Yousaf Amanat & Associates > Islamabad, Pakistan > Firm Profile

Yousaf Amanat & Associates
435 ST 01
F-11/1
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan

Pakistan > Labour and employment Tier 1

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.

Leading individuals

Yousaf Amanat - Yousaf Amanat & Associates

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.

ADVISING ON:

[ EMPLOYMENT, DATA PROTECTION, MINING, TAX, COMPANY LAW, ADMIRALTY LAW, RESEARCH STUDIES, WORKPLACE HARASSMENT, CIVIL CRIMINAL LITIGATION, COMPANY FILINGS]

-REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS/CEO, APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS/CEO.

———Also ranked in CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS

GIG WORKERS: Advised Berlin based international food delivery giant Hero Delivery and Food Panda. Detailed assessment of risks for the freelancer model.

[We just advised APPLE and DAILY MOTION on data protection!]

[The trusted partner for blue chip law firms and companies]

The ONLY EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION SPECIALIST FIRM IN PAKISTAN, WE HANDLE HIGH END EXECUTIVE LITIGATIONS.

We are the No 1 contact for GCs and law firms looking for advice in employment law in Pakistan: Clifford Chance, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Herbert Smith Freehills, Baker Mckenzie, Addleshaw Goddard, Apple, Gaming Innovation Group, China Three Gorges, Daily Motion, KPMG Legal, E & Y Law, PWC, HMD Global OY (Nokia Phones), Citi Group, ENI, Ericsson, Hero Delivery, Food Panda, Daily Motion, Telecure Technologies, Gaming Innovation Group, Field Fisher, Adva Com, Oxfam, Marriott International, SABIC, GIZ, GROHE, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, Hearst Corporation are just some of the organizations for whom we are the No 1 employment law firm in Pakistan.

We are part of an elite international European body of employment and HR lawyers

Offices: The firm maintains offices both in Islamabad and Karachi but represents clients in all major cities of Pakistan. We currently have a staff of 20 which spans the Islamabad and Karachi offices and includes two partners and 18 lawyers.

Team: The firm is a one window operation for all employment matters from employment litigation specialist Mr Yousaf Amanat in Islamabad and Noman Zahid in Karachi, employment tax specialists Sheraz Aslam and Sheikh Saif, to civil and criminal litigation specialists Shafique Dab and Syed Khawar (Supreme Court) respectively. Mr Amanat is also known for his advice on data protection.

We have developed our data protection, tax, criminal litigation, civil litigation, finance and arbitration practice in order to cater better to our strength which is employment law. This is our vision and this is what sets us apart from our competition. In instructing us on employment matters, clients do not have to search for separate firms for criminal, tax, data protection, civil, finance and arbitration.

A lot of firms in Pakistan work in employment law however we are the only ones contacted specifically to handle sensitive high profile employment matters for clients based abroad. GCs and law firms trust us worldwide. We are known for our technical know how of employment law. Be it getting a matter: dismissed on applicability of a law to an organization, classification of the employee, the law of limitation, employers rely on us in getting them out of a sticky situation.

Advised China Three Gorges on the inquiry of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman of the World Bank for the Karot Power Project.
Represented HMD Global OY (Nokia Phones) in an Appeal in the Labour Court Karachi when the Labour Court decided to summon the Chairman of the HMD Global OY (Nokia Phones) from the US.
Presently representing ENI Spa Rome in a workman compensation litigation in Karachi which we hope to have dismissed on a technicality.
Advised Karot Power Project on Trade Unions and handling of Illegal Strikes.
Representing Telecure Technologies Inc US in a cyber crime complaint lodged with FIA.
Represented Oxfam successfully in the main case and the resulting Appeal filed in Pakistan by a Country Director of Pakistani Origin for Oxfam’s Kenyan Program. The Country Director filed against the worldwide head of Oxfam.
Handled the termination of the CEO of an international financial group with offices in Pakistan. The matter saw us constantly in conference sessions with GCs of the organization.
Representing Telecure Technologies Inc US in a Civil Injunction before the Lahore Civil Courts.
Presently handling the employment/criminal complaint filed by approximately 900 employees of Marriott International and Pearl Continent Hotels in Pakistan against their alleged wrongful termination during covid-19.
Representing Marriott International in the bail before arrest, police investigation and court trial of employees.
Represented HMD Global OY (Nokia Phones) in a complaint under Employment Law for registering of workplace.
Represented the employees of an international hotel chain successfully in a sexual harassment claim.
Advised China Railway and Construction on its proposed 2,000 strong employee workforce for a project.
The firm in July 2020 became part of a large consortium of employment law firms that are advising ABB/Hitachi. In July 2020, ABB divested its Power Grid division to Hitachi. The law firm of Elmzell Advokatbyra AB Sweden is the instructing firm in this matter. The consortium which is predominantly European has around 40 law firms and also includes names such as Tamimi & Co., Lewis Silkin and the Chinese firm Fang Law.

Whistle blowing investigation: In a recent assignment which the firm undertook for ENI Spa Rome, the firm was tasked with investigating a whistle blowing allegation regarding corruption and workman compensation. The firm investigated the matter, conducted interviews of employees and examined the matter under purview of applicable laws on whistle blowing, anti-corruption and workman compensation. The firm treated the matter as a potential litigation threat for the company and advised the company on per-litigation protocols.

ILO and the World Bank: The firm has recently taken on work which involves advising clients specially Chinese companies working in the energy sector in Pakistan on compliance with the Labour Standards set by the ILO and the Compliance Advisor Ombudsperson. A lot of the Projects are financed by the IFC and the World Bank hence mandatory compliance of labour standards to the ILO and World Bank standards is important.

Data protection: We consider data protection law to be the future of law. With covid-19 we foresee that more and more emphasis worldwide will be placed on data protection. We are presently engaged in assisting Addleshaw Goddard in advising an identity monitoring service provider on the aspects of data protection found within the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and the Electronic Transactions Ordinance 2002.

Covid-19: Covid-19 has predominantly had a lot to do with the workplace, be it restructuring or remote working. We have been busy from March 2020 with GCs contacting us from aboard for advice on employment law in the covid-19 scenario.

We advised Agility Logistics Singapore on employment law regulations during the covid-19 period in Pakistan.
We are presently representing Marriott International and Pearl continental Hotels in an employment/criminal complaint regarding terminating workers during the covid-19 period.
We rendered advice to E & Y law on the termination of employment contracts for over seas workers during covid-19 in Pakistan.

Development in Pakistan on employment law:

Pakistan enacted its federal law on employment for persons with disabilities. The law is quite comprehensive and has added to the provincial laws on the same. The law fixes specific quotas for hiring of persons with disabilities and sets out the terms and conditions for their employment and termination as well as redundancy.
A draft law on data protection made the headlines back in August but the same has not been enacted as yet. We may very well see the law being enacted soon. A data protection law will require major overhaul in compliance for companies.
A draft law for maternity leaves too is in the process.

Employment related practices: For us employment law isn’t just going to court and getting employee claims dismissed. That is what employment law is looked at as in Pakistan. We’ve gone one step further and made employment law our specialization. We advise and work with international clients in the following areas of employment law:

Government compliance
Alternative dispute resolution
Background checks
Business restructuring with a particular focus on work force
Corporate compliance and ethics
Discrimination and harassment
Employee benefits
Sexual harassment
Employment practice audits
Employment taxes
Executive compensation
Global mobility
Hiring, performance management and termination
Investigations
Labour management relations
Policies procedures and handbooks
Litigation and trials
Data protection
Union activism

Criminal civil law litigation: The firm specializes in high end civil litigation both in Karachi and Islamabad. In Islamabad, Mr Yousaf Amanat and Mr Sahfiq Dab are known for their expertise in handling litigation matters whereas in Karachi Mr Noman Zahid is known for his successful conclusion to cases both at the District level and the High Court. Employment matters are complex in the sense that the statute governing majority of them also allows criminal courts at the Magistrate level to preside over them. The firm would be handicapped thus if we did not have resources in criminal law. Mr Khawar Shah who is a senior associate with the firm’s Islamabad office and is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan handles matters related to bail and white-collar crimes. The firm has also thus rendered advice on issues such as money laundering law and sexual harassment law.

