The ‘very talented and highly professional team’ at Akhund Forbes is known for its work on a range of high-value and complex transactions, which often span multiple jurisdictions. Recently, it has worked on a variety of deals involving the sovereign debt refinancing of the Government of Pakistan’s international debt and continues to be busy advising several international lenders. In addition, it advises many corporate clients on structured sukuk and bond transactions and has advised on numerous strategic power projects. Practice head Rabel Akhund has a wealth of experience in climate finance matters. Sahar Iqbal garners praise for her work on a variety of conventional banking matters. Bilal Awais was promoted to the partnership in January 2024.

The ‘impressive, hardworking, and knowledgeable’ team at Haidermota & Co Advocates is recommended for its work across the full spectrum of financial products and services. It deftly handles local and cross-border bilateral and syndicated lending deals, as well as Islamic and project financing matters. In addition, it covers other aspects of financing, such as acquisition and public sector financing. It also excels in advising on REITS, securitisations, and financing matters in the fintech space. Clients include local and foreign institutions, including banks and microfinance banks, as well as multilateral agencies. Senior partner Khozem Haidermota is highly sought after for his work on complex deals. Other names to note are Ali Vasi, Mohammad Anwer, Zahra Abid, Owais Aziz, and Shabbir Harianawala.

The highly experienced team at Liaquat Merchant Associates covers a wide array of contentious and non-contentious banking and finance matters. The practice is well placed to advise on diverse matters, such as project financing and electronic banking. It regularly advises on corporate banking, consumer financing, leveraged financing, and acquisition financing. The department is skilled at advising on Shariah-compliant modes of financing, including murabaha, musharaka, istisna, and ijarah. The group routinely advises major national and international banks and non-banking financial institutions. Under the leadership of Faresa Jafarey Ahsan, the group is well equipped to advise on other matters relating to guarantees and letters of credit. Liaquat Merchant continues to play a pivotal role in the department.

From its offices in Karachi and Lahore, the agile team at Mohsin Tayebaly & Co is well placed to advise on a variety of complex and cross-border financing matters. Under the joint leadership of Irfan Tayebaly and Vaseeq Khalid, the department receives a regular stream of instructions from local and foreign banks, as well as other financial institutions. The practice is well-equipped to advise on issues such as acquisition and asset financings, as well as on Shariah-compliant bonds. Mikael Rahim is a seasoned practitioner who handles a variety of corporate financing transactions and debt restructurings. Mehreen Manto has considerable experience acting for banks and other corporates on key project financing deals.

Spearheaded by Bilal Shaukat, RIAA BARKER GILLETTE has an excellent reputation in the market for its work on major local and cross-border financings. The firm regularly advises sponsors, developers and lenders on projects in the energy, power and mining sectors, in particular. Other areas of sector expertise include transport, logistics and infrastructure. The team has substantial experience advising on all aspects of financing and security arrangements, as well as advising on debt-to-equity conversions and syndicated loan transactions. The skilled group often advises on all kinds of Islamic modes of financing, such as murabaha, musharaka and sukuk. Adil Tirmizey is another important contact.

The ‘knowledgeable, easily accessible and experienced team’ at Ahmed & Qazi is ably led by Nazif Ahmed. Recently, it has worked on various syndications, project financing matters, and restructurings. The group has particular strength in the energy sector, and in advising on REIT schemes. It has been busy advising foreign banks and financial institutions on numerous LIBOR to SOFR transitions. Nadeem Ahmed is among the other names to note.

Kabraji & Talibuddin has a varied client base of leading domestic and international banks, financial institutions and corporate entities. The firm has been engaged by foreign banks to advise on numerous capital market transactions and the issuance of bonds and sukuk. It has also been busy advising on a variety of complex derivatives and swap transactions. The department regularly advises on cross-border securities transactions. In addition, it is well regarded for its work on an array of aviation financing and leasing deals. The group is collectively led by Syed Ali Bin Maaz, Maheen Faruqui and Syed Mubashir Hussain Shah.

Orr, Dignam & Co. remains busy advising on various project financing matters and has extensive experience in the power sector. It routinely handles a wide range of banking and finance matters for banks, sponsors, international lenders, borrowers and guarantors. The practice covers acquisition and asset financing, securitisation deals and Islamic financing. It is also experienced in handling export credit transactions. The group often advises clients on foreign exchange laws and on regulatory requirements. Zahir Riaz, Aliya Yusuf, Asim Nasim, Shahid Raza and Umar Shahid are the main names to note.

Omer Farooq leads the practice at Farooq, Khan & Mirza (Advocates & Corporate Counsel), which has a busy projects and energy offering. It is frequently called upon to advise on project financings, particularly in the infrastructure sector and on PPP projects. The group acts for project developers, government authorities and financial institutions. Waleed Arshad is another name to note for his work on a range of financing matters.

Collectively led by Raashid Anwer, Mustafa Ali and Syed Muhammad Ali Mehdi, the versatile team at Khalid Anwer & Co. has a solid reputation in the market. It has particular expertise in advising banks when borrowers default on loans and represents large national banks as well as several international banks.

Imran Nawaz Memon and Mir Nasar Ahmad co-head the department at Nawaz Hussain Sikander. It is well placed to advise on conventional forms of financing as well as Islamic financing. The team represents banks and other financial institutions and also acts for corporate and institutional borrowers. The group advises on a range of complicated matters, such as loan syndications, debt restructurings, and project financings.

Adnan Aslam Qureshi leads a busy practice at Qureshi Law Associates. The group advises local and international banks as well as financial institutions on a broad array of conventional and Islamic transactions. It has particular strength in the power sector. In addition, the group often advises on other aspects of financing, such as restructuring, banking litigation and enforcement. Other core areas of expertise include advising on securitisations and structuring public-private partnerships.

The nimble team at Vellani & Vellani is sought after for its work in corporate and project financing deals. It continues to represent project sponsors and financial institutions on various domestic and international transactions. The group has a wealth of experience in advising on a range of Shariah-compliant structures, such as sukuk, murabaha, istisna’a and takaful modes of financing. Ameen Vellani, Badaruddin F Vellani, Tariq Nasir and Ferzeen Bhadha are at the helm.