Firm Profile > Akhund Forbes > Karachi, Pakistan
Akhund Forbes Offices
D-21, BLOCK 4, CLIFTON
KARACHI 75600
Pakistan
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Akhund Forbes > The Legal 500 Rankings
Capital markets Tier 1
Akhund Forbes is skilled at handling high-value and complex transactions. It advises on a broad spectrum of capital markets matters including advising central depository companies, stock exchanges and real estate investment funds on various matters. The agile team frequently advises on IPOs, rights and bonus issues in addition to the issue of bonds, sukuks and other capital market products. Head of department Rabel Akhund is well-respected for his advice to local companies on various capital market regulations and continues to advise on some of the largest and most novel transactions that come to the market. Sahar Iqbal is another recognised name for her work in this area and advises many important asset management companies.
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Key clients
Arif Habib Dolmen REIT Management
MCB Arif Habib Investments and Savings Limited
UBL Fund Managers Limited
NBP Fund Management Limited
Habib ADM Limited
Privatisation Commission, Government of Pakistan
National Investment Trust Limited
King & Wood Mallesons
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP
Corporate and M&A Tier 1
Akhund Forbes is a known name for its vast experience in high-value corporate and commercial deals. With Rabel Akhund at the helm the 'highly responsive' team is notable for its expertise in M&A, joint ventures and corporate regulatory work in particular. It is also recommended for its work with foreign lawyers on complicated multi-jurisdictional deals as well as advising on a myriad of complex issues from leveraged buy-outs to hostile bids and friendly offers. The group garners praise too for its advice on joint venture projects in the power and energy sectors. Sahar Iqbal heads its venture capital practice and is also well-regarded for her work in private equity, M&A, capital markets and joint ventures.
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Testimonials
‘The team’s advice is cleanly presented, eminently readable, precise and delivered always on time. The scale of the project with which we have engaged the firm requires laser-like focus on a specific legal area and provides little room for error or deviation from the project specification‘.
‘We require regular updates on the state of the law in Pakistan and Sahar Iqbal and Rabel Akhund keep us abreast of developments around the clock‘.
‘Akhund Forbes provides a high level of partner attention to transactions and mandates on which we have engaged it. Rabel Akhund has the unique ability to get the parties to reach a consensus in tough deal breaking negotiations. He gives us a lot of time and attention and is personally vested in our success‘.
‘Highly skilled at what the team does, and as a team is capable of working extremely well with any international peer (counsel, advisor or otherwise)’.
‘Really understands the local market on any complex transaction matter and also knows how cross-border deals work‘.
‘I really appreciate the support provided by Mr. Rabel Z. Akhund. He is fluent in English and very pedagogical. He provided clear advice in quite complex matters and was able to explain the relevant local regulations in an easy way‘.
‘The team is focused on the matter that is being referred to it and on achieving the committed deadline. It adopts a holistic approach and is flexible. It takes into account the client’s viewpoint‘.
Key clients
Edotco Group SDN Berhad
Kojima Law Offices
Applus
Aisha Steel Mills Limited
Arif Habib Group
Edotco Pakistan (Private) Limited
Edotco Towers (Private) Limited
Zhong Lun Law Firm
Cheez Group, Shanghai
Cheezmall (Private) Limited
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Stanley Electronic CO., LTD
THAI STANLEY ELECTRIC PUBLIC CO., LTD.
Indus Associated Consultants
Latham & Watkins LLP
Privatisation Commission, Government of Pakistan
Norton Rose Fulbright
Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd
China Power Hub Generation Company (Pvt.) Limited
MCB Arif Habib Savings and Investments Limited
UBL Fund Managers Limited
NBP Fund Management Limited
Novartis Pharma Pakistan Limited
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Jun He Law Offices
House of Habib
The Abraaj Group
Adidas
Al Tamimi & Co.
Allied Advertising Group LLC
TM Lewin
Gemini Office Holdings Limited
Stevens and Bolton LLP
Weye Cement and Construction Materials (Private) Limited
Rukula
Rotopack
Elixir Securities Limited Pakistan
Saudi Research Publishing Company
Media Arabia Limited
Vox Asia Productions (SMC Private Limited)
Osborne Clarke
InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd
Kantoor van Notaris Jean-Philippe Claesen
Sumitomo Chemical Asia Pte Ltd
Nawan Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd.
