Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Corporate and M&A

Akhund Forbes opened up an office in Dhaka in 2023. It is ably co-led by Karachi-based Rabel Akhund, and H M Shanjid Siddique, who heads the Dhaka office and has been praised for his ‘outstanding professionalism’.

Corporate and M&A in Bangladesh

A.S & Associates

A.S & Associates is lauded for providing ‘excellent service quality on all matters related to corporate legal issues, cross-border transactions, investment strategy and regulatory issues’. Practice head Ferdausur Rahman is praised for his ‘practical, pragmatic and solution-oriented advice’. The skilled team handles the full range of corporate services and regularly works on multi-jurisdictional deals, corporate structuring and restructurings, in addition to M&A. Notably, the firm has considerable expertise in the public sector and advises government agencies and development partners. Mohammad Hasan Habib leads the firm's Gulshan branch, while Habib Rahaman is another important contact. Dewan Faisal left the firm in September 2023.

Praxisleiter:

Ferdausur Rahman


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Mohammad Hasan Habib; Habib Rahaman


Referenzen

‘The team is very responsive and knowledgeable. Ferdausur is exceptionally sharp and solutions and advice provided by him have proven to be very valuable over the years.’

‘The firm emphasises personalised service, proactive communication and a thorough understanding of each client’s needs and goals, fostering strong client relationships. Team members work seamlessly together and with clients.’ 

‘Mr. Ferdausur Rahman has consistently impressed. His remarkable ability to connect with clients and provide the best-suited solutions was particularly noteworthy. Mr. Rahman’s commitment to excellence reflects the firm’s dedication to delivering outstanding legal support.’

Kernmandanten

American & Efrid


British American Tobacco


Baker McKenzie


Beijing Jincheng Tongda & Neal


China Exim Bank Limited


TotalEnergies


Deutsche Bank


Danske Bank AG


Dahua Technology


Deloitte


Dentons


Envoy Textiles Limited


Freedom Fund


Globalization Partner


Herbert Smith Freehills LLP


HodaVasiChowdhury & Co.


International Finance Corporation (IFC)


International Justice Mission


LG Electronics


Matsuoka Corporation


MSF (Doctors Without Borders)


Medtronics


Mott Macdonald


Omnipresent


Unigreen Energy


Nishimura and Asahi


The Himalaya Drug Company Ltd


Techetron Ventures Limited


NBL Securities Ltd.


Water.org


ZhongLunLaw Firm, Beijing


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised an RMG company in Bangladesh on an outbound investment of $1m in Singapore with permission from the Central Bangladesh Bank.
  • Advised a global energy company on a $20m acquisition deal whereby the client is offloading its entire investment in an LPG company in Bangladesh.
  • Advised a professional service provider firm in Bangladesh on a substantial upstream acquisition deal by a multinational professional service provider firm.

Doulah & Doulah

Under the joint leadership of A.B.M. Nasirud Doulah and Amina Khatoon, the active team at Doulah & Doulah has a wealth of experience in M&A, project finance, and advising on initial public offerings. The group has secured a raft of new instructions in the construction and infrastructure areas and in the fintech space. It receives a steady flow of work from significant multinational clients and is adept at handling a broad range of key inbound investment transactions.

Praxisleiter:

A.B.M. Nasirud Doulah; Amina Khatoon


Referenzen

‘Nasrid Doulah -solid and responsive. Pragmatic commercial advice.’

‘Nasir Doulah is our key contact. He is responsive and helpful with pragmatic views/support across corporate, M&A, and project finance matters.’

‘Dependable law firm. Works with the client.’