The firm specializes in advising international clients on the legal requirements for their operations in Pakistan. We also offer services allied with the field of law such as advice on tax, government relations and handling matters with various government agencies. We have a specialized team for working on tax and matters related to government agencies.

Unions:

We specialize in handling matters related to labour unions. We negotiated a golden handshake with the 300 strong labour union for TCC which enabled the company to close up its camp site before exiting Pakistan.
We have advised MoL Pakistan Oil and Gas B.V with regard to their labour union.
The firm has been engaged by CGGC the main CPEC contractor to advise on their dealings with their union.

Other practices: International client’s reliance on the firm has over the years grown for matters regarding their dealings with the government in Pakistan both at the federal and the provincial level. Our advice on such matters includes various sensitive issues which the firm prides itself in handling confidentially for its clients.

The Karachi office of the firm apart from employment law, specializes in Admiralty law and banking law. The Karachi office acts for a number of regional banks and shipping lines.

Mr Amanat holds a distinction in postgraduate in commercial law from the UK and is also affiliated with various universities as a visiting faculty member. Mr Amanat also acts as an arbitrator and undertakes research assignments in various fields of law.

The firm has lately started taking up advisory and contentious work in tax matters. The firm is representing various power projects in tax matters.

The firm also advises clients on regulatory issues matters pertaining to the SECP and customs authorities. Recently the firm has provided advice to SABIC Saudi Arabia on matters pertaining to SECP and the customs authorities.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yousaf-amanat-associates

Department	Name	Email	Telephone
Islamabad Office	Yousaf Amanat	yousaf@yaa.com.pk	0512290109
Karachi Office	Noman Zahid	yousaf@yaa.com.pk	02135638283

Photo	Name	Position	Profile
	Mr Yousaf Amanat	Managing Partner	View Profile
	Mr Noman Zahid	Resident Partner	View Profile

Partners : 02
Associate Lawyers : 18
Government Relations : 01
Manager Taxation : 01
IT : 01
Finance : 01

English (fluent)
Urdu
Punjabi
Sindhi

IBA (International Bar Association)

The Firm in June 2022 was recommended by Dentons Shanghai to BASF for an urgent matter for Pakistan. In a short span of time the Firm has now become the go to Firm for Dentons and BASF.
In December 2021 through February 2022 the Firm advised Cassels Brock and Blackwell for a matter before the Federal Investigation Agency in Lahore.
In November 2021 the China Three Gorges investment group on the recommendation of the World Bank appointed Yousaf Amanat & Associates as their counsel for the Karot Power Project.
The Firm in July 2020 became part of a large consortium of Employment Law Firms that are advising ABB/Hitachi. In July 2020, ABB divested its Power Grid division to Hitachi. The Law Firm of Elmzell Advokatbyra AB Sweden is the instructing Firm in this matter. The consortium which is predominantly European has around 40 law firms and also includes names such as Tamimi & Co., Lewis Silkin and the Chinese Firm Fang Law.
The Firm in an ongoing matter has been advising Clifford Chance UK on a highly sensitive employment matter in Pakistan since November 2019. The matter along with employment law has also seen us advising Clifford Chance on Data Protection law, the regulations of State Bank of Pakistan and provisions of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance.
This year also saw us rendering advice to Herbert Smith Freehills LLP on the law regarding employment for persons with disabilities in Pakistan.
In September 2020, the Firm was referred to by the Danish employment law specialist firm of Norrbom Vinding referred a matter for the Embassy of Denmark in Islamabad.
November 2020 we became part of another consortium of European law firms when the Italian Firm of Toffoletto De Luca Tamajo e Soci asked us to review and update the HR Policy Manual pertaining to a client of theirs having offices in different parts of the world including Pakistan.
The firm became a part of the PWC group in rendering advise to a social sector organization based in Pakistan. The advice is specific to employment law and review of the organizations HR Manual.
For some time now the Firm has been advising CGIAR organizations on matters regarding employment law and taxes in Pakistan. CGIAR is a global partnership that unites international organizations engaged in research about food security. CGIAR research aims to reduce rural poverty, increase food security, improve human health and nutrition, and sustainable management of natural resources.
The Firm recently rendered advise to Tetra Tech International USA on an employment law matter for Coffey International in Pakistan. The instructions for the matter were coordinated through the GC of the organization.
The Firm provided legal assistance in Pakistan to Sagardoy Abagados in advising Everis Spain.
The Firm also recently advised Grohe on the termination of a senior management personnel for Pakistan.
The Firm advised the Hearst Corporation New York on an employment and tax matter for Pakistan.
The Firm advised SABIC Saudi Arabia on a Customs and Company Law matter for Pakistan.

