Pinsent Masons visits Azam & Rai

Mr. Richard Twomey (Senior Associate) and Mr. Stefan Paciorek (Partner) from the London office of Pinsent Masons - one of the world's leading law firms - visited the offices of Azam & Rai in Lahore and met with Managing Partner, Mr. R.M.S. Azam. The Pakistani legal sector was discussed along with matters of mutual interest, particularly in the field of international arbitration. The prospects of collaboration between the two law firms in relation to arbitration concerning Pakistani clients also came under discussion.

Azam & Rai transfers website to new domain: www.azamrai.com

Azam & Rai has transferred its website from its previous domain at 'www.azam-rai.com' to its new domain at www.azamrai.com.

Azam & Rai partner recommended by Chambers Asia 2009 and Chambers Global 2009

Azam & Rai partner, Mr. R.M.S. Azam, has been recommended by Chambers Asia 2009 and Chambers Global 2009 as one of the 'Leading Lawyers' in the corporate and commercial sectors in Pakistan.

Chambers Asia 2009, which ranks the leading lawyers of Asia and Chambers Global 2009, which ranks the leading lawyers of the world - are both publications of Chambers & Partners, London (http://www.chambersandpartners.com/), which annually ranks leading lawyers - regionally and globally.

Chambers Global is referred to by Chambers & Partners as the "directory of the most highly recommended lawyers world-wide."

Chambers lawyer rankings - universally recognized as one of the most credible and prestigious in the world - are based on independent research conducted by Chambers & Partners based on market reputation, which is guaged from in-depth interviews and feeback from clients and lawyers.

In its commentary, Chambers Asia 2009 states:

Rai Azam is the “dynamic young lead lawyer” at Azam & Rai, which has built a strong reputation as a one-stop shop for foreign investors. Azam advises foreign clients on every stage of their investment into Pakistan and he has also developed particular expertise in IT.

Azam & Rai incorporates Pakistan subsidiary of Singapore Stock Exchange-listed telecom company

Sector: Investment & Corporate Laws
Azam & Rai incorporated Unified Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. in Pakistan as a subsidiary of Unified Communications Pte. Ltd., a Singapore Stock Exchange-listed telecommunications company headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Azam & Rai (Lahore) and Kakakhel Law Associates (Peshawar) enter into strategic collaborative arrangement

As part of its strategic goal of becoming a 'national law firm' with offices in all the four provinces of Pakistan, Azam & Rai has entered into a strategic collaborative arrangement with Kakakhel Law Associates, one of the leading law firms in Peshawar, resulting in the opening of Azam & Rai's branch office in Peshawar and Kakakhel Law Associate's branch office in Lahore.

Peshawar is the capital of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), one of Pakistan's four provinces. With the opening of Azam & Rai's Peshawar office and Kakakhel Law Associate's Lahore office, Azam & Rai and Kakakhel Law Associates will become the only law firms in Pakistan with offices in both the cities of Lahore and Peshawar and the provinces of the Punjab and the NWFP.

Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel, Esq., Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Pakistan, who heads Kakakhel Law Associates, Peshawar, will also head Azam & Rai's Peshawar office.

The Peshawar office will enable Azam & Rai to provide legal services to local and overseas clients who require legal services in Peshawar and the NWFP and to clients based in Peshawar and the NWFP who require legal services in Lahore and the Punjab.

Due to its proximity to Afghanistan and its location in one of the most important cities on the Afghan Transit Trade Corridor, the Peshawar office will also enable Azam & Rai to provide legal services related to the Afghan Transit Trade through Pakistan as well as to those clients interested in investing and doing business in Afghanistan who require international-standard legal services with local knowledge.

Azam & Rai engaged to draft the Memorandum & Articles of Association for Luxembourg company - International Medical Centre Group S.A.

Sector: Corporate Laws
Azam & Rai has been engaged by clients based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to draft the Memorandum & Articles of Association for incorporation of a company in Luxembourg - International Medical Centre Group S.A.

Azam & Rai advises Dubai-based law firm on Pakistan's statute of limitations

Azam & Rai has advised Dubai-based law firm, Fichte & Co. (Legal Consultancy), on Pakistan's statute of limitations.

Azam & Rai advises Singapore telecommunications company on investment climate and corporate legal/regulatory framework in Pakistan

Sector: Investment Climate & Corporate Laws
Azam & Rai has advised a Singapore Stock Exchange-listed telecommunications company on the investment climate and the corporate legal and regulatory framework in Pakistan as a prelude to its investment in the telecommunications sector in Pakistan.

