Haidermota & Co Advocates advises across a broad spectrum of financial products from syndicated lending and convertible loans as well as leveraged and acquisition financing. The team is well-versed in all aspects of structured financing, securitisation and all modes of Islamic financing. It has a strong track record of working on significant cross-border transactions and counts many foreign financial institutions and multilateral agencies as clients. The team’s experience extends to advising on the establishment of microfinance banks and institutions in Pakistan and it has a wealth of experience of advising on all aspects of banking regulatory matters. The team under the leadership of Khozem Haidermota, Mohammad Anwer and Zahra Abid are regularly asked to help major foreign financial institutions with the establishment of their operations in Pakistan. In other highlights Rahmat Kamal Ghanghro was promoted to the partnership.

Ijaz Ahmed & Associates is well-known for its work on a broad range of financing transactions such as large transactions for local corporates as well as significant restructuring work. The firm advises an impressive array of foreign clients and frequently works on large cross-border transactions. Ijaz Ahmed and Altaf Qureshi co-head the practice that works with various major international law firms. Other areas of expertise include advising on various regulatory matters as well as syndicated loans, real estate finance and microfinance.

Liaquat Merchant Associates has a strong range of expertise in banking matters, including project finance, leveraged and acquisition financing in addition to electronic banking matters. In addition it is renowned for its experience in Islamic financing and Sharia compliant modes of financing and it routinely advises major national and international banks on their Islamic banking products and documentation. Head of department Faresa Jafarey Ahsan has a broad practice that covers the full spectrum of the space, and name partner Liaquat Merchant is also well-regarded.

Mohsin Tayebaly & Co has a significant number of banks and financial institutions that are retainer clients. The firm advises on the full array of financial transactions and has recently been involved in a number of important rescheduling and restructuring transactions. With Irfan Tayebaly  at the helm, the versatile team is also recommended for its work on a wide range of regulatory matters. Mehreen Manto  is highly sought after for her work on a range of financing deals such as acquisition and asset financings. Vaseeq Khalid is another seasoned practitioner. Work with financial institutions participating in the Naya Pakistan Housing Initiative - a government housebuilding initative - have been a recent bright spot for the practice.

RIAA BARKER GILLETTE is regularly involved in major local and cross-border financing transactions. The stellar team advises sponsors, developers and lenders in a broad range of sectors and has particular expertise in energy, power, mining, transport, logistics and infrastructure projects. It handles a wide range of bank and capital market financings and is well-placed to advise on issues as diverse as debt to equity conversions as well as syndicated loan transactions. The firm also has substantial Islamic finance expertise which it deploys on structures including murabaha and musharika deals. Ahsan Zahir Rizvi  is a prominent member of the team that is led by Bilal Shaukat. Shaukat is experienced in both conventional and Islamic financing and regularly advises banks in Pakistan on their finance and security arrangements for various power projects.

Akhund Forbes is known for its work on a variety of high-value and complex transactions. Rabel Akhund heads the team and works with some of the largest companies and financial institutions in Pakistan and beyond. Sahar Iqbal is also recommended. The practice has a solid reputation for its work on asset finance and is also well-regarded for its real estate financing advice, as it frequently works with many property developers.

Orr, Dignam & Co. operates out of its offices in Karachi and Islamabad and covers a wide range of Islamic financing matters in addition to project financing and acquisition financing matters. It handles a myriad of other complex matters too such as asset financing, securitisation and export credit deals. It is well-placed to advise various foreign financial entities on a whole host of issues. Asim Nasim is one of the primary contacts at the firm.