Akhund Forbes is recognised for dealing with an array of local, national and international labour and employment matters. Practice head Sahar Iqbal handles all non-contentious labour and employment law issues for clients across a range of industries, including FMCG, asset management, TMT, energy, projects and infrastructure.
Labour and employment in Pakistan
Akhund Forbes
Practice head(s):
Sahar Iqbal
Testimonials
‘It is important that a law firm provides actionable advice that is scalable as a company grows, and Akhund Forbes does just that.’
‘Sahar Iqbal provides practical advice that allows us to easily create actionable options for our business.’
‘Their knowledge across local markets allowed us to take informed and future-proof decisions.’
‘Sahar Iqbal has been wonderful every time we have worked with her on an employment matter.’
Key clients
MCB-Arif Habib Savings and Investments Limited
DLA Piper Middle East LLP
UBL Fund Managers Limited
China Power Generation Hub Company
Allied Advertising LLC
Deutsche Bank
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Mavenir
Microsoft
Kumon Institute if Education Co., Ltd
Karachi Down Syndrome Program
D1 Brands
Global University Systems
Acquisition Global
Arif Habib Limited
Maskatiya Industries Pvt Ltd
Dentons Europe LLP
Ericsson Pakistan Private Limited
Graphene Ventures
Globalisation Partners
MariaDB Corporation
Hype Partners Limited
El Aref International Law Office
Work highlights
- Advised China Power Generation Hub Company on the applicability of provisions of labour and employment in relation to payments from the workers’ participation fund and workers’ welfare fund to employees.
- Advising MCB Arif Habib Savings and Investment and UBL Fund Managers on a wide range of labour law and employment matters, employment agreements and legal enquiries on key points of law.
- Reviewed, updated and advised NdcTech Private on its standard employment contract and HR policy.
Axis Law Chambers
Axis Law Chambers primarily specialises in labour and employment law disputes, as well as assisting with labour and employment-related audits conducted by state agencies, and advising on compliance matters which involve federal and provincial employment law issues. Ali Zahid Rahim is instructed by major corporations on a range of matters, including social security, expat postings, sexual harassment and diversity, collective dismissal, termination and liquidation issues. Sameer Khosa focuses on non-contentious commercial advice in relation to employment matters. Mian Tariq Hassan, Waqqas Mir, Maria Farooq are further key names to note within the practice.
Other key lawyers:
Mian Tariq Hassan; Ali Zahid Rahim; Sameer Khosa; Waqqas Mir; Maria Farooq; Hassan Ali
Testimonials
‘The team is very professional, responsive and open to understanding the problem. They also take a practical apporach to the issue at hand and keep the client upadated.’
Key clients
Smollan Pakistan Field Services (Private) Limited
ABM-SATUMA (Private) Limited
Justice Project Society
Elphinstone Pakistan (Private) Limited
Oxford Policy Management Pakistan
Prime Genetics (Private) Limited
Nawa Media (Private) Limited / Pakistan Today
Generation (Private) Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Elphinstone Pakistan on various matters relating to statutorily mandated and voluntary retirement/pensionary benefits under Pakistani law.
- Represented Prime Genetics in an employment dispute, pending before the Punjab Labour Court, for the alleged wrongful termination of an ex-employee due to unexcused absences.
- Provided a legal audit for Generation of all their manufacturing, warehouse and retail facilities, to assess compliance under Pakistan’s employment and labour laws.
Faisal, Mahmood Ghani & Co
Faisal, Mahmood Ghani & Co has a long-standing reputation for its handling of the gamut of labour, employment and industrial relations laws. The practice advises on every aspect of such laws from HR policies and benefits matters through to all types of discrimination laws. It deals with cases before various forums including the Labour Courts and the National Industrial Relations Commission through to the Supreme Court. It has acted for the National Bank of Pakistan before the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a number of important cases concerning the constitutional right to protection against discrimination in the context of employment laws. Faisal Mahmood Ghani is the hugely experienced managing partner and the team is co-headed by Nida Faisal Ghani.
