TMT in Pakistan

Akhund Forbes

Headquartered in Karachi, Akhund Forbes boasts a full-service TMT offering with expertise and in-depth knowledge of the fintech, gaming, and IT sectors. Well-versed in high-value and complex deals, the department regularly advises global businesses, as well as the burgeoning start-up sector, on Pakistan’s investment and regulatory landscape. The team is co-led by Rabel Akhund, a veteran of the industry, and Sahar Iqbal, a noted practitioner in the TMT field who specialises in complex transactions.

Practice head(s):

Rabel Akhund; Sahar Iqbal


Testimonials

‘Akhund Forbes is a very good firm with broad telecoms experience. I have found the firm both commercial and very practical in its advice. They are also very responsive and cost effective, plus a pleasure to work with.’

‘Rabel Akhund is excellent.’

‘In-depth knowledge of laws and statutes along with industry-specific knowledge.’

‘Akhund Forbes stands out for multiple reasons, namely their ability to understand the client’s specific needs, market dynamics, promptness in giving feedback, and legal opinion.’

Key clients

Edotco Group SDN Berhad


NBP Fund Management Limited


Baker & McKenzie LLP


Spotify


MCB Arif Habib Investments and Savings Limited


Edotco Pakistan (Private) Limited


Edotco Towers (Private) Limited


UBL Fund Managers Limited


Mastercard


Meta Platforms, Inc.


Vodafone Group


Kelly Drye & Warren LLP


Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton LLP


NdcTech (Private) Limited


Osborne Clarke


Graphene Ventures


Kleiner Perkins


Sequoia Capital


Qiwi Plc


Unifonic Inc.


Vezeeta.com


Perkins Coie LLP


Central Depository of Pakistan Limited


Simmons & Simmons


Timwetech


Stealth Startup


Encore Pay


PayCare


Qist Bazaar


Lyra Health


Dechert LLP


Skadden


Asia Impact Investment Fund II (Singapore) VCC


Slack


Mayson Hayes


KWM


Work highlights


  • Advising Meta Platforms Inc. on various telecommunication infrastructure related matters, providing complex regulatory advice related to undersea data and telecom cable landing rights and stations.
  • Advising Qist Bazaar, a leading Buy-Now-Pay-Later company, on Bank Alfalah’s equity investment and embedded financing.
     
  • Advising EncorePay on all aspects of their business, including their corporate structure, commercial contracts, joint venture arrangements, and investments.

Ali & Associates

A boutique law firm based in Karachi, Ali & Associates stands out for its all-encompassing IP service; the team is accomplished in mandates involving trademarks and copyright enforcement. Further to its IP expertise, the firm is bolstered by its in-depth knowledge of the telecoms, IT, and media sectors. The department is co-led by a strong group of senior practitioners, including senior partner Syed Auqil Ali Shah, a noted specialist in IP, media, and licensing, managing partner Karimullah Adeni, who brings over 40 years of experience to the practice, and Hanya Haroon, who has extensive experience in complex litigation in high levels of court.

Practice head(s):

Syed Auqil Ali Shah; Karimullah Adeni; Mohiuddin Adeni; Ali Kabir Shah; Fouzia Bilal; Shakeel Abid; Hanya Haroon


Testimonials

‘Ali & Associates is a highly professional IP law firm that handles work efficiently and professionally.’

‘Ali & Associates is client centric and they go above and beyond to provide IP legal services to clients. They have helped our clients solve trademark issues and their expertise is highly commendable. The diversity and collaborative nature of how issues are handled makes the firm very unique.’

‘They are detail oriented, professional, good natured, and careful.’

‘We wholeheartedly recommend Ali & Associates for legal needs. The firm has gained international recognition for its expertise in commercial, corporate, civil, labor, and banking laws, and their specialisation in IP, media, telecoms, and internet laws has earned them widespread acclaim.’

‘Ali & Associates has a proven track record of successfully protecting valuable IP assets for global companies, offering a comprehensive range of IP services. With a history dating back to 1972, they place a strong emphasis on building long-term client relationships and crafting innovative legal strategies.’