Caterpillar
Labour and employment Tier 1
Akhund Forbes fields a capable and experienced team that advises on the full array of labour and employment matters to local, national and international clients. It has been active in drafting HR policies in accordance with Pakistan’s labour laws and has been busy working in conjunction with a number of international law firms on local employment law matters. Sahar Iqbal heads the team and is a well-respected practitioner.
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Testimonials
‘Its advice is cleanly presented, eminently readable and delivered always on time and, crucially, it manages all that while being precisely to the point. The scale of the project with which we have engaged the firm requires laser-like focus on a specific legal area and provides little room for error or deviation from the project specification‘.
‘We require regular updates on the state of the law in Pakistan and Sahar Iqbal keeps us abreast of developments around the clock, finding not only changes to the legal regime as they happen but marshalling her legal understanding to spotlight early initiatives that are likely to lead to change’.
‘Knowledge of the labour laws of Pakistan and how to deal with court cases. The individuals have sound knowledge of the labour laws of Pakistan and they guide us in best possible way‘.
Key clients
MCB-Arif Habib Savings and Investments Limited
DLA Piper Middle East LLP
UBL Fund Managers Limited
China Power Generation Hub Company
Saudi Research Publishing Company
Media Arabia Pvt Limited
Zoetis Inc.
Allied Advertising LLC
Deutsche Bank
Adidas AG
Osborne Clarke
Cialfo Pte Ltd
Baker & McKenzie LLP
AEI Legal
Microsoft
Proofpoint
Banking and finance Tier 2
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.
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Testimonials
‘If any partner is not available, another partner will take his/her place immediately. He/she can then provide a concise opinion in the required time at reasonable rates‘.
‘The firm is sufficiently small for internal communication to be very good and a consistent service to be provided‘.
‘Rabel Akhund is a reassuring presence with his excellent international experience. Sahar Iqbal is steady and thorough in her work‘.
‘The knowledge of the law, understanding of issues and timely responses to the queries are all key to what makes this firm stand out from the rest‘.
‘I have worked with Sahar Iqbal and my other colleagues have worked with the other partners as well. It is pertinent to mention that Sahar is agile in understanding any queries and responds to any queries swiftly‘.
‘Personal attention from the main partner and understanding of financing documents. Rabel Akhund has a good understanding of the commercial issues that arise out of the financing documents‘.
Key clients
Act Polyols (Pvt) Limited
edotco Group Sdn Berhad
Asian Development Bank
Edotco Pakistan (Private Limited)
Aisha Steel Mills Limited
The Abraaj Group
Mastercard
Deutsche Bank
Clifford Chance Pte Ltd
Credit Suisse
Projects and energy Tier 2
Akhund Forbes is known for its work on complex projects which frequently have an international dimension. Recently the firm has been active in a variety of sectors from infrastructure, mining and minerals to energy projects. The team is well-equipped to advise on all aspects of these projects from the regulatory and legal to the financial aspects of these transactions under the leadership of Rabel Akhund. Akhund has been busy advising on various projects and energy related deals.
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Key clients
Privatisation Commission, Government of Pakistan
Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd
China Power Hub Generation Company (Private) Limited
Zhong Lun Law Firm
Government of Sindh (Karachi Circular Railway)
Weye Cement and Construction Materials (Private) Limited
Gemini Office Services UK Limited
edotco Pakistan Pvt Limited
Edotco Group SDN Berhad
Edotco Towers (Private) Limited
JunHe LLP
Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited
Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan
InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd
Bank of Shanghai , Beijing Branch
Baker & McKenzie
China Development Bank
FenXun Partners
China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co.Ltd.
China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation
TMT Tier 2
Under the leadership of Rabel Akhund and Sahar Iqbal at Akhund Forbes it is best known for its ability to advise on a variety of high-value and complex TMT matters. Increasingly it has been acting for a number of its telecoms clients on the acquisition of telecom towers across the country. The practice has also been busy advising on the regulatory framework for the provision of telecom services in Pakistan.
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Key clients
Edotco Group SDN Berhad
NBP Fund Management Limited
Baker & McKenzie LLP
MCB Arif Habib Investments and Savings Limited
Edotco Pakistan (Private) Limited
Edotco Towers (Private) Limited
Allied Advertising LLC
Rukula
Cheez Group, Shanghai
Cheezmall (Private) Limited
Applus
Mastercard
Saudi Research Publishing Company
Media Arabia Limited
Vox Asia Productions (SMC Private Limited)
UBL Fund Managers Limited
Central Depository of Pakistan Limited
Association of Builders and Developers
Nawan Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd.