The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a first tier firm,

Liaquat Merchant Associates advises national and international banks on finance transactions, wealth management, legal audits and regulatory issues. It is currently advising on the development, structure and drafting of documents for the newly launched Istisna product. The ‘insightful’ Faresa Ahsan heads the team. Liaquat Merchant is also recommended.

Within Capital markets, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a first tier firm,

The ‘dedicated professionals’ at Liaquat Merchant Associates have a ‘command’ of capital markets issues. The team advises on Pakistan-based mutual funds and regulatory and compliance issues. It advised a Dubai-based bank in the winding up of its non-banking asset management company, and continues to advise Deutsche Bank locally and globally on derivative transactions. Senior partner Liaquat Merchant is recommended for his ‘knowledge, experience and dependability’. Faresa Ahsan is also recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a third tier firm,

Liaquat Merchant Associates provides ‘prompt, professional, and practical advice’ on a wide range of corporate and M&A matters both locally and internationally. It has recently advised on the incorporation and registration of an SPV, anti-trust issues in respect of share acquisition, and novation agreements. Current clients include National Bank of Pakistan. Senior partner Liaquat Merchant is recommended. He and partner Darakhshan Vohra co-head the team.

Within Dispute resolution, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a second tier firm,

Liaquat Merchant Associates handles contentious and non-contentious matters across the gamut of its practice areas, as well as medical negligence cases. It also handles mediation and arbitration. Senior partner Liaquat Merchant and partner Akbar Mirza are the key contacts.

Within Environment, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a second tier firm,

Liaquat Merchant Associates advises on hazardous waste disposal and the duties and liabilities of companies arising from Pakistan’s environmental laws. Faresa Ahsan is the key contact.

Within Insurance, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a first tier firm,

Since its inception in 1972, Liaquat Merchant Associates has been undertaking insurance work, which includes advising on coverage, severability, rescission, and conduct exclusions in insurance policies, as well as the burgeoning area of bancassurance. It continues to represent Habib Bank Limited in its claim against Collective Fire Insurance for losses suffered by its customers from the earthquakes in northern Pakistan. Liaquat Merchant and Akbar Mirza head the practice.

Within Projects and energy, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a third tier firm,

Liaquat Merchant Associates advised banks on financing facilities for the Hub Power Company and a standby letter of credit to secure the fuel supply to the station. Darakhshan Vohra heads the team.

Within Real estate and construction, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a second tier firm,

The ‘renowned and professional’ team at Liaquat Merchant Associates manages large-scale property reviews and undertakes the drafting of finance and security documents for corporate and commercial clients of local banks and local subsidiaries of foreign banks. It also advises on the structuring of lease and title documents for sale transactions as well as maintenance contracts. Darakhshan Vohra heads the team.

Within TMT, Liaquat Merchant Associates is a third tier firm,

Liaquat Merchant Associates advises on licensing, hardware, IT outsourcing, and escrow agreements, as well as software and hardware maintenance and service level contracts. It recently advised National Bank of Pakistan in its agreement with Future Technologies for the use of its Rosetta software. Faresa Ahsan heads the team.