‘Their dedicated attorneys are seasoned and hardworking. Having worked closely with them on various projects, we can vouch for their professionalism and excellence. Ali & Associates, with offices in Karachi and Lahore, is our trusted legal partner across a diverse array of industries.’

‘We highly recommend Karimullah Adeni, whose expertise in IP protection and alternative dispute resolution is unparalleled, and he oversees all firm operations.’

‘Ali & Associates has an extremely effective group of people. The quality of their work is impressive, and they turn cases around in a timely manner.’

Key clients

The Walt Disney Company


Motion Pictures Association


Jumeriah International LLC


Hugo Boss AG


Procter & Gamble


WD 40 Company


Xiaomi Inc.


Huawei Company Limited


Societe des Products Nestle S.A.


Honda Motors


British Broadcasting Corporation


Netflix Inc.


Joyo Technology Pte. Ltd


Red Bull Gmbh Discovery Inc.


Lotte Corporation


Iffco


Reusch International


Chapter Four Corp.


Tommy Hilfiger Licensing LLC


Led Zeppelin LLC


Glanbia Performance Nutrition Limited


Camelot UK Bidco Limited


Olimp Laboratories Sp


Elite Gold Ltd


Western Digital


Synlab Internatinal GMBH


Evac+chair International Limited


Clarivate


Teqball Holdings S.A.R.L.


Channel V


Sonix Inc.


Dr. Willmar Schwabe Gmbh Haritamin Llc


Air China Limited


Honda Atlas Power Products Limited


Repeat, Inc.


Kleemann Hellas S.A.


Hunter Boot Ltd.


Velum Limited Fbk


Manufactuing Malaysia Sdn Bhd


Jyothi Labs Limited


Kuckreja & Co


The Toro Company


Parle Agro Private Limited


Yunus Brothers Group


Searles Valley Minerals Inc.


Ciklum Sa Hostinger


Baxter International Inc.


Nokia Corporation


Sony Pictures Entertainment


Lloyds Register


Emea H-d Usa Llc (Harley Davidson)


Global Export Marketing Co. Ltd.


J&B Medical Group


Commscope Inc.


Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Ltd.


Master Group Of Companies


Ismail Industries Ltd.


Jaffer Brothers Pvt. Ltd.


Forward Sports Pvt. Ltd


Getz Pharma Pvt. Ltd


Khaadi Smc Pvt. Ltd


Bykea Technologies Private Limited


Hallmark Cards, Incorporated


Brands For Less L.L.C


Car- Freshner Corporation Lt


Foods Overseas Ltd


Lifestyle Equities Cv. (Polo Club Beverly Hills)


Ostindo International Pvt. Ltd.


Oriental Food Industries Sdn. Bhd


Starbuzz Tobacco, Inc.


Tan Nhat Huong Co. Ltd


Fauji Cement Company Limited


Vuadra Limited Vitabiotics Limited


Kitz Corporation Indus Motor Company Ltd.


Coslab Pvt. Ltd.


Forest Stewardship Council, A.C.


Bioexcyte Pharma Pvt. Ltd.


Askari Bank Ltd.


Abc Hygiene Industries Pvt. Ltd


Silk Route Beauty Products Millac Foods Pvt. Ltd


Rica S.P.A Pt Megasurya Mas


Work highlights


  • Represented K&N’s Food Pvt. Ltd. before the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment on parasitic copying and deceptive market practices.
     
     
  • Assisted Motion Pictures Association with provided a detailed opinion on the feasibility and potential risks of its legal options against infringers for illegal live-streaming.
  • Assisted PROCTER & GAMBLE with conducting a customs enforcement action wherein labelled and unlabelled bottles of Head & Shoulders and Pantene Shampoos were imported into Pakistan.
     

Lex Legal Practice (Solicitors & Attorneys)

Lex Legal Practice (Solicitors & Attorneys) is highly commended for its expertise in the fintech industry. Catering to a diverse clientele in the IT sector, the firm regularly offers legal counsel to education technology companies, software and application developers, ride-hailing service providers, and game developers. Asad Salahuddin oversees the team and has played a leading role in the rollout of mobile banking and e-commerce platforms across the country.

