The Legal 500

The firm

Established in 1992, ABS & Co. is a well reputed law firm with a city-smart outlook. The firm has also an office in Islamabad to accommodate the increasing workload of the office. ABS & Co is comparable to international corporate and commercial law firms. It has an excellent team of professionals supported by a number of paralegals and clerks, full-time finance and administration manager and one litigation manager.

The firm provides a range of services including litigation, consultancy, alternate dispute resolution, institutional capacity building, case research and expert opinion services to multi national companies, industry associations, government bodies, statutory bodies, diplomatic missions, regulatory agencies, and other entities.

Areas of practice

Litigation: the firm has extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation at all levels including the Tribunals, Civil Court, the High Courts and the Supreme Court of Pakistan. To date the firm has handled more than 2,500 cases (excluding bulk litigation). Three of its lawyers are members of Supreme Court Bar and appear before the Supreme Court regularly.

Arbitration and alternate dispute resolution: a full range of services is provided, including formulating arbitration clauses, preparing claims and conducting of arbitration proceedings. The firm is linked with the world’s leading arbitration forums including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK and also the UN Commission for International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in Vienna. The firm has also provided advice to the federal government on ratification of the UN Convention on the Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1958.

Investment agreements: ABS & Co offers specific expertise in consultative advice, drafting and policy advocacy relating to free trade agreements, and preferential trade agreements etc. The firm has developed a network of national and international experts who are available to the firm on major economic and trade sectors, including domestic regulation, international dispute settlement, and offshore litigation.

Corporate and governance: provides advice to its corporate clients on the legal issues that regularly impact upon their businesses. It advises on all elements of company law, from the writing of minutes of meetings to the establishment of new corporate vehicles. The firm works by building strong relationships with in-house legal teams to provide expert advice in matters relating to corporate law, listing rules, liability and risks of directors and other corporate governance issues.

Regulatory: provides legal and regulatory advice to companies, partnerships, funds, banks, insurers and other financial institutions. The firm’s senior partner’s practical industry experience ensures that it provides commercially driven legal advice for matters pending before the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Competition Commission and Environmental Tribunals.

Oil and gas: the firm has represented clients in the oil and gas industry in a number of transactions ranging from drafting and finalising of concession agreements, joint operating agreements, farm out/in agreements, leases, title work, representation before regulatory bodies, and litigation. It has advised on a wide range of matters involving both upstream and downstream work, and its lawyers are fully familiar with contracts used in the licensing, exploration and production, development, transportation and abandonment of oil and gas fields, and associated agreements.

Telecommunications: the firm is widely recognised for its expertise in telecommunications and technology issues, and for its ability to apply creative approaches to complex legal issues. The firm has represented wired and wireless carriers, including independent telephone companies and cellular and private radio licensees. It has also handled a broad range of telecommunications transactions, including sales and acquisitions, carrier agreements, and telecommunications outsourcing contracts.

Languages
English
Pashto
Punjabi
Urdu

Other offices Islamabad

Number of lawyers 30

at this office 20