The dominant trend nowadays is toward specialization in a specific field of law. In the area of Maritime & Shipping Law, we not only have the knowledge of laws but also knowledge of industry practice. Combined with the vast experience of more than 30 years in dealing shipping and admiralty cases, we are regarded as one of the best law firm in this area of practice.
We believe strongly in specialization and have oriented our professional development processes to particularly cater the maritime and shipping industry. We understand our clients and the sectors in which they do businesses. Our specialized expertise in the field of Maritime & Shipping Law helps find real commercial solutions for our clients in non contentious matters.
The services we provide include:-
Contentious: Arrest and release of ships in Admiralty actions, limitation actions, insurance actions, cargo claims, charterparty disputes, oil pollution claims, crew litigation, collisions and other maritime casualties, general average acts etc.
Non contentious: Ship registration, registration of ship mortgage, ship sale and purchase, ship repair agreements, charterparties and memorandum etc.
Our firm deals with all kinds of marine and non marine insurance including cargo insurance, marine losses, limitation of liability actions, indemnities, protection and indemnity clubs correspondence and litigation on their behalf
The firm offers expert legal services in a broad range of areas. The firm is a full service law firm, key areas include: (in alphabetical order):-
o Arbitration Law: The firm has specialized knowledge in arbitration law. Enforcement of foreign arbitration award is one of the firm’s areas of expertise. Mr. Aga Faquir Mohammad, firm’s senior partner is a known shipping arbitrator. Mr. Aga Zafar Ahmed has practice diploma on International Arbitration law from College of Law, UK and is a specialist in this field of practice.
o Banking & Finance: The firm has a strong corporate client base for banking and finance work. The firm offers expert advice on all forms of credit and security agreements.
o Commercial Contracts – Advisory, Drafting and Vetting Services. Firm is specialist in drafting and vetting of contracts, agreements and other documents. Advice on using standard forms or modification of standard forms, if necessary as per industry practice. Firm also deals in registration and recognition of legal documents that may be required under the law.
o Competition law: Proceedings before Competition Commission, appeals etc. as well as advise on matters which may come within the ambit of competition laws.
o Constitutional matters: The firm also provides expert advice on constitutional issues and any matters/law touching areas of the Constitution of Pakistan.
o Construction Law: The Firm advises on major issues relating to Construction contracts, infrastructure projects, plant/design and build, turnkey projects, test Contracts and other issues arising out of construction, civil and engineering projects and advisory service on application of standard forms. Opinion on scope of works, variations to scope, standards/quality issues, testing and performance, defective performance. Contract administration, remedies under contract, dispute avoidance mechanisms, dispute resolution etc.
o Corporate Law: Firm’s area of expertise includes company incorporation, merger, joint ventures, acquisitions, winding up petitions, shares rectification petitions. Firm has in past provided their legal services to the regulatory authority i.e. Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
o Information Technology Law: Mr. Aga Faquir Mohammad, firm’s senior partner is author of the book Commentary on Electronic Transactions Ordinance 2002. Firm gives specialized advice on matters related to e-commerce, digital signatures, electronic transactions, electronic bill of lading and unsolicited emails.
o Insurance Law: Firm deals with all kinds of marine and non-marine insurance including cargo insurance, marine losses, limitation of liability actions, indemnities, protection and indemnity clubs correspondence and litigation on their behalf.
o Labour, Service & Industrial Law: We deal in labour and employment law. Our firm provides complete labour and service related issues and deal in EOBI, ESSI and other labour departments.
o Procurement Consultancy: Advisory service on procurement system installation, business process review, strategic procurement advice etc. We have special experience in public sector procurements. From vetting of tenders to the issuance of awards, we provide consultancy and legal services to our clients.
o Real Estate: The firm assists clients with the purchase, leasing and sale of commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential property.
o Shipping & Maritime Law: Contentious: Arrest or release of ships, limitation actions, insurance actions, cargo claims, charter party disputes, oil pollution claims, crew litigation, collisions and other maritime casualties, general average acts etc. Non-contentious: Ship registration, registration of ship mortgage, ship sale and purchase, drafting of ship building contracts, ship repair agreements, charter parties and memorandum etc.
o Taxation Law: Income tax, sales tax, customs and excise duty and other taxation issues. Advice on corporate taxation, trust taxation, individual taxation. International taxation and tax management and planning.
Other major practice areas in addition to those listed above include Dispute resolution, Foreign Direct Investment, Government business/regulatory law, law relating to e-commerce, telecommunications, energy, oil and gas and environment laws.