Mahbub & Company

The firm

Mahbub & Company was established in 1995 under the leadership of AM Mahbub Uddin, barrister-at-law (Lincoln’s Inn, UK). Starting with a team of five, the firm has now grown considerably to have specialists in core practice areas. The firm has made a name for itself in dispute resolution with a strong litigation practice in the Supreme Court and the District Courts of Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong. The firm’s arbitration practice focuses on cross-border commercial disputes and disputes involving government departments and is growing fast with wider use of alternative dispute resolution methods. Mahbub & Company advises large multinationals and local businesses in Bangladesh spread across the construction, energy, real-estate, consumer product, banking and shipping industries and is a full-service firm with a dedicated corporate team. Members of the firm have expertise in a wide range of areas of law and regularly participate in policy-level meetings on legislative reform.

The head of chambers, AM Mahbub Uddin, is a respected figure in the legal profession and is currently one of 14 elected members of the Bangladesh Bar Council, the highest regulatory body for lawyers in the country, and since 2012 the secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association. He has over 20 years of litigation experience and regularly appears before the Supreme Court particularly in matters of judicial review. He also has immense expertise in white-collar crime, commercial law and banking litigation. He has represented a former Prime Minister in corruption charges since 2007, was legal adviser of the Bangladesh Cricket Board from 2001-2006 and advised Occidental Petroleum Corporation in a dispute with the Bangladesh government following a gas-field explosion in 1997.

Associate partner Saqeb Mahbub heads the corporate and commercial team and has recently advised PepsiCo India, Sainsbury’s UK, UNDP, UNHCR and the Royal Danish Embassy.

Areas of practice:

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Our top-ranked commercial dispute resolution practice is recognized for its profound expertise, strategic acumen and impeccable reputation. We deliver exhaustive legal services to manage and resolve disputes arising out of or in Bangladesh.

We steer clients through the complexities of commercial disputes, providing cutting-edge strategic advice on litigation and arbitration proceedings. Our seasoned team excels in obtaining favorable outcomes in

matters of cross-border trade disputes, franchise/JV disputes, corporate conflicts, and other business disputes. We offer skilled guidance in all phases of dispute resolution, from pre-litigation strategy and mediation to trial and enforcement of judgments or arbitral awards. Our expertise extends to the artful negotiation and crafting of settlement agreements, adeptly handling intricate issues around enforcement, and navigating the procedural intricacies of domestic and international arbitration forums. We are skilled at addressing the challenges ofhigh-stakes disputes in a vibrant and evolving market like Bangladesh.

We work with: Multinational corporations, large corporates, high value exporters/importers, banks and financial institutions.

Banking & Finance

Our banking and finance team is rich in experience, with expertise covering the full spectrum of the financial sector.

Our work involves guiding clients through a variety of financial transactions such as domestic lending, international commercial borrowings, acquisition financing, and project and structured financing. We also handle refinancing operations and provide strategic advice on distressed debts, aiding stakeholders in risk appraisal. Our expertise in fintech law is particularly notable, as we advise on digital transactions, electronic payments, blockchain technologies, and compliance with evolving regulations in the digital finance space.

Furthermore, our litigation team is highly skilled in banking litigation, including the enforcement of creditors' rights and debt recovery. We handle complex litigation cases involving loan defaults, asset recovery, enforcement of security interests, and bankruptcy and winding up proceedings, ensuring that our clients' financial interests are aggressively and effectively protected.

We work with: Top-tier domestic and international banks and NBFCs, insurance companies, payment processors, card issuers, fintech corporations, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Within the ever-changing domain of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Mahbub & Company employs experienced legal practitioners who adeptly manoeuvre through the intricacies of business transactions on behalf of our clients. With a wide range of clients such as financial institutions, corporations, and investors, the firm's M&A practice demonstrates exceptional proficiency in organising and carrying out cross-border transactions that maximise benefits while minimising potential drawbacks. Across the entire M&A lifecycle, the firm's expertise extends to regulatory compliance, corporate governance, reviewing and draffing complex legal documents, restructuring, tax and antitrust considerations, employment issues, financing arrangements, intellectual property matters, and post-closing integration.

Our firm's leadership position in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions is solidified through our client-centric approach and emphasis on delivering strategic solutions that are in line with the distinct objectives and challenges of every transaction.

We work with: Multinational corporations, Private Equity and Venture Capital firms, Startups and High Growth Companies, Family-owned enterprises and Financial Institutions.

Labour and Employment

Mahbub & Company's L&E practice assists employers in navigating the complex regulatory landscape governing the Bangladeshi workplace.

Our lawyers offer practical, business-focused employment law guidance on various aspects of business transactions, including the sale and acquisition of companies, ownership transitions, and employee benefits such as stock-based incentive plans. They also specialize in drafting and reviewing employment contracts and policies and bringing them upto date in light of the prevailing labour laws and rules, while providing expert guidance on prevailing best practices. Our team actively engages in CXO-level hiring, departures, and severance discussions and negotiations, as well as consulting and secondment agreements. We guide clients through employee conflicts, disciplinary matters and investigations, sexual harassment complaints and litigation in the specialized labour courts. For clients hiring foreign talent, we provide work permit and employee visa support.

