Banking, Corporate, Intellectual Property and Litigation Law Firm in Pakistan

Rana Ijaz & Partners

RA Tower
7-A Turner Road
Lahore
Pakistan

+92 42 37312828

+92 42 37321664

www.ranaijaz.com

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Law Firm Overview

Rana Ijaz & Partners is a registered law firm based in Lahore providing advisory and litigation services in a broad range of areas including civil, criminal, banking, corporate and intellectual property laws. The firm, formerly Rana Law Chambers, was founded in 1967 and currently has an extensive network of affiliates all over Pakistan. The firm also has an international network of affiliates based in the U.S. and U.K. that gives the firm a critical edge in advising and representing clients in international and multi-jurisdictional matters. The firm’s current and former international clients include banks and corporations based in the U.S., U.K. and the Gulf region. The firm has also advised consulting firms and investment banks based in the U.S. and U.K. on matters including derivatives transactions and foreign investment.

Since its formation, the firm has been extensively involved in criminal and civil litigation. Rana Ijaz Ahmed, currently Managing Partner and former Minister of Law & Human Rights, is well-regarded and is known as one of the most aggressive senior litigators in Pakistan with unquestioned integrity.

Besides litigation, the firm is rapidly growing in the area of corporate law. The two younger partners of the firm, Rana Sajjad and Rana Muhammad, have a strong background in corporate and transactional work. Mr. Sajjad is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Law and a member of the New York State bar. He was practicing law in New York before joining the firm in the year 2008. His valuable work experience in the U.S. was considered critical for developing the firm’s corporate practice in Pakistan.

Mr. Muhammad is a graduate of the BPP Law School in London and has a business background. He had the unique opportunity of working as a financial consultant with Standard Chartered Bank and NIB Bank, two leading international banks operating in Pakistan. His experience in the banking industry was the primary consideration for entrusting him with the expansion of the firm’s banking and transactional practice.

Our firm is also well-known for its white collar crime practice. Currently, our firm is advising and assisting the law firm of DLA Piper’s London office in a high-profile white collar crime matter involving individuals and assets in Pakistan and the U.K.

Our firm also has a dedicated group of investigators that is actively involved in investigative work related to relevant matters of our clients. This group has effectively conducted investigations into banking fraud, money laundering, embezzlement and discovered valuable properties in Pakistan for attachment and auction.

In addition to conventional legal services, the firm also offers corporate secretarial compliance services to foreign/international companies registered in Pakistan.

Our goal is to understand and work towards achieving our clients’ key objectives in the most efficient and effective manner. Our clients not only rely on us for our skill and high-quality work but because they know that we are a solution-oriented firm with a highly individualized focus on our clients' matters.

Year this Office was Established: 1967

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: International Commercial Transactions; Investigation Group; Banking Crime; Corporate Crime; Cyber Laws.

Practice Areas Description

At Rana Ijaz & Partners, we provide legal representation and services in the following areas of practice:

- Arbitration & ADR

Our lawyers are well trained in alternative dispute resolution methods allowing us to successfully mediate and settle most disputes. However, where arbitration is necessary, the lawyers of RI & Partners have the skills and experience to safeguard the interests of their clients. Our firm is particularly proficient in domestic and foreign commercial arbitration.

- Aviation Law

Our firm is experienced in handling matters relating to civil aviation. We assist our clients in dealing with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Moreover, we have experience with the settlement of both domestic and international disputes regarding personal injury, death, cargo damage and loss, including claims involving international aviation treaties.

- Admiralty Law

RI & Partners has specialized knowledge of all areas of maritime commerce including passenger and cargo transportation disputes, vessel collisions and maritime rescues, maritime reparations and maritime insurance.

- Banking and Finance

We offer legal services as advisers and litigators to various local and foreign financial institutions in the areas of financing as well as recoveries of loans and finances. Our services relate to loan documentation for commercial banks, investments banks and non-banking financial institutions such as syndicate financing agreements, documentation for financial derivatives, documentation for term finance certificates, documentation for housing finance, documentation for morabaha, musharika and other Islamic Finance products, lease agreements, hire purchase agreements and consumer finance agreements. Our firm also offers litigation services to financial institutions in the Banking Courts and High Courts. Predominantly, banking litigation comprises of filing recovery suits on behalf of banks and obtaining decrees in the shortest possible period. Execution of the decree is a process that tends to be slow if not pursed diligently by the counsel. Our team’s goal is to recover unpaid debt for our clients in the shortest possible time.

- Bankruptcy, Liquidation & Restructuring

Bankruptcy law is an active area of our practice. Our lawyers assist our clients in their dealings with financially distressed companies including companies that have filed for bankruptcy and/or in liquidation.

- Civil and Criminal Litigation

RI & Partners has represented and assisted both foreign and local clients in litigation spanning two or more national jurisdictions. The firm manages all aspects of such proceedings to ensure a unified, consistent approach. Our lawyers have considerable experience representing both foreign entities that are the subject of suits in Pakistan and corporations and individuals bringing suits against foreign entities in Pakistan. Our firm’s reputable criminal defense practice extends beyond Pakistan. Our lawyers have extensive experience in defending clients in matters involving white collar crime, banking crime, corporate crime, import and export, environmental issues, securities and capital markets and tax cases. The firm's experience includes the defense of corporations and individuals involved in multi-national, multi-agency investigations and prosecutions. We have also advised our clients on the proper course of action in matters involving governmental agencies in Pakistan and abroad.

- Corporate / Financial Transaction

Our lawyers have considerable experience in assisting foreign lenders and domestic enterprises in international asset-based transactions. The services that we provide include structuring transactions, drafting legal documents, negotiating on behalf of our clients or preparing our clients for direct negotiations, presenting legal opinions, as well as any other services that are required. Our lawyers are particularly experienced in Pakistani project financing, sophisticated financing and leasing in connection with aircraft and shipping transactions. Our lawyers are also experienced in advising on Pakistani exchange control laws and regulations.

- Cyber Laws

Our lawyers are experienced in handling many e-commerce issues including electronic financial transactions, online/internet banking, credit card fraud, privacy, identity theft, consumer protection, web-site development, digital security, encryption, marketing and advertising. Our lawyers also assist clients in protecting and defending their trade marks against infringement in cyber space.

- Family Laws

RI & Partners has a dedicated group of lawyers who specialize in family law. We assist our clients with their legal issues relating to dissolution of marriage and child custody.

- Foreign Investment

The firm offers advice in connection with foreign investment in Pakistan. The range of the firm’s services in this area includes advice in relation to Pakistan’s investment policy for the specific sector/industry, company registration and relevant foreign exchange regulations.

- Human Rights & Civil Liberties

Our firm also provides legal services in the area of human rights. Our firm’s Managing Partner, Rana Ijaz Ahmed, is the President of the International Commission for Human Rights, an international organization working to prevent human rights abuses around the world.

- International Commercial Transactions

International trade and commerce are active and expanding areas of our practice. Our lawyers have knowledge of domestic and international trade laws and practices. We offer comprehensive services to our clients involved in the purchase and sale of goods, construction contracts and technology transfers.

- Intellectual Property

Our firm offers highly specialized services in the areas of anti counterfeiting, design and computer contracts, as well as advertisement, media, publishing and entertainment. We provide our clients with extensive services relating to agreements for the use, supply and licensing and maintenance of software. Specifically, the services offered by our firm include preparing applications for patents and trademark registrations and pursuing these applications through issuance by the Patent and Trademark Office and maintaining these items of intellectual property in force for our clients. We also work with our international associates to obtain corresponding protection in countries outside Pakistan. We offer representation to clients in patent and trademark litigation including alternative-dispute resolution processes such as arbitration and mediation.

Our firm also offers protection of trade rights in product packaging and service presentation and protection of proprietary information and trade secrets against theft or unfair competition, including nondisclosure, noncompetition, anti-solicitation and anti-piracy issues.