Covid-19 & Employment Law:

Starting from March 2020 the Firm has had a lot of queries on employment law in the back drop of Covid-19 in Pakistan.

The Firm rendered advice to EY Law Dubai with regard to employment matters in the backdrop of Covid-19 in Pakistan. The client was an oil & gas company with offices in Pakistan.
The Firm advised Agility Logistics Singapore on the restrictions with regard to terminations in employment in Pakistan during Covid-19.

Data Protection:

The Firm specialises in Data Protection matters. The Firm recently advised the law Firm of Addleshaw Goddard on Data Protection.
The Firm has advised GIZ on Data Protection.
The Firm has advised Oxfam International on Data Protection Law.
The Firm has advised Ericsson on Data Protection Law.

Cross Border Litigations:

During 2018 the firm acted for Oxfam International in an employment litigation involving the jurisdictions of UK, Kenya and Pakistan. The matter was a highly sensitive matter which saw us constant contact with the GCs and HR directors based in UK and Kenya.
During 2018-2019 the Firm also acted for HMD Global Oy (Nokia Phones) in an employment complaint before the Labour Court in Sindh.
The Firm has presently been engaged by ENI Italy in a workman compensation claim.

Whistle Blowing Employee Investigations:

The Firm recently handled a whistle blowing investigation for ENI Italy. As part of the investigation the firm was tasked with interviewing employees, examining the site and correspondence.

Alternative Legal Service Providers:

The Firm advised KPMG Legal Germany in a cross border employment and immigration matter which involved developing employment contracts for employees for work in Germany.
The Firm was part of an international PWC consortium for advising a multinational company on Employment Law.
The Firm advised E & Y UAE in a merger and acquisition matter in Pakistan.

CLIENT: Varun Menon

COMPANY/FIRM: HMD GLOBAL OY (NOKIA)

TESTIMONIAL: We had engaged with Yousaf Amanat & Associates for certain labour related matters and advice in Pakistan and were very pleased with the professionalism and levels of service we received. Yousaf and his Partner in Karachi Noman were always on call to help and provide prompt advice and execute related actions. They had a very good and practical understanding of the local laws and practices.

CLIENT: Eric Wong

COMPANY: BASF

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm of Yousaf Amanat & Associates has been stellar in their assistance to us. They have provided us advice on employment law, company law and tax matters. The company also provides BASF with company secretarial services. The turn around time particularly for Yousaf has been phenomenal. He’s a good counsel who listens to his client.

CLIENT: Nancy Sun

COMPANY: Dentons

TESTIMONIAL: We worked closely with the Firm in providing advice to BASF. Yousaf’s hard work, quick responses and the unique empathy he feels for his client and has made him an invaluable member of the BASF legal team for Pakistan.

CLIENT: Gaojun Cao

COMPANY: Delivery Hero

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm provided Delivery Hero and Food Panda with an in-depth analysis of risks when working with Gig Workers.

CLIENT: Sebastien Le Roux

COMPANY: Daily Motion

TESTIMONIAL: The firm advised Daily Motion on data protection and the social media rules for Pakistan. The advise was to our satisfaction.

CLIENT: Nael Berkhani

COMPANY: EASOP

TESTIMONIAL: The firm provided as in depth tax advice for Pakistan for our stock option tax software. The turn around time for Yousaf and Sheraz was excellent.

CLIENT: Lu Dong sheng

COMPANY: China Three Gorges

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm was appointed on the recommendation of the World Bank for our Karot Power Project. Very good Firm and good advice. Advised on employment law and tax. Satisfaction of World Bank.

CLIENT: Tobias Becker

COMPANY: GIZ

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm has now been advising us for the past 02 years on employment law, tax, procurement and litigations. We are highly satisfied.