Kernmandanten

Amazon


Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation


Walmart


JC Penney


Total Eren


Kmart


Hero Future Energies


Ib Vogt


Cyclect Energy


Aggreko


Target


Pendekar Energy


General Electric


Scatek Solar


Powerchina


CMEC


PepsiCo


Hyatt Hotels


Whirlpool


TBEA


Associated British Foods


ITC


China Energy Engineering Group


China Harbour


CAL Securities


Highlight-Mandate


  • Acted for Asian Development Bank Ventures (ADBV) in its first seed funding in Bangladesh for a sustainable energy start-up in the countrywide deployment of battery charging and swap stations being implemented by Tiger New Energy.
  • Acted for and represented United Biscuits (Pladis) in setting up a multi-million joint venture manufacturing plant in the Japanese Economic Zone under a joint venture with Advanced Chemical Industries, a publicly listed conglomerate in Bangladesh.
  • Acted for General Electric in acquiring a sizeable stake in a 662MW CCGT power plant, and acted for United Commercial Bank in its acquisition finance facility to Kapita Packaging Solutions Limited and the corresponding acquisition of a publicly listed manufacturing industry in Bangladesh.

Mahbub & Company

The nimble team at Mahbub & Company remains busy assisting both acquiring and target companies on numerous cross-border matters. It is increasingly advising tech start-up companies, as well as private equity, venture capital, and angel investors on multi-jurisdictional deals. The group has an established reputation for its work on foreign investment matters and continues to advise several foreign-owned companies and branch offices on a whole host of corporate and commercial matters. Saqeb Mahbub leads the firm’s corporate and M&A practice and is particularly well regarded for his work on foreign investment and technology deals. Other notable members of the department include Rifat Rahman and Tasmiah Zaman.

Praxisleiter:

Saqeb Mahbub


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Rifat Rahman; Tasmiah Zaman; Md Wazed Jamil


Referenzen

‘The biggest strength of this law firm is that it is always available for its clients. Very much committed to delivery timeline of assigned work which makes it stand out from other law firms.’ 

‘Mr Mahbub is professional and responsive in responding to our requests.’

‘Mahbub & Co stands out for its exceptional service and expertise in the legal field in Bangladesh. The practice is unique due to its deep understanding of both local and international legal landscapes, ensuring that clients receive comprehensive and nuanced advice.’

Kernmandanten

Jubilant Foodworks Limited


Marc Group


SBK Tech Ventures


Coca Cola


DAI


Kiabi


DAI


ETAM Group


Jubilant Foodworks Bangladesh


Fourth Partner Energy Bangladesh Limited


Decathlon Bangladesh


Dun & Bradstreet


10 MS


Seyfarth Shaw


Crystal Group


Kash Kounter Ltd


Shark Tank


Omron Healthcare Bangladesh Limited


Omron India


Wall Street Docs


SEBPO


Digital Finance International


Just Group


Kexim (Export-Import Bank of Korea)


inDrive


MasterCard


Shikho Technologies


North End Coffees


LG Electronics Inc.


Sena Kalyan Sangstha


Edutechs Ltd.


Europtex Fashion Ltd.


Porter.in


Xiaomi Technologies


TopGrade International Ltd.


Quantigo AI


Tower Hamlet Properties


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Decathlon, a global sporting goods retailer, on corporate restructuring, employment law, compliance, intellectual property, and other matters.
  • Advised and represented an international ride-sharing services company on setting up a company, legal compliance and other matters, such as regulatory approvals in Bangladesh.
  • Advised SBK Tech Ventures, a Bangladeshi venture capital firm, on its entire portfolio of tech start-up investments.

Sattar&Co.

Sattar&Co. fields an experienced team which is well equipped to advise both multinational companies and local conglomerates. The group has particular sector expertise in areas as diverse as aviation, e-commerce, employment, energy, and gaming, and often advises on complex M&A, cross-border transactions, and corporate restructurings. In addition, it receives a regular flow of work on joint ventures and foreign direct investments into Bangladesh. Head of department Sameer Sattar is recommended. Khademul Islam Choyon is another name to note.

Praxisleiter:

Sameer Sattar


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Khademul Islam Choyon


Kernmandanten

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP


Latham & Watkins LLP


RSGT Bangladesh Ltd.


British High Commission Dhaka


Saudi Bangla Pipeline Limited (SBPL)


Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd.


DGePay Services Limited


Esquire Knit Composite PLC.


Sirajganj Economic Zone Limited


Marubeni


DG e-Pharma


BestinBrands Private Ltd.