Practice head(s):
Faisal Mahmood Ghani; Nida Faisal Ghani
Yousaf Amanat & Associates
Yousaf Amanat & Associates
is recognised for advising clients across the full gamut of employment law matters. The practice has seen increasing work advising foreign clients on the termination and hiring of upper management, including CEOs and County Directors in Pakistan. Islamabad-based Yousaf Amanat leads the team and is also an advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan. Amanat's counterpart, Noman Zahid, operates from the Karachi office, and handles matters with a nexus to the Karachi and Sindh provinces.
Practice head(s):
Yousaf Amanat; Noman Zahid
Testimonials
‘Yousaf Amanat is a thorough professional who is focused on the details.’
‘I found the team very competent and up to date with the new laws and technologies.’
‘Yousaf Amanat is very professional in his dealing with clients. He is efficient in engaging with relevant parties in cases involving court hearings.’
‘Firstly, they are good human beings, then thorough professionals as per the latest trends.’
‘The devotedness and attention they give to their work makes them exceptional.’
Key clients
ENI Spa Rome
Daily Motion
Telecure Technologies USA
China Three Gorges
KPMG Germany
Apple
Bloomberg
Nokia
Ericsson
GIZ
Work highlights
- Advised on various labour issues relevant to the $3.8bn Karot Power Project.
- Represented Telecure Technologies (USA) in litigation in collaboration with Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and DLA Piper.
- Advised Daily Motion on the new Social Media Rules in Pakistan, in connection with the Data Protection Law.
ABS & Co.
ABS & Co. handles the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law issues. The practice deals with disputes related to wages, industrial action and employee benefits. The team also helps draft labour and HR policies. Ahmer Bilal Soofi heads up the practice, alongside Imran Ahmed Malik.
Practice head(s):
Ahmer Bilal Soofi; Imran Ahmed Malik
Testimonials
‘The firm comes up with innovative ideas and provides legal guidance on all fronts. They have expertise in all areas.’
Key clients
United Bank Limited (UBL)
Punjab Social Security Institution
Bank of Punjab
Punjab Poverty Alleviation Fund
Punjab Skills Development Fund
Punjab Population Innovation Fund
Punjab Institute of Fashion & Design
McDonalds
Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA)
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund
Work highlights
- Represented McDonalds in multiple tort claims under occupational safety laws arising out of an accidental fire at one of its restaurants.
- Advised the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination on the devolution of an Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution and Workers Welfare Fund following the 18th Amendment.
- Assisted China Three Gorges Investment Company with the drafting of its internal HR policy in light of the applicable labour laws in Pakistan.
Khalid Anwer & Co.
Khalid Anwer & Co. regularly litigates on behalf of numerous employers in labour and employment cases - these range from complex class actions to smaller disputes. The practice often assists banks with complex labour-related matters. Raashid Anwer and Syed Mustafa Ali jointly lead the practice.
Practice head(s):
Raashid Anwer; Syed Mustafa Ali
Testimonials
‘The partners are well versed with local and international law and always provide a hands-on approach and out-of-the-box solutions to their clients. The firm possesses the requisite skills to incorporate a commercial view point, enabling the client to take an informed decision.’
‘The firm brings in decades of robust practical experience of local and international law.’
‘After having represented a plethora of clients, the firm possesses diverse legal knowledge.’
Key clients
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd.
Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Trust
National Bank of Pakistan
Mashreq Bank
Gul Ahmed Energy Limited
United Bank Limited
Work highlights
- Represented the President of National Bank of Pakistan in contempt proceedings initiated by pensioners in the Lahore High Court.
- Engaged by Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Trust to contest numerous petitions filed by hundreds of the client’s retired employees, who demand to be given the same retirement benefits as are paid to retired civil servants of Pakistan.
- Represented Pakistan Telecommunications in a pension and salary case against serving and non-serving employees.
Qureshi Law Associates
Qureshi Law Associates’ labour and employment unit sits within the firm’s wider corporate and commercial offering. Advising on employment contracts and policies is a cornerstone of the practice. The team also handles employment-related matters as part of due diligence, in relation to corporate and commercial transactions. Basharat Ali Mehmood oversees the department.
