prepared the necessary documentation and obtained Certificate of Filing from SECP, advised on post registration requirements as required under the Companies law, prepared office lease and advised on its stamping and registration.
We are presently advising Johnson & Johnson Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited on its purchase of certain of Pfizer’s assets in Pakistan and the ancillary registration issues. The company is also advised by us routinely on miscellaneous registration and licensing of drug matters.
The firm recently advised American Heart Association/Baker & McKenzie in relation to a Training agreement with the Aga Khan University Hospital, Clinical Indemnity Scheme, Ireland, in a medical malpractice case and the Concept Foundation/Lorenz on the Registration of new drug under the laws of Pakistan.
Dispute Resolution and ADR
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.
The Firm has successfully enforced numerous arbitration awards, local as well as foreign, on behalf of its clients, some of which include Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, Indemnis Marine (Pvt) Limited Thor Skipper Shipping Company Limited, J&I Shipping Company Limited, Orion Shipping & Trading Limited and Highstart Compania Naviera S.A. etc. We are currently conducting arbitration proceedings on behalf of Pak Arab Container Terminal & Services (Pvt) Ltd., a subsidiary of Al-Ghurair Group of Companies, UAE, in a matter involving Port Qasim Authority.
The Firm has also acted for its clients in litigation where the courts restrained the parties from continuing with arbitration and also in litigation where the parties were ordered to proceed first with arbitration. Among the other clients advised by the Firm on various arbitration related matters are Ince & Co, Pakistan Television Corporation, Deutshce Bank, Trench & Associates, UAE, Johnson & Johnson etc.
Franchising
The Firm has advised leading international names such as Nike Inc., Holiday Inn, Six Continents Hotel, Gloria Jean Coffee and Sheraton Hotel etc.
Employment / Labour Law
The Firm has a 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. The Firm also conducts cases for and on behalf of employers and has represented its clients in various industrial/labour disputes between employer and employees. Some of the firm’s leading clients include Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Glaxo Smithkleine, Novartis, Abbot Laboratories, Gerry’s Dnata, Indus Motors Pakistan Ltd., OMV, British Airways & Deutsche Bank AG etc.
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.
Currently, SHV Energy N.V. involved in the transmission, production, distribution of LPG is being advised by the Firm. Landi Renzo, a world leader in LPG kit manufacturing, is also being advised by the Firm on the subsidiary incorporated in Pakistan and the regulatory issues concerning its operations in Pakistan.
The Firm acts for major energy sector companies such as Caltex Pakistan, Saudi Aramco, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Chevron Texaco and Shell Pakistan. In the past, the Firm has advised OPEC Fund on various agreements with the Government of Pakistan and the Export Credit Guarantees Department of Her Majesty’s Government on the loan made available to the Government of Pakistan for WAPDA on the Neelam Jhelum Hydroelectric Project.
The Firm has carried out legal/financial due diligence connected with proposed joint venture of Lifeline and SHV Energy and prepared the necessary documentation for the joint venture involving M/s SHV Holdings, N.V. a Dutch International LPG Company and is the Corporate Consultant for the subsequently formed SHV Energy Pakistan.
We advised on the Terminal Service Agreement between Pakistan LPG Terminal and Distribution Company (Pvt) Limited (TERMCO) with Engro Paktank Terminal Limited (EPTL). Our work involved preparation of documentation for the agreement for the import and marketing of LPG by TERMCO and/or its associated companies to be delivered to Port Qasim by ship and EPTL’s willingness to provide services for the receipt and storage of the same and to make it available for delivery to TERMCO.
The Firm advised Allen & Overy Japan in connection with the financing of the supply and construction of the mid-country refinery project involving a Pakistani company. Responsibilities included reviewing project documents, advising on commercial law matters, stamp duty, event of default, and enforceability of judgments. We also advised on the privatization of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation Limited.
Some of the leading energy projects being advised on by the Firm are the AES Lalpir, and AES Pakgen projects. The Firm advises the foreign lenders in relation to these projects. The Firm has also advised on the Fauji Kabirwala Electricity Generating Project and Habibullah Power Project.
Surridge and Beecheno acted on behalf of International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) who had provided a loan of US$19.5 million to Mari Gas to commence certain Oil and Gas exploration project. S&B under the terms of the Loan Agreement executed between IFC and Mari Gas reviewed the financing, corporate, organizational and authorization documents and issued our legal opinions from time to time particularly as regards creation of security and drafting revised Supplemental to the Security Sharing Agreement making necessary changes, provided opinions as regards creation of security.
Environment
Surridge & Beecheno have worked with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on their project of compiling reports on the statutory and customary laws pertaining to environment in Pakistan. We also advised CPC International Inc, USA on environmental laws and regulations (national, provincial and local) in Pakistan governing manufacturing operations particularly in connection with approaches to dispose of waste water at the Pernawan Plant, local permits required, discharge standards/chemical parameters, cleaning up of industrial contamination, enforcement of laws etc. The Firm is also the official reviser of the Pakistan Chapter of Sweet & Maxwell’s Environmental Laws in the Asia Pacific Region.
Foreign Direct Investment
The Firm has been involved in a number of foreign investments in Pakistan, both in the public and private sectors. 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 under the Pakistan Essential Service (Maintenance) Act 1952 and Rules 1962 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. The Firm regularly represents the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan and has drafted Rules for capital market regulation.
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 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.