Practice head(s):

Asad Salahuddin


Testimonials

‘Highly competent team that helps us with problem solving.’

‘Asad Salahuddin is hands on in terms of responding to our inquiries and coming up with solutions. The team works on strict timelines and are focused on results.’

‘Go out of their way to understand the changing regulations.’

‘High attention to detail.’

‘The team is high energy and value integrity and efficiency. They take pride in their professionalism and work ethic, providing creative solutions and good negotiating points in agreements.’

‘Highly efficient, detailed oriented, and well organised.’

‘The team, comprised of highly qualified and extremely professional counsellors, give sage advice in a timely and transparent manner.’

‘The individuals are thorough with their research and are well-acquainted in the industry, allowing them to deliver at exceptional speed.’

Key clients

AI-Ponics Private Limited


Finja Private Limited


Bykea Technologies Private Limited


Abwaab Technologies Inc.


Edmatrix Private Limited


Cashew Financial Services Limited (Muawin)


Edufi Private Limited


Nymcard Payments Limited


Opay Digital Payment Private Limited


Prex Limited


Seedcred Financial Services Limited


Revest Private Limited


Taro Technologies Private Limited


Xisys Consulting Private Limited


HengShan Investment Limited


Techlogix Pakistan Private Limited


Trukkr Private Limited


Deem Ventures Limited


Finja Lending Services Limited


Adal Financial Pte. Ltd.


Million Ventures GMBH


MCB Bank Limited (Digital Banking)


Webwork Solution Private Limited


Smartlane IT Solution Private Limited


Bykea Cash Private Limited


Finja Inc. (Delaware Corp)


Edufi Pte Ltd


MDS Foods Private Limited


AH-Bridgelinx Solutions Private Limited


Rented Lifestyle Private Limited


Gorilla Bins Inc


Uzma Ventures Private Limited


Opay Pte ltd


Nym Technologies Holding Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Nymcard on the aggregation of BIN Sponsorship for Master Card and Visa Card.
  • Assisting HengShan Investments, a fintech company of Chinese origin, with obtaining a non-banking finance company license in Pakistan.
  • Advised Prex Limited, a Singapore-based entity, on the listing of its crypto derivatives exchange mobile application, on the Apple and Android stores in Pakistan.

Liaquat Merchant Associates

Liaquat Merchant Associates is headquartered in Karachi and regularly advises leading banks and software companies, boasting an in-depth knowledge of Pakistan’s telecoms sector. The team frequently drafts documents on software applications, licensing agreements, and outsourcing agreements. Of recent note, it has further developed its practice in the technology sphere, and is assisting startups looking to expand into the territory. The practice is led by the acclaimed senior partner Faresa Jafarey Ahsan, who is noted for her experience representing telecoms companies in licensing matters. She is supported by Mustafa Mumtaz, an expert in corporate and commercial law, as well as raising investor funds for major clients in the internet streaming industry, and UK-based practitioner Hira Ahmad.

Practice head(s):

Faresa Jafarey Ahsan


Other key lawyers:

Hira Ahmad; Mustafa Mumtaz


Testimonials

‘Very few law firms in Pakistan understand Regtech, whereas LMA, as a team, masters it. We have been engaged with LMA for granting approval of a SaaS based Trade Credit Insurance related software with offshore cloud hosting. They worked with us for more than 6 months over this and remained our legal protection and guardians during the contract negotiation, drafting, and finalisation of offshore contract with a reputed software vendor. The team worked brilliantly on this project.’

‘Hira Ahmad worked with us diligently and actively on contract drafting, negotiation, and finalisation of international contact with the software supplier. The legal expertise of LMA partners in this field is commendable.’