Ralph Lauren


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising RSGT Bangladesh Limited on matters pertaining to obtaining requisite licenses, registration and approvals to operate terminals, and about how to meet the various conditions precedent in the concession agreement.
  • Engaged by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP to advise a Japanese client on corporate tax and double taxation avoidance agreements in Bangladesh.
  • Working with Latham & Watkins LLP on an acquisition and conducted thorough due diligence on the target company for a US investor client.

The Law Counsel

The strong team at The Law Counsel ‘blends deep legal knowledge with practical business insights‘ and continues to receive instructions from international law firms on various commercial matters. Founder and senior partner Abdur Razzaq has considerable experience advising clients in the TMT industry on compliance issues in the telecoms space. Ehsan Siddiq is skilled at helping clients with compliance issues and advising on a variety of corporate governance matters. Also recommended is Imran Siddiq, who has a strong track record of advising clients in the telecoms industry.

Praxisleiter:

Abdur Razzaq; Ehsan Siddiq; Imran Siddiq


Referenzen

‘The law firm truly sets itself apart with its passionate and collaborative team.  I particularly appreciate the team’s unwavering dedication to their clients’ success. They go the extra mile to understand each case’s complexities and develop creative solutions.’

‘This commitment to excellence, combined with their genuine approachability fosters a true support system platform to the clients.’

‘The Law Counsel’s corporate and M&A practice is distinguished by its exceptional expertise, client-centric approach, and innovative solutions. The team excels in handling high-stakes transactions with deep market and regulatory knowledge.’

Kernmandanten

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd.


MGF Sourcing, Hong Kong


Saudi Arabian Airlines Ltd.


Sinovac, China


Microsoft, USA


Master Builders Solutions UK Ltd.


Sika AG (Switzerland)


Riedhammer (Germany)


Walmart Inc.Supermax


Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Ltd.


Oracle Corporation Singapore (Pte) Ltd.


Oracle Bangladesh Limited


BIGO, Singapore


IMO, Singapore


Dabur India Ltd.


Deloitte Korea


Lipton Teas and Infusions Bangladesh Ltd. (previously known as Ekaterra Bangladesh Ltd.)


Colombia Sportswear


Bashundhara Kings Football Club


Reliance Insurance Ltd.


Mastercard


Ride Technology Global FZ LLC


VFS Global, UAE


GeoTube, Netherlands


Bollore Logistics, Bangladesh


Alternative Investments, VCC


SF Express, China


Amazon Web Services


Genesis Digital


Cisco Systems


Nokia EA Limited


Give Directly


Aosphere


Fast Retailing Co. Ltd.


Sonagazi Solar Power Limited


University Press Limited


Research Institute of Technical Physics and Automation


Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company Limited


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Bollore Logistics Bangladesh Limited (a freight forwarding company) on the course of action to be taken to close down its operations in Bangladesh.
  • Advising Sika AG regarding the acquisition of the business of Master Builders Construction Chemicals (MBCC) in Bangladesh worth approx. $15m.
  • Advised Ride Technology FZ, UAE on the introduction of their software (on a B2B basis) to clients (ride-hailing and/or transportation service providers) in Bangladesh.

DFDL Bangladesh

Shahwar Nizam spearheads the practice at DFDL Bangladesh, which covers a mix of local and international work, particularly in the energy and infrastructure space. Nizam advises several prominent national and global corporations, financial institutions and law firms across a wide range of areas such as corporate financing,  mergers and acquisitions, and more general corporate matters. The group is also known for its work on foreign investment matters. Mahboob Aziz and Tarannum Tasnim are among the other notable members of the group.

Praxisleiter:

Shahwar Nizam


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Mahboob Aziz; Tarannum Tasnim


Referenzen

‘DFDL has a fantastic strength and depth of expertise in Bangladesh.’

‘Shahwar Nizam has an excellent depth of knowledge and is very pragmatic.’

‘A leading corporate law practice in Bangladesh. The team knows the law – and the way that it will be administered in practice – and provides useful, practical advice.’

Kernmandanten

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co L.P.


SHV Energy


ACWA Power


Wendler Interlining HK Limited


Ib Vogt (Singapore) Pte Ltd.