A partner in the firm is a board member of American Life Insurance Company, a part of the world’s leading insurance group – the AIG Group, and routinely advises the company on various issues, ranging from claims to dealings with the regulators to launching of new products. We are also defending the company’s interests in courts of law.
Similar work is undertaken by the Firm for Shaheen Insurance Limited, Adamjee Insurance Limited and EFU Insurance from time to time.
Of the recent matters worked on by the Firm the notable ones include advising on and carrying out incorporation work in respect of the first microinsurance agency in Pakistan, First Microinsurance Agency Private Limited. Since incorporation, the Firm has advised the Pakistani subsidiary of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, on various regulatory and corporate matters, including joint venture with Acumen Fund. The Firm has also advised Marsh Insco on insurance brokerage requirements under Pakistan law and setting up of insurance business here and Baker & McKenzie Zurich on the legal restrictions on insurance within and outside Pakistan, besides advising Platinum Insurance Company and the American International Underwriters Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited.
Also among the Firm’s clients is the Insurance Association of Pakistan, who are regularly advised by the Firm on various procedural, regulatory and corporate matters under the Trade Organisations Ordinance and the Trade Organisations Rules, as well as on various other issues.
Intellectual Property
Surridge & Beecheno is the oldest firm of trademark practitioners in Pakistan. The Firm has a department specializing in trademark and patent laws, which advises on patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, 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.
During the last year, the Firm advised and represented Nike International, Inc. not only in filing fresh trademarks applications and renewals of existing marks but also in opposing certain deceptively similar trademarks applications filed by third parties. Similar work was carried out by the Firm for Kraft Foods Holding, Inc. (Maxwell House Coffee), Phillip Morris Products SA (Marlboro), Mitsubishi Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Pierre Fabre, Mitchells Fruit Farms (Pvt.) Limited, Astra Zaneca AB, Six Continents Hotel, Inc. (Holiday Inn), Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (Sheraton Hotels Group), Singapore Airlines, Abbott Laboratories, Astra Zenecca, Uster Technologies, Pakistan Television Corporation, General Electric and Habanos SA (Cuban Cigars) etc. Amongst its other clients are the Hallmark IP Limited (formerly, the Trademark Owners Association) and Wal-Mart, Inc. etc.
The Firm also acted as the trade marks attorneys for J. S. Staedler and Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH and Co and Pierre- Fabre.
IT / Telecommunications
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.
The Firm enjoys considerable work in the IT and Telecommunications sector. We advised the likes of Barlow Lyde Gilbert on shrink-wrap agreements for software, Experian/Addleshaw Goddard and Hewlett Packard/Baker & McKenzie Amsterdam NV on Data Protection / Consumer Credit laws, Science Corporation and Baker & McKenzie Hong Kong on the requirements under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganisation) Act, 1996 for Internet Access, Internet Managed Service, Global Remote Access Service, Global Virtual Private Routed Network, Client VPN Service, Business Extranet Service and Voice and Video Over IPs, Baker & McKenzie, California, on Siebel Alliance Program, Cisco Systems Inc. on its operational and legal requirements in Pakistan and dms, Inc. on its business operations in Pakistan.
The Firm helped Telebrands India set up a subsidiary in Pakistan by the name of Hotbrands (Pvt.) Limited and is advising the company on various corporate and regulatory aspects. We continue to advise Nexsource International LLC’s on restructuring of its business in Pakistan and other regulatory requirements and are acting for Reuters India Private Limited in a civil suit filed by the Karachi Stock Exchange.
Legislation
The Firm drafted the Carriage by Air Act 1966 and advised Pakistan International Airlines on the proposed new Carriage by Air Act. The Firm also advised on the proposed Carriage of Goods by Sea Act and has drafted the Bankers to an Issue Rules for the Securities & Exchange Commission Pakistan. In addition, the Firm has also represented Sui Northern Gas Private Limited in vetting Natural Gas Regulatory Authority Laws and Licensing/Tariff Rules etc.
Medical Malpractice
The Firm has acted in cases of medical negligence and has been instructed by Medical Defense Union, London, and defends 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 by Union Bank and of USP by eCommerce Gateway, Singapore. We represented Glaxo in their global merger with Smithklien Beecham.
Recently the firm has advised India’s largest business group on the acquisition of a Pakistani listed company operating in the chemical sector. We also advised Sanofi on the takeover of Novartis in as much as it related to operations in Pakistan.
Currently, we are advising on a possible takeover of a public listed company by a foreign business group. The deal has not been finalised yet and is therefore being kept confidential.
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.
Project Finance / Government Business
The Firm continues to advise International Finance Corporation in relation to AES Lal Pir, and AES Pakgen power projects, and also on the Habibullah Power Project. As mentioned above, the Firm recently acted for the Government of Pakistan in the Gwadar Port Project, one of the biggest concessions in the history of Pakistan, whereby the first deep-sea port in Pakistan has been leased to the Singapore Port Authority for a period of forty years. The concessionaire will be responsible for developing container and multi-purpose terminals, as well as a state of the art free zone, at the concession area, and will also be responsible for providing world-class marine services to the port users.
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.
The Firm regularly represents the Securities & Exchange Commission in various litigation matters pending in the courts. We have recently drafted the Bankers to the Issue Rules for the Commission.
Privatization
The Firm has advised on the privatization of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation Limited. Recently, it 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 its 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. Te 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.
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, brief and supervises local counsel in relevant jurisdiction as necessary for the conduct of the matter.
The firm has developed extensive personal and professional association with the most qualified lawyers throughout the world and often works with these lawyers on closely coordinated and efficient basis.