Key clients

DLA Piper


MasterCard


Wemsol (Private) Limited


Allied Bank Limited


Covalent (Private) Limited


Pi Pakistan


Archiving Data Solutions (Private) Limited


Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP


Zapp One Systems (Private) Limited


Careem Pakistan


Bank AL Habib Limited


Habib Metropolitan Bank


Avanza Premier Payment Services (Private) Limited


EXIM Bank of Pakistan


Work highlights


  • Advised Covalent (Private) Limited on various contracts for technology related services provided by the client to banks, telecom companies, and utility companies.
     
  • Assisting DLA Piper Nederland N.V. for Ikea with reviewing an intra-group data transfer agreement, which catered to data transfer to and from Pakistan, and advised the client on compliancy issues.
     
  • Assisted the client with carrying out an assessment of local data privacy laws to gauge whether Pakistan’s legislation may put the personal data of the client at risk.

ABS & Co.

With offices in Islamabad and Lahore, ABS & Co. boasts a full-service IP offering that includes advising clients on copyrights, trademarks, and patents. It is also notable for its capabilities in complex transactions, software licensing, and royalty agreements. The firm has also advised startups on intangibles licensing and equity structuring. Islamabad-based Majid Bashir co-leads the practice alongside Samar Masood Soofi, who is well-regarded in the IP and technology sector and is regularly sought out by regulators, government departments, and universities for her professional expertise.

Practice head(s):

Majid Bashir; Samar Masood


Testimonials

‘Their competence and calibrated response to their clients makes them different from their competitors. Samar Masood clearly stands out for her professional skills and leadership potential. She handled the deal with an international investor to the utmost satisfaction of our company.’

‘The team excels in their personalised approach, crafting solutions tailored to each transaction’s unique purpose. Unlike generic methods, they prioritise nuanced strategies that align with clients’ visions. Compared to other firms, the team’s distinctive features encompass tailored strategies, collaborative culture, tech integration, diversity commitment, and transparent billing, making them an exceptional choice for clients seeking effective and customised legal guidance.’

‘Unlike competitors, they avoid imposing rigid approaches, preferring adaptable solutions tailored to each client. They excel in simplifying complex legal concepts for easy understanding and proactively identifying risks with mitigation strategies. Notable individuals, like Samar Masood, go the extra mile to empower clients with transparent insights.’

‘Overall, the team’s distinctive qualities encompass a balance of professionalism and approachability, adaptable strategies, and a knack for simplifying legal complexities, setting us apart as a choice that truly caters to clients’ unique needs.’

‘ABS & Co has a stellar reputation in the market for delivering exceptional legal services with a customer centric approach. Their large and diverse team are capable of handling client matters comprehensively and their research initiatives are sure to make a positive impact on the general legal sphere.’

‘We have worked with Samar Masood for the last few years on a wide range of legal matters and find her approach, knowledge and client handling exceptional. We are sure she will continue to excel and wish her all the best for the onward journey.’

‘This practice is unique because it focuses on delivering a top-notch client experience while making tasks and processes more efficient for the team. By shifting their focus to clients’ needs, they are able to provide an effortless experience that sets them apart.’

‘The firm stands out because of their unique qualities and experiences that set them apart from competitors.’

Key clients

TMC Private Limited


Khazana Private Limited


MediPak Limited


Intellextual Solutions Private Limited


Swipbox Development ApS


MIC Global


Waada Digital


ZoodPay SA


OrientSwiss SA


Baadmay Tech (Pvt) Limited


Walk Through AI Limited


Raqami


FDHL


McDonalds


Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (State of Kuwait)


Civil Aviation Authority


Kredit Geek Private Limited


Bedz.Pk


Numbers Private Limited


Prosper Technologies Private Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised a pharmaceutical company on the licensing of technology and technical capabilities for an IV Infusion facility.
  • Advised a client on the sale of its technology and intellectual property rights in a credit scoring system.
  • Advised Tez Financial Services Limited on the provision of buy-now-pay-later services through an e-commerce lending platform.

Bharucha & Co.

