The Legal 500

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

Liaquat Merchant Associates provides ‘prompt and practical’ advice to an impressive roster of major domestic and international banks including RBS, Deutsche Bank, National Bank of Pakistan and Habib Bank. The three-partner team covers the gamut of financing activities, including corporate finance and restructuring, general lending and advisory work. It recently advised Arif Habib Bank on a Rs300m finance extension. Managing partner Liaquat Merchant is ‘highly experienced and well regarded’, as is Faresa Ahsan who is ‘well versed in commercial, consumer, and Islamic banking matters’.

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

Liaquat Merchant Associates has an excellent reputation for its work in the burgeoning derivatives market and continues to advise Deutsche Bank on derivatives transactions locally and globally. The firm is increasingly picking up instructions in capital markets litigation. Darakhshan Vohra is recommended.

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

‘Excellent and responsive, and with an in-depth knowledge of local laws and customs’, Liaquat Merchant Associates represents local and international companies seeking comprehensive ‘business-sensitive advice’ on corporate and commercial matters. Recent M&A highlights included advising American Express in the sale of its travel-related business in Pakistan to a local company. Liaquat Merchant is an ‘excellent legal analyst, who also gives practical advice’, while Faresa Ahsan is also recommended, particularly for her competition expertise.

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

Able to tap into the substantive law expertise of its first-class corporate and banking teams, Liaquat Merchant Associates’s litigation team regularly handles major commercial disputes, from shareholder litigation to debt recovery actions. It is regularly instructed by investment banks and is currently representing one of the defendants in a test case concerning the legality of respective collection departments. One of the few firms to handle defendant clinical negligence work, it receives many mandates from a large domestic hospital. Department head Akbar Mirza is recommended.

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

Liaquat Merchant Associates is ‘very experienced’ in the insurance industry - a key area of focus since the firm’s establishment over 35 years ago - and is instructed on corporate legal services and coverage issues. Recent highlights included advising a global insurer on establishing its conventional and Islamic insurance operations in Pakistan. Akbar Mirza and Liaquat Merchant are recommended.

Within Privatisation

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

Liaquat Merchant Associates offers ‘very prompt’ advice to lenders and corporates. The ‘exemplary’ Faresa Ahsan is ‘professional and very patient with all stakeholders’, say clients.

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

The ‘excellent’ Liaquat Merchant Associates recently conducted property reviews for JS Bank to facilitate the opening of branches throughout the country. The firm continues to be involved in real estate financing, including advising several Pakistan-based investors on investment portfolios in Dubai. Junior partner Darakhshan Vohra has a burgeoning reputation and is praised for her ‘excellent response times’.

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

Headed by the ‘highly experienced’ Akbar Mirza, Liaquat Merchant Associates’ shipping team attracts instructions from P&I clubs, including the London Steamship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association. The firm also handles litigation before the District and High Courts of Karachi; it recently defended a shipping client against a wrongful delivery claim.

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

Led by the ‘very good’ Faresa Ahsan, Liaquat Merchant Associates provides ‘clear, unambiguous opinions’ to a client base primarily comprising banks on various software licensing agreements, IT outsourcing contracts and electronic banking issues. It recently represented JS Bank on the acquisition of software solutions provided by Avanza Solutions.