CLIENT: Paluzzi Paolo

COMPANY: ENI Spa Rome

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm is representing ENI in a high end employment litigation in Karachi. We are satisfied with services rendered.

CLIENT: Deepak Gill

COMPANY: DLA Piper

TESTIMONIAL: Yousaf Amanat & Associates recently assisted us in representing a client of ours before the Federal Investigation Agency Lahore. We are very impressed with the turn around time for Yousaf. Yousaf is a strategist when it comes to finding the best possible solution for his client. The Firm has strong presence before LEAs and courts.

CLIENT: Andrew Marshal

COMPANY: Cialfo

TESTIMONIAL: Mr. Amanat recently provided us assistance on employment law. His turn around time and eye for details has us very impressed.

CLIENT: Sara Daraziger

COMPANY: GROHE

TESTIMONIAL: Yousaf has just been top notch with his advice and availability.

CLIENT: Alistair Woodland

COMPANY: Clifford Chance LLP

TESTIMONIAL: We can confirm that the Firm of Yousaf Amanat & Associates has rendered advice to Clifford Chance LLP over an employment and data protection issue concerning Pakistan. We found them to be helpful.

CLIENT: Anna Ducco

COMPANY: KPMG LEGAL GERMANY

TESTIMONIAL: Yousaf Amanat & Associates has assisted us recently in an employment and immigration matter concerning Pakistan.

CLIENT: Vincent Collins

Company: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

TESTIMONIAL: We found the Firm in particular Mr. Amanat to be very responsive and helpful.

CLIENT: Javier Alonso

COMPANY: Sgardoy Abagados

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm of Yousaf Amanat & Associates assisted us n providing advise to Averis. We found them to be very helpful and thorough in their advice.

CLIENT: Nigel Schilling

COMPANY: HEARST CORPORATION NEW YORK

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm advised us on employment law and tax. We found Mr. Amanat to be very prompt and thorough in his advice. He is available to reply to emails 24/7!

CLIENT: Mrs Qasmi Qamar

COMPANY: ENI PAKISTAN

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm of Yousaf Amanat & Associates is presently representing the Company in a litigation matter. The Firm has also in the past assisted us in an investigation on a whistle blowing matter. Mr. Amanat is very technical in legal advise.

CLIENT: Megan Smith

FIRM: Addleshaw Godard

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm of Yousaf Amanat & Associates provided us advice on a Data Protection matter recently. We found them in particular the partner Noman Zahid to be very detail oriented in his advice.

CLIENT: Jean Padden General Counsel-Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo

COMPANY/FIRM: CGIAR

TESTIMONIAL: As a public international organization, CIMMYT works to ensure its continuous compliance with labor and employment matters. In this regard, CIMMYT values the benefit it has received from the responsive and expert services of Yousaf Amanat & Associates in Pakistan.

CLIENT: Nurul Ayu

FIRM: Herbert Smith Freehills

TESTIMONIAL: Yousaf Amanat & Associates provided us with advice on an employment matter. The Firm is very research oriented.

CLIENT: Liu Zhonghai

COMPANY/FIRM: CHINA RAILWAY CORPORATION

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm has been instrumental in our bidding process for the Orange Train Line. The Firm advised us on the bidding process, employment matters, tax matters, contract. We found them to be very responsive and their advice to be very helpful.

CLIENT: Zeeshan Sajjd Ali

COMPANY/FIRM: MARRIOT INTERNATIONAL

TESTIMONIAL: The Firm has been advising our hotel business for some time now on matters related to Labour and Employment matters for our various hotels all over Pakistan. The Firm has provided advice on critical labour law matters and has also successfully concluded various employment litigations in courts and before labour tribunals for our company. We are most satisfied with the level of expertise we have received from the Firm.

CLIENT: Simon Fasterkjaer

COMPNAY: Embassy of Denmark

TESTIMONIAL: Mr. Yousaf Amanat has been providing us assistance for the past 01 year on matters related to Employment Law. We have found his advice to be very useful. He tends to bring out of the box solutions to us which cater to our style pf working.

CLIENT: Lynn Rutter Director HR Oxfam International