Accord Chambers

ACCORD CHAMBERS is a dynamic full-service law firm based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that offers “Complete Legal Solutions” to its domestic and international clients. Clients frequently need more than plain legal advice, whether entering the Bangladesh market for the first time, continuing businesses, engaging in one-off transactions or ed in major project execution. They need a "reliable partner".
The core ethos of Accord Chambers is not to confine itself within the tenets of conventional law firms in Bangladesh but to take a step beyond: advance a one-stop package for its clients as their local partners to address all concerns in the corporate and commercial context. In the premises, the firm advises not only on mainstream legal affairs, including litigation and dispute resolution, but also on investments, transactions, business strategies and operations from the perspective of Bangladeshi laws and regulations.

Domestic law firm with international outlook & global outreach

ACCORD CHAMBERS is Bangladesh’s exclusive member firm of ALFA International, which is the premier network of independent law firms. Founded in 1980, ALFA International was the first and continues to be one of the world’s largest and strongest legal networks. We have 140 fellow ALFA
International member firms worldwide, including 80 US firms and 60 international firms located throughout Europe, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, Canada, Mexico and South America.

ACCORD CHAMBERS is also a member of Nextlaw Referral Network, a global legal referral network created by Dentons, the world’s largest law firm. This enables the firm to connect with and secure the top legal talent in the world. Thus, we have joined forces with the world to put clients first!

We are among the few law firms enlisted with the British High Commission and the Embassy of the United States of America in Dhaka. We work in close collaboration with top-tier international law firms across the globe. Allen & Overy Shearman (A&O Shearman), Shearman & Sterling, Dentons, Clyde & Co, Reed Smith, Hogan Lovells, Charles Russell Speechlys, Sunshine Law Firm, Trilegal and Nishith Desai Associates are amongst firms that frequently engage us for matters involving Bangladesh. All these make ACCORD CHAMBERS one of the few firms in Bangladesh with an international outlook and global outreach.

Innovative, business-centric & unorthodox

What differentiates ACCORD CHAMERS from the rest are the innovative and practical business-centric approach of our vastly experienced members, the well-proven capability to do the unorthodox and our ability and first-hand experience of pulling off large-scale projects that are indeed first of its kind
for Bangladesh.

The firm recognizes the sub-continental challenges in general and the economic realities of Bangladesh in particular that foreign investors and local companies frequently face. Considering such challenges and on-ground realities, ACCORD CHAMBERS takes the most pragmatic approach. It engages with its intuitive regional knowledge and deep market understanding to achieve the desired commercial outcomes for its clients while protecting their legal interests at all times. We at Accord Chambers understand and speak the business language rather than just legalese and come up with
innovative solutions and structuring ideas for transactions.

Unmatched Clientele

Accord Chambers has been advising some of Bangladesh’s largest construction and infrastructure projects of national importance, and has advised multiple MNCs, INGOs, foreign investors, and esteemed organizations such as the United Nations (UNHCR) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh. Accord Chambers has been advising reputable global corporations, including Chevron, Siemens, Johnson & Johnson, L3Harris, Netflix, Xiaomi, Gulf Air, Trest Rossem (Russia), China Energy, China Railway, China Construction, Egis Rail (France), Axiata Group (Malaysia), Mitsui and Marubeni (Japan), alongside leading local conglomerates. Recently, it’s Managing Partner was appointed as a panel lawyer for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and the Chittagong Port Authority.

Accord Chambers is routinely instructed by and works in closely collaborates with top-tier international law firms (such as A&O Shearman, Dentons, Clyde & Co., Reed Smith, Fenwick Elliott LLP, Charles Russell Speechlys, Bird & Bird, Three Crowns, Hogan Lovells, Preston Turnbull LLP, Allen & Gledhill, Rajah & Tann, Al Tamimi & Co., Sunshine Law Firm, Zhong Lun Law Firm, Grandall Law Firm,  DeHeng Shanghai, Nishith Desai Associates, Trilegal, Atsumi & Sakai, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Kocchar & Co.) as the definitive expert on matters involving Bangladesh law.

The firm has two specialist departments: Arbitration, Admiralty and Dispute Resolution,  which deals with admiralty matters, litigations and arbitrations and corporate, transactional and M&A, which advances complete legal solutions outside court.

Arbitration, Admiralty and Dispute Resolution: Accord Chambers has progressively emerged as the first choice of foreign corporations for shipping and dispute resolution matters in the jurisdiction of Bangladesh. The firm’s Admiralty and dispute resolution department is now the premier shipping practice in Bangladesh, best known for its capacity to respond instantaneously in urgent admiralty disputes where time is of the essence. The firm works in close collaboration with top tier international law firms based in the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and India and is frequently instructed by them as well as global corporations on contentious and non-contentious matters including both wet and dry work. Legal counsel of the firm have successfully represented owners of vessels, cargo owners, insurers and P&I Clubs in litigations before the Admiralty Court of Bangladesh and also secured arrests and speedy release of vessels from detention.

Besides shipping matters, Accord Chambers also has a very strong presence in commercial litigations and arbitrations and in securing enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. It is instructed by offshore corporations to represent not only in domestic arbitrations but also in international arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Singapore. Furthermore, the firm is currently representing foreign corporations based in Singapore, Malaysia and the UAE in complex and high-value civil and commercial litigations in Bangladesh. Counsel of the firm have also represented global enterprises in the successful enforcement of a multitude of foreign arbitral awards resulting from international commercial arbitrations before the ICC, FOSFA, ICA, SIAC etc.

Accord Chambers is known for taking the most pragmatic approach so as to achieve speedy relief for clients in a litigation system that is fraught with the shortcomings of cost, delay and complexity by using its intuitive regional knowledge. Known as “pro-settlement lawyers”, its counsel have also earned a reputation of exemplifying tactical and strategic acumen that positively contributes to out-of-court settlements during the early stage of litigations in which it is engaged. This is what makes Accord Chambers distinct from other law firms.

Corporate, transactional and M&A: This department is best known for providing complete legal solutions including contract negotiation, transaction structuring and legal documentations in complex corporate transactions, EPC turn-key contracts and project documentations, JV and Public-Private Partnerships projects, general commercial and supply contracts, real estate acquisition and management. Accord Chambers has emerged to be the pioneer in the growing energy practice of Bangladesh and has successfully handled a US$ 1.25bn mega oil refinery project which is the first of its kind in Bangladesh’s energy sector. It has also been instructed as legal counsel for take-over and set-up of multiple large-scale power plant projects.

The firm regularly assists foreign corporations with their acquisition of Bangladeshi target companies and also represents Bangladeshi companies with in-bound M&A transactions and joint venture projects in collaboration with off-shore partners. Accord Chambers has also earned its solid reputation in providing one-stop legal services to foreign investors and not-for-profit organizations to set up businesses and operations in Bangladesh, establish Branch Offices or wholly foreign owned subsidiaries and ensure licensing and regulatory compliance for start-ups.

The success of the firm revolves around its client satisfaction. Our members care about the clients’ concerns, understand their urgency, respond to their requests and are sensitive about their security. Each one of us is uncompromising and inflexible when it comes to the utmost interest of our clients. In doing so, our members are programmed to ensure that ethical values and client confidentiality remain uncompromised.

To know more about the firm, feel free to visit the firm’s website: www.accordchambers.com.

You can reach us at:  [email protected]