Practice head(s):
Basharat Ali Mahmood
Key clients
Syed Zafar ul Hassan Ghilani vs Pakistan Railways)
Muhammad Yousaf vs Govt Of Punjab)
Dr Mudassar Hussain vs Govt Punjab)
Naeem Ahmad vs Pakistan Railways
Mian Khalid Farooq vs Govt Of Punjab
Asma vs Ministry Of Education
Muhammad Sabir vs Ministry Of Petroleum
Syed Faisal Shah vs Ministry Of Petroleum
Javed Shabir Awan vs DG FIA)
ANZ Partners
ANZ Partners is recommended for dealing with the gamut of matters across the employment and labour law space. Nabeel Rehmam and Aqeel Malik split leadership of the practice; the latter is noted for advising embassies on various labour issues.
Practice head(s):
Nabeel Rehman; Aqeel Malik
Key clients
Save The Children (SCF) Pakistan
Muslim Hands
Muslim Aid
Relief International
Trocaire
Pakistan Humanitarian Forum
Micronutirent Initiative
Islamic Relief
Center For International Private Enterprise
Pakistan China Institute (PCI)
Can Asian Synergies (Private) Limited
Yu-Fei Pelagic Fisheries (Private) Limited
Pelagic Fisheries (Private) Limited
Energy Solutions And Green Power (Private) Limited
Pci Holding (Private) Limited
Al Noor Trust
Sochain Zara (SZ)
Ar Foods (Private) Limited
Ar Cash & Carry
Madina Cash & Carry (MCC)
Ar Horeca
Ascendia (Private) Limited
Brighterlite Pakistan (Private) Limited
Dm Textile Mills
The Educators, Rawalpindi
Elahi Cotton Mills Limited
Enekon (Private) Limited
Espresso Express, Restaurant
Eu Delegation To Pakistan
Pak Steel Mills
District 6, Restaurant
Gibraltor Constructions
Gymstique
Embassy Of France
Kohistan Developers & Builders
Embassy Of Austria
International Republican Institute (IRI)
Royal Danish Embassy
Embassy Of Brazil
Islamabad Diagnostics Center (IDC)
Intek Corporation
La Montana Restaurant, Islamabad
Maroof Hospital, Islamabad
Mh Cab (Private) Limited
Pamir Marcopolo (Private) Limited
Pakistan Nursing Council
Palladium, Pakistan
Tianjin China Petroleum Drilling Company Limited (TCPDC)
Uch Power Limited
Western Global Services (Private) Limited
Westeren Services (Private) Limited
Kilam Law
Kilam Law is recognised for handling a variety of complex issues within the labour and employment arenas. Particular areas of focus include drafting employment contracts, representing clients in industrial disputes, and assisting with matters concerning employees’ social security. Haris Azmat leads the team alongside Ali Ibrahim, with the latter advising public sector entities, government-owned companies, private entities and individuals on the expansive labour regime applicable in Pakistan.
Practice head(s):
Ali Ibrahim; Haris Azmat
Other key lawyers:
Ali Naveed
Testimonials
‘Ali Naveed is an experienced lawyer with over a decade of experience working at top regional and international law firms in the Middle East and has a lot of experience dealing with international clients.’
‘Haris Azmat is one of the youngest lawyers enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in Pakistan and is well regarded in litigation matters and where corporate strategies require a dispute resolution angle.’
‘Ali Ibrahim is a very competent corporate lawyer.’
‘The team is very responsive as well as cost effective, and offers a very high quality work product.’
‘A team of young energetic individuals who have passion to work aggressively.’
Key clients
Descon Engineering Limited
Red Bull (FZE Dubai & Pakistan)
Interloop Limited
Noor Care (Pvt) Limited
Buch Hospital (Pvt) Limited
Clyde & Co. LLP (Dubai)
New Era Technology Private Limited
Regalis Healthcare
Conatural Beauty Pvt Ltd
Dhabi Hospitality Private Limited
Republic Women’s Wear
KIPS Education Institute
PASCONS Construction Company
AlphaBold Inc. USA
Evernex Dubai
Century Insurance Company Limited
EFU General Insurance Limited
The United Insurance Company of Pakistan Limited
Kaizen Paint (Pvt) Limited (Formerly “Kansai Paints”)
Plastech Autosafe (Pvt) Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Red Bull on the establishment of a provident fund for its employees based in Pakistan.
- Advising Evernex on a host of labour and employment law matters in Pakistan.
- Advised Clyde & Co LLP’s client on various labour law issues arising as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown and economic downturn, and completed the country questionnaire for Pakistan.