Cabinet approves draft Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008: Anti-Dumping Appellate Tribunal Proposed

Sector: International Trade Law - Anti-Dumping
The Federal Cabinet of Pakistan has approved the draft Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Ordinance 2008, seeking amendments in the Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance, 2000. The new amendments propose the establishment of an appellate tribunal, headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, for hearing appeals against decisions of the National Tariff Commission (NTC) in anti-dumping cases.

The promulgation of this Ordinance will fill a vacuum that has always existed since 2000 as a result of the absence of an appeal mechanism with regard to the imposition of anti-dumping duties by the NTC.

FBR considers decentralizing Sales Tax Registration

Sector: Taxation Laws
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) may delegate powers to regional collectors of sales tax to issue sales tax registration numbers and certificates from regional registration offices rather than through the Centralized Registration Office (CRO), Islamabad. This will expedite the process of obtaining sales tax registration numbers and certificates and will lessen the time and cost of doing business in Pakistan, thereby further encouraging both domestic and foreign investment in Pakistan.

SNGPL challenges ECC raw material price escalation formula in the Lahore High Court

Sectors: Energy Laws & Dispute Resolution
Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) has challenged the decision by the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) on raw material price escalation formula in the Lahore High Court. It has made the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) a party to the petition for demanding the implementation of the ECC decision.

Azam & Rai drafts tripartite software distribution agreement between Pakistani, British and Australian companies

Sector: Information Technology Laws
Azam & Rai was engaged to draft a tripartite value added distributer (VAD) agreement between a Pakistani software development company, a British software company and an Australian software distribution company for the non-exclusive distribution and sale in Australia of a software solution developed by the Pakistani software development company and its affiliated company in the United Kingdom.

Azam & Rai drafts share subscription agreements for Lahore International Medical Centre and LIMC Holdings Luxembourg

Sector: Corporate Laws
Azam & Rai drafted share subscription agreements for a Pakistani company, Lahore International Medical Centre (Pvt.) Ltd., and a Luxembourg company, LIMC Holdings Luxembourg.

Azam & Rai engaged by overseas investors to incorporate sports company in Pakistan

Sectors: Investment, Corporate & Sports Laws

Azam & Rai has been engaged by six overseas investors based in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom for the incorporation of a sports company in Pakistan, which will oversee the establishment of one of the first private-sector corporate football clubs in Pakistan and will commercially promote sports in Pakistan generally.

Azam & Rai will also be providing general legal advisory as well as taxation law and intellectual property law services to the company.

Azam & Rai Partner Muhammad Asif Bhatti receives Pakistan Supreme Court license

Sector: Dispute Resolution

Azam & Rai Partner Muhammad Asif Bhatti has been enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan by the Pakistan Bar Council, which entitles him to appear before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Mr. Bhatti was previously enrolled as an Advocate of the Lower Courts in 1993 and as an Advocate of the High Courts in 1995.

With this enrollment, Mr. Bhatti joins a select band of less than 2,000 lawyers in Pakistan who are entitled to appear before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. His enrollment gives Azam & Rai the ability to directly litigate before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Mr. Bhatti is an experienced and accomplished litigator and specializes in dispute resolution.

Azam & Rai lawyers participate in "Long March" for the restoration of the Pakistani judiciary

Azam & Rai's lawyers participated in the nationwide "Long March" for the restoration of the Pakistani judiciary by travelling by road from Lahore to the capital, Islamabad, on 13 June 2008.

The call for the "Long March" was given by the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, together with all four Provincial High Court Bar Associations and 126 District Bar Associations all over Pakistan, to protest the delay in the reinstatement of almost 60 Supreme Court and High Court judges who were illegally and unconstitutionally deposed by General Pervez Musharraf on 3 November 2007 after the proclamation of emergency rule in Pakistan, which was subsequently lifted but without the reinstatement of the deposed judges.

On the night of 13/14 June 2008, more than 200,000 people, including lawyers and people from all walks of life, peacefully gathered in front of Parliament on Islamabad's Constitution Avenue to demand immediate the restoration of the deposed judiciary.

Azam & Rai drafts first Convertible Debt Agreement for private limited company in Pakistan

Sector: Corporate Laws
Azam & Rai drafted a Convertible Debt Agreement for Lahore International Medical Centre (Pvt.) Ltd. – the first of its kind for a private limited company in Pakistan.

Ruqia Ismail joins Azam & Rai as an Associate

Ruqia Ismail joined Azam & Rai as an Associate on 2 June 2008. Prior to joining Azam & Rai, Ms. Ismail worked as an Associate at Rizvi & Rizvi (Advocates, Solicitors & Corporate Consultants), Lahore and Walker Martineau Saleem (Advocates & Legal Consultants), Lahore.

Ms. Ismail received her LL.B. from the Punjab University, Lahore and is enrolled as an Advocate of the Lower Courts with the Punjab Bar Council.

Ms. Ismail has experience and expertise in banking and finance, civil, commercial, corporate and intellectual property laws.

Heroism of Pakistani Lawyers and Judges to be Honoured by the American Bar Association

The bravery of Pakistani lawyers who faced down baton-wielding police over threats to their country’s constitution, and judges who were fired or quit their posts will be honoured by the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative. The ABA has announced it is giving its annual Rule of Law award to “those lawyers and judges in Pakistan who demonstrated courage in upholding the rule of law in their country.”

The award will be formally made in August 2008 at the ABA Rule of Law luncheon, part of the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City. The honour has previously been bestowed to an array of world leaders and defenders of the rule of law over the ABA's 14-year history, including Vaclav Havel while he was president of the Czech Republic, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy and Stephen Breyer, and the Committee of Voters of Ukraine.

Representatives from the Pakistani legal and judicial community will be invited to come to New York to accept the award on behalf of the Pakistani lawyers and judges who have championed the rule of law. The luncheon is set for August 9, 2008 at the New York Hilton.

Source: www.abanet.org/media

Azam & Rai conducts due diligence for PKR 950 Million property transaction

Sector: Land, Property & Real Estate

Azam & Rai has prepared a due diligence report for a major national corporation as a precursor to a property transaction worth an estimated PKR 950 Million in Lahore.

Azam & Rai participates in Seminar on 'Role of Lawyers in Helping Companies Implement Good Corporate Governance and Mediating Corporate Governance'

Sector: Corporate Regulatory Laws
As part of the Firm's continuing commitment to keep abreast of the latest legal developments, Mr. R.M.S. Azam, Partner, and Ms. Noveera Usman, Associate, participated in a Seminar on 'The Role of Lawyers in Helping Companies Implement Good Corporate Governance and Mediating Corporate Governance Disputes' held under the auspices of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) (World Bank Group) at the Avari Hotel, Lahore on 11 March 2008.

Foreign investors to invest USD $25 billion in Punjab Province, particularly Lahore, in the next 3 years

Foreign Investment
According to the Department for Trade and Investment, Government of the Punjab, foreign investors are expected to make an investment of USD $25 billion in the Punjab Province in the next 3 years, particularly in and around the provincial capital city of Lahore.

Azam & Rai enters into Corporate Rate Agreement with Islamabad Serena Hotel

Client Service

Azam & Rai has entered into a Corporate Rate Agreement with the Islamabad Serena Hotel, under which all clients of Azam & Rai can avail 50% discount on Deluxe and Executive Club Rooms and 10% discount on Junior and Presidential Suites at the Hotel. Islamabad Serena Hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Azam & Rai drafts MOU between a Lahore-based multinational multimedia company and a Mumbai-based production house

Sector: Media & Commercial Laws

Azam & Rai drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between a Lahore-based multinational multimedia company and a Mumbai-based production house as a precursor to a strategic collaboration agreement for television production services.

Azam & Rai drafts Project Cost and Market Study Services Agreement between Lahore International Medical Centre (Pvt.) Ltd. and SKP Consulting Ltd.

Sector: Projects
Azam & Rai drafted a ‘Project Cost and Market Study Services Agreement’ between Lahore International Medical Centre (Pvt.) Ltd. and SKP Consulting Ltd., a project consultancy firm, as a prelude to the launch of a project for the construction of a 300-bed general hospital in Lahore.

Azam & Rai again recommended by the Asia-Pacific Legal 500 as one of the leading law firms in Banking & Finance & Corporate/M&A

For the third consecutive year, Azam & Rai has been recommended by the Asia-Pacific Legal 500 (2007-2008 Edition) as one of the leading law firms in Pakistan in the areas of Banking & Finance and Corporate/M&A.

Azam & Rai is, once again, ranked amongst the top 30 law firms in the Banking & Finance sector and amongst the top 20 law firms in the Corporate/M&A sector in Pakistan. In its commentary, the Asia-Pacific Legal 500 (2006-2007 Edition) states:

"Rai Muhammad Saleh Azam and Maliha Sarda Azam are the two leading partners at dynamic boutique, Azam & Rai. With five lawyers in total, the firm is regularly punching above its weight, having advised several domestic and international clients on a number of matters spanning corporate and commercial, international trade law (with a specific focus on anti-dumping cases), IT and IP. The firm advised on a [PKR] 60 [million] production agreement between a television production company and an international telecoms company."