Marubeni Corporation


Summit Towers


Marubeni Data Bird


Blackstone Inc.


Ditrolic (S) Pte Ltd


EPV Thakurgaon Ltd.


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising and assisting ESAB in acquiring a welding business from a subsidiary of a public limited company in Bangladesh.
  • Advised and assisted KKR in conducting legal and regulatory due diligence over Frontier Towers Bangladesh Limited (previously known as AB Hightech Consortium Limited), in preparing transaction documents and assisting with the closing for the proposed equity investment and tower purchase.
  • Advised and assisted SHV Energy, a global distributor of off-grid energy, on an acquisition valued at $150m, of local LPG bottler, marketer and cylinder manufacturer- Petromax LPG and Petromax Cylinders.

Rahman & Rabbi Legal

The Dhaka-based Md. Monzur Rabbi heads the practice at Rahman & Rabbi Legal. Rabbi is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Md. Mahbubor Rahman is another significant member of the group. The department continues to be busy advising on contractual issues and has recently been working on deals in diverse areas such as tobacco and telecoms.

Praxisleiter:

Md. Monzur Rabbi


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Md. Mahbubor Rahman


Referenzen

‘A strong and competent team of lawyers work for the Chambers. Delivery on time and in full.’

‘Special mention for the Head of Chambers Barrister Monzur Rabbi. He is an exceptionally learned lawyer who has always provided the best service possible whenever called upon.’

Kernmandanten

British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Limited


World Bank Group


Unilever Bangladesh Limited


Unilever Consumer Care Limited


CAE Parc Aviation, Ireland


BAT Mark Limited


Cybergen Inc.


Vannucci Oliveira, P.A.


Carlton Fields, P.A.


Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited


Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre


NRB Bank Limited


Watson, Farley & Williams, Thailand


Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited


GE Healthcare Bangladesh Company Limited


Carhartt WIP


Kuwait Airways


Lawback Network Technology Company Limited, China


Union Wealth Trading Limited


Bangladesh Development Bank Limited


Flortech Sdn Bhd


Tokio Marine Houston Casualty Company


Germania Holdings Limited


Fiber@Home Limited


Worthington Enterprises Limited


Synergy Solutions & Advisory Limited


Germania Corporation Limited


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Limited on a risk assessment under competition law.
  • Advised Carhartt WIP on a labour matter.
  • Advised CAE Parc Aviation on the recovery of an outstanding amount of money.

Sadat Sarwat & Associates

Under the joint leadership of Omar Sadat and Sabel Nawaz, the team at Sadat Sarwat & Associates is skilled at handling a variety of high-value transactions for domestic and international clients. It has considerable industry experience in sectors such as technology, biotechnology, aviation and energy. The group is well equipped to handle a range of corporate, finance, transactional and contentious matters.

Praxisleiter:

Omar Sadat; Sabel Nawaz


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Sydul Islam


Referenzen

‘The firm’s professionalism, efficiency, high level of expertise, attention to detail and proactive approach to the local and international legal landscape have been instrumental in the successful navigation of our legal matters and execution of our business transactions.’

‘Our company has been engaged with Sadat Sarwat & Associates in Bangladesh for more than 6 years, specifically within the corporate and M&A practice area, and we are exceptionally pleased with its service.’

‘The company has an excellent team with specialists of different expertise. It has a combination of experienced and young legal professionals. All the team members are well-mannered, hard-working and enthusiastic.’

Kernmandanten

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Capital


Samsung R&D Institute Bangladesh


IDLC Finance PLC


Water.org


Ningbo Aux Electric Co. Ltd. a subsidiary of Aux Group Co. Ltd.


Systems Solutions and Development Technologies Limited (SSD-TECH)


Race Portfolio & Issue Management Limited


Augmedix Bangladesh Limited


North South University


Smiths Group PLC


DLA PIPER London


RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha)


Electra Group


Eastern Bank PLC


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Capital in respect of the Lease of two 737-800 NG aircraft to Bangladesh’s leading private Airline – US Bangla Airlines.