Haidermota & Co Advocates has a superb team that advises on a whole host of financial products from syndicated lending and debt instruments to Islamic financing. The team is also well-regarded for its skill in advising on all aspects of financing that is backed by export credit agencies. It has a proven track record of acting in major cross-border transactions and often works with foreign financial institutions and multilateral agencies. It remains an excellent choice for advising on complex security structures, inter-creditor arrangements and financial restructurings. The team’s experience extends to advising on the establishment of microfinance banks and institutions in Pakistan. The key figures are senior partner Khozem Haidermota and Mohammad Anwer. Zahra Abid is also recommended.

Ijaz Ahmed & Associates continues to be active in some of the most significant banking and finance mandates in the country. It also enjoys a steady flow of instructions from international law firms. The group has a strong reputation for its work on various regulatory and legislative issues and is also rated for its experience on contentious capital market matters. The versatile team covers syndicated loans and debt restructurings in addition to real estate finance and microfinance. Ijaz Ahmed and Altaf Qureshi are seasoned practitioners.

Mohsin Tayebaly & Co has recently been involved in numerous large conventional financing transactions as well as Islamic financing deals, redeemable capital issuances (such as term finance certificates) in addition to various restructurings and settlement agreements. The team is also experienced in aviation and shipping finance. Irfan Tayebaly is a key member of the team along with Mehreen Manto. Vaseeq Khalid is a known name for his work on corporate syndications, asset financing, acquisition financing as well as on bond issues.

Under the leadership of  Bilal Shaukat  RIAA BARKER GILLETTE regularly advises sponsors, developers and lenders of projects in various sectors including energy, power, mining, transport, logistics and infrastructure. It has considerable expertise in complex financing and security arrangements including debt to equity conversions and syndicated loan transactions.  In addition, the firm has substantial Sharia law expertise and advises on all kinds of Islamic financing modes including Murabaha, Musharika and Sukuk. Ahsan Zahir Rizvi is a name to note for his extensive experience in project financing and corporate finance deals. Hasnain Naqvee is also well-regarded and has advised several banks on various power projects.

Akhund Forbes has a solid reputation for its work on a variety of high-value and complex deals that involve acquisition financing, Islamic financing and project financing in particular. Rabel Akhund heads the team and is well-regarded for his advice to financial institutions and corporate borrowers on substantial domestic and multi-jurisdictional transactions. Sahar Iqbal is another key member of the team. The practice is known too for its work on asset financing (ship finance and capital asset financing). It is also rated for its real estate financing advice as it often acts for property developers and financial institutions.

Liaquat Merchant Associates has considerable expertise in corporate and consumer financing, project financing in addition to leveraged and acquisition financing. Other strengths lie in electronic banking and in all areas of Islamic financing and Sharia compliant modes of financing. Under the leadership of Faresa Jafarey Ahsan the team is regularly engaged by both local and foreign banks and other non-banking institutions throughout Pakistan. Hira  Ahmad is another prominent member of the team along with senior partner Liaquat Merchant. There have been changes to the team at a senior level. Darakhsan Vohra left the firm while Shayan Ahmed joined the team.  Hassan Arif has been promoted to the partnership.