- Investigation Group

Our firm has a dedicated group of investigators that is actively involved in investigative work related to relevant matters of our clients. Our investigation team has an extensive network of bankers, real estate agents and other relevant officials working with the government and/or in their individual capacity who provide invaluable assistance in unearthing disputed assets/properties. Our investigators in their asset searches look for movable and immovable property purchased and/or sold illegally and fraudulently by the offenders to delay and frustrate legal proceedings. Additionally, we examine assets of spouses and family members for possible transfers, and corporations associated with the subject and his/her partners. We identify individuals or entities that can provide leads and directions by scrutinizing the life style, litigation history and relationships in order to discover hidden assets. Our investigation arm has been very effective in conducting investigations into bankruptcy fraud, money laundering, internal and external corporate fraud, embezzlement, and identity theft.

- Labor Law

The lawyers at RI & Partners provide their clients legal assistance in matters involving labor contracts, labor insurance, labor protection and welfare, construction of labor management systems and the settlement of labor disputes.

- Mortgage Loans / Refinancing Transactions

We also have a growing practice in the area of mortgage loans. Lawyers at our firm are qualified to represent banks in mortgage loan transactions. We also offer assistance in instituting civil and criminal proceedings in the Civil Court and Banking Court. Specifically, our firm specializes in filing suits in civil courts, instituting execution proceedings for enforcing judgments, filing suits for damages against the debtor, suits for foreclosure or sale of debtor’s property and applying for bankruptcy of a debtor corporation.

- Mergers & Acquisitions

Our firm’s corporate lawyers play a pivotal role in planning and executing mergers and acquisitions. Our lawyers represent both buyers and sellers in M&A transactions and are exceptionally skilled in structuring and negotiating deals ranging from the merger or acquisition of a large multi-national corporation to the acquisition or sale of a small company.

- Offshore Investment/Company Registration

The firm offers services in connection with formation of offshore companies especially in the UAE state of Ras Al Khema.

- Real Estate Transactions

RI & Partners has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate transactions and we have successfully guided our clients through the most complicated transactions. The services we provide include assignment and transfer of land use rights, development and management of tracts of land, commercial and residential sales and purchases, mortgages, property based debt restructuring and rescheduling.

- Securities & Capital Markets

We represent underwriters and initial purchasers in connection with securities offerings and stock exchange listings. We also handle debt and equity securities offerings. We represent issuers, officers, directors and shareholders with respect to their legal obligations. We also serve our corporate clients in connection with public merger and acquisition transactions. Our firm’s Securities Group works closely with our Mergers and Acquisitions Group on corporate finance transactions involving initial public offerings, stock consideration, due diligence and other securities-related activities.

- Tax Laws

Tax implications are an important aspect in structuring commercial transactions. The firm advises clients on tax issues relating to commercial transactions like joint ventures, share purchase agreements and purchase of business as running concerns. Our lawyers advise foreign clients regarding tax implications of their investments in the local market.

- White Collar Crime

Our firm has a large practice group in the area of white collar crime. The breadth and depth of our firm’s experience in the area of criminal law has fully equipped us in the area of white collar crime. Lawyers in our firm’s white collar crime group have extensive experience in all aspects of criminal defense from investigation to trial and beyond, as well as advising businesses on compliance issues. Our firm also offers legal services in connection with matters involving money laundering, international banking fraud and illegal property transactions. Lawyers in our firm’s white collar crime group have advised and assisted international law firms in high-profile white collar crime matters that involve multiple jurisdictions. Currently, our firm is working with the law firm of DLA Piper on a high-profile white-collar crime matter involving individuals and assets in Pakistan.

Affiliations

Gross & Co (U.K.)
Ellahie & Farooqui (Sane Jose, U.S.)

Lawyers

	Mr. Rana Muhammad Ahmad Lawyer Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Banking Law, Bankruptcy, Business Formation		Mr. Rana Sajjad Ahmed Lawyer Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Bankruptcy, Civil Litigation, Contracts
	Mr. Rana Ijaz Ahmed Khan Managing Lawyer Adoption, Appellate Practice, Assault, Bankruptcy, Battery