We work with: MNCs, Branch/Rep/ Liaison Offices, Listed Companies, INGOs, Tech Companies.

Technology

Our technology law team boasts extensive knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the tech industry, providing a wide array of legal services across the sector.

Our practice involves assisting clients with various technology-related legal matters, including software licensing agreements, data protection and privacy laws, Intellectual property rights management, and advising on e-commerce and digital media transactions. Our team is adept at guiding start-ups and established tech firms through venture capital and fundraising exercises, mergers and acquisitions in the tech space, and compliance with specific technology sector regulations.

Our expertise extends to advising on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, internet of things (IoT), and cybersecurity law. We counsel on the legal aspects of developing and implementing these technologies in the Bangladeshi market, ensuring our clients' innovations align with nascent but growing legal landscape.

Our commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and legal frameworks enables us to provide forward-thinking and strategic legal solutions.

We work with: Technology startups, established IT companies, e-commerce platforms, digital content providers, app developers, cloud service providers, and venture capitalists focused on tech investments.

Foreign Investment

Our foreign investment practice is distinguished by its deep expertise and strategic insight into the foreign investment landscape in Bangladesh. We offer comprehensive legal services to facilitate inbound investments, ensuring compliance with local regulations.

We specialize in guiding clients through the intricacies of cross-border transactions, foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions. Our team provides adept counsel on regulatory approvals, due diligence processes, and structuring of investment vehicles to optimize tax and corporate governance.

Our acumen also covers the negotiation and drafting of cross-border trade agreements, and handling complex issues related to exchange controls and repatriation of profits. We are proficient in addressing the nuances of investing in an emerging market like Bangladesh.

We work with: Multinational corporations, manufacturing entities, private investors, and international financial institutions.

Regulatory

Our regulatory practice is renowned for its exceptional depth and breadth, offering in-depth guidance on navigating the complex web of regulations that govern business operations in Bangladesh.

We assist clients seeking strategic and compliant entry into the Bangladesh market with regulatory due diligence, risk assessments, and the development of compliance programs tailored to specific industry standards and best practices. Our attorneys have extensive experience representing clients before regulatory agencies, handling investigations, enforcement actions, and securing necessary approvals and licenses for business activities.

The scope of our practice encompasses financial services regulation, import and export regulations, foreign exchange control, labour and environmental law. We also advise on emerging regulatory challenges posed by digital transformation and data governance.

We work with: Multinational corporations, financial institutions, foreign investors, technology firms and entrepreneurs.

International Trade

At Mahbub & Company, our International Trade practice is renowned for delivering top-tier legal expertise in the intricacies of global trade dynamics, catering to both Bangladeshi businesses and international entities engaged in commerce with the region. Our legal counsel is meticulously tailored to ensure compliance with the multifaceted tapestry of international trade laws, alongside local regulatory mandates.

Our adept legal team specializes in the nuanced aspects of import-export regulations, adeptly manages customs law matters, and provides strategic insights into trade policies, tariff management and preferential treatment programs like the GSP.

Our team structures international transactions to optimize tax efficiency and mitigate risks. For dispute resolution, we offer formidable representation in international arbitration forums and adeptly handle trade agreement conflicts, while representing clients at customs tribunals and port authorities.

We work with: Multinational corporations, high value importers/exporters and trade associations.

Taxation

Our tax practice stands out for its exceptional proficiency and strategic insight into the multifaceted tax law landscape of Bangladesh, catering particularly to the needs of multinationals clients and large corporations with operations in the region. We provide comprehensive tax advice and support, ensuring full compliance with both local taxation laws and international tax principles.

With a nuanced understanding of global tax structures, our team adeptly navigates clients through the labyrinth of tax regulations, advising on optimal tax planning and structuring for cross-border transactions. We are experts in handling complex tax matters such as double taxation avoidance, transfer pricing, indirect and direct tax liabilities, and tax incentives for foreign investments.

Our firm excels in the vigorous defense of clients in tax disputes, offering robust representation before tax authorities and in upper courts. We also facilitate seamless tax due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructurings, ensuring that our client’s financial interests are safeguarded in Bangladesh's dynamic economic landscape.

We work with: Multinational corporations, foreign investors, large corporations, international organisations.

White Collar Crime

Mahbub & Company's White Collar Crime team offers expert defence and prosecution services in cases of complex financial wrongdoing.

Our adept legal team not only represents individuals and corporations charged with fraud and financial crimes but also actively prosecutes such cases. We navigate the intricate legal landscape in Bangladesh, delivering comprehensive strategies in matters relating to cybercrime, bribery, money laundering, embezzlement, corruption, securities and financial fraud.

Our services extend to conducting thorough internal investigations, providing strategic compliance advice, and guiding on anti-money laundering regulations. With a focus on client-centric communication, we aim for favourable outcomes in the nuanced arena of white-collar crime litigation.

We work with: Financial Institutions, MNCs, international NGOs, high-profile executives and public servants.