An established boutique law firm, Bharucha & Co. covers all principal areas of IP law, from patents and designs to copyright and trademarks. Its extensive network of firms in key South Asian and Gulf territories further strengthens the practice. The team is co-led by Mohammad Fazil Bharucha, an experienced litigator in contentious and non-contentious IP matters, and Abdul Aziz, who supervises the patent department. Farzana Rustom and Hameeda Asif are also key names of note.

Practice head(s):

Mohammad Fazil Bharucha; Abdul Aziz


Other key lawyers:

Farzana Rustom; Hameeda Asif


Work highlights


Haidermota & Co Advocates

Specialising in licensing and regulatory work, Haidermota & Co Advocates is well-placed to advise domestic and international clients. The practice is co-led by Shabbir Harianawala, a notable M&A lawyer with a strong focus on the telecoms sector, and Zahra Abid, who brings a wealth of experience advising clients in the financial sector, including leading foreign and domestic banks and financial institutions.

Practice head(s):

Shabbir Harianawala; Zahra Abid


Testimonials

‘High quality and experienced practice.’

‘Shabbir Harianawala is smart, commercially minded, and great to work with.’

Key clients

Pakistan Mobile Communication Limited


Shareholders of Autosoft Dynamics (Private) Limited


Mastercard


Epic Games


Amazon Web Services Inc


TPL Trakker Limited


Sary Technologies Holding Ltd.


Eversheds Sutherland


Creditbook Financial Services (Private) Limited


Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP


Arculus Holdings L.L.C.


Tencent Holdings Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised a client on setting up a digital bank business in accordance with regulations set by the State Bank of Pakistan.
  • Represented the shareholders of Autosoft Dynamics (Private) Limited in the sale of their 100% equity stake to Contour Software (Private) Limited.
  • Advising Epic Games with respect to its proposed acquisition of Quixel Pakistan (Private) Limited, a software development company.

Khalid Anwer & Co.

A leading law firm situated in Karachi, Khalid Anwer & Co. has recently expanded into the TMT area, representing some of the country’s principal companies, such as Telenor Pakistan (Private) Limited and Warid Telecom (Private) Limited. The team is led by a quartet of highly experienced litigators: Khalid Anwer, Raashid Anwer, Jawad Qureshi, and Yousuf Nasim.

Practice head(s):

Khalid Anwer, Raashid Anwer, Jawad Qureshi; Yousaf Nasim.


Key clients

Telenor Pakistan (Private) Limited


Mashreq Global Services (SMC) Private Ltd.


Majeed & Partners, Advocates & Counsellors At Law

Boasting an in-depth knowledge of the regulatory landscape, Majeed & Partners, Advocates & Counsellors At Law caters to global brands and is led by Lahore-based managing partner, Saqib Majeed. One client praises the team for 'a remarkable specialisation in M&A transactions, particularly within the technology sector'. With a background in telecoms, the firm is well-placed to advise start-ups on structuring their businesses, relevant national regulatory frameworks, and identifying potential risks.

Practice head(s):

Saqib Majeed


Testimonials

‘Majeed & Partners is an outstanding law firm with a remarkable specialisation in M&A transactions, particularly within the technology sector. Their M&A team’s diverse background enables them to conduct thorough due diligence, providing clients with invaluable insights for making well-informed decisions.’

‘The team’s capability to meet tight deadlines while maintaining seamless collaboration is commendable, making them an invaluable asset for any business.’

‘Saqib Majeed offers pragmatic advice that withstands legal scrutiny and showcases impressive commercial acumen. He possesses expertise in laws governing the TMT sector.’

‘The team is hands-on and client focused.’

‘Saqib Majeed is exceptional. He is managing his team with deep insights into TMT.’

Key clients

Hexagon AB


Advantest Corporation


SwipBox Pakistan (Private) Limited


Chakor Software (Private) Limited


Work highlights


  • Acted for Hexagon AB, Sweden, in connection with its acquisition of LocLab Consulting, Germany.
  • Acted for Advantest Corporation, Japan, in connection with its acquisition of US based R&D Altanova, Inc. and its international subsidiaries.
  • Advised a global automobile manufacturer on certain sensitive legal issues concerning local business arrangements and local data processing, privacy, and protection laws.