ABOUT US

Our Firm

CKR ZIA specialises in banking, corporate, commercial, energy and investment laws; in addition to practising in other legal fields.

The Firm provides integrated legal services in wide-ranging business sectors and maintains high professional standards.

Ranging from a simple legal query, regulatory issue or claim, to complex business structuring, investment decision, industrial project or commercial transactions, the attorneys at CKR ZIA are adequately skilled, experienced and resourced to handle all such matters and deliver befitting solutions. 

The Firm handles all kinds of legal references including advisories, project work and transaction structuring; it possesses rich expertise in handling commercial arbitrations and litigation in all Courts of law of Pakistan. 

The Partners have additionally been advising on legal and regulatory reforms to national and sub-national governments and international financial institutions such as, World Bank, UNODC, USAID, GIZ, FAO and ADB.  

The Firm’s clients include banks, commercial and investment companies, multinational enterprises, regulatory authorities, SOEs and international institutions. 

Our Attorneys are licensed by Bar Councils of Pakistan, and enrolled as Advocates of High Courts and Supreme Court of Pakistan. All the attorneys are graduates of prestigious universities, and adequately skilled for all legal tasks. 

Our offices are located in Islamabad and Lahore, and we have associated arrangements to provide legal services in the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council. 

Our Business Sectors

Our Practice Areas

Banking and Finance

Capital Markets

Construction

Electric Power

ENTERTAINMENT

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

MANUFACTURING

OIL AND GAS

REAL ESTATE

RENEWABLES

SERVICES 

START UPS

TELECOM

TRADE

BANKING LAW

Business LAW

Arbitration LAW

Companies LAW

COMMERCIAL LAW

Competition LAW 

CONTRACT LAW

Employment and HR LAWS

Foreign Direct Investment

Legal and Regulatory Reforms

Mergers and Acquisitions

Privatization and Disinvestment

PROCUREMENT 

Public Private Partnerships

Regulatory Affairs

Restructuring and Reorganisation

Recent Works and Achievements

At CKR ZIA, we take pride in our extensive experience, skills and expertise in handling complex legal matters across various business sectors. Following is a glimpse of some of our recent works and achievements:

1. Engineering and Construction Contracts

We have drafted engineering and construction contracts for esteemed clients approved by the Pakistan Engineering Council, including Hussaini Construction Co., Project Support Services Asia Pakistan, Amanah (Private) Limited, and Amanah Mall.

We acted as developers’ counsel for three high-rise, multi-use buildings in and around Islamabad for a total cost of over USD 20 million. The work involved approvals, and development of all project documents reflecting interface with the local authorities, buyers/investors, contractors and O&M parties.

The Firm has advised on several other construction and real estate projects for a total value of over USD 100 million; the support included review and drafting of commercial contracts on development, sale and maintenance services.

2. Bidding Documents

Our Firm played a pivotal role in preparing bidding documents for a multi-storied shopping mall, finalising contracts for HVAC, lift and escalator installations, piling, design and supervision, supply of goods, and lease agreements. 

We advised a large corporation on the preparation of bidding documents for the procurement of engineering equipment, technology products and related services with a cost outlay of USD 5 million. 

3. Banking Transactions and Capital Market 

We have advised several banks and financial institutions on the lending and security transactions and enforcement actions, including project and syndicated financing contracts, inter-creditor and trust arrangements, for a total value of over USD 300 million in the past year. 

We advised a state-owned corporation on the acquisition and enforcement of debt portfolios of 6 state banks for a value of USD 25 million; and re-packaging and transfer of debt portfolio of USD 5 million.

We acted as counsel of a state-owned holding company to refinance outstanding debts of the power sector for a combined total of USD 200 million. 

We provide counsel to corporate brokerage houses and asset management companies on private placements, IPOs, bond issues and securitisation.

4. Oil and Gas Contracts

We conducted thorough review and analysis of contracts in the oil and gas sector, such as the extended well testing facility in Dadu, Sindh, and the gas pipeline project from Reti Maru well No.1 to Engro Fertilizers Limited’s Dharki Plant site.

5. LNG Import Transaction

We acted as counsel to two leading manufacturing industries to undertake LNG import and gas transportation for self-consumption for an aggregate volume of 100 MMCFD; the work included regulatory licenses for LNG imports, commercial dealings with LNG suppliers and gas transportation arrangements with the local transporters. 

6. Gas Marketing Project

We acted as counsel to a group of local investors to start gas marketing business with an annual sale value of USD 300 million; the work included development of promoters agreement, setting up of special purpose vehicle (SPV), obtaining regulatory license and consents, project agreements for LNG imports, LNG terminal use, gas transportation agreement and gas sale agreement. 

7. Oil Storage Project

We advised an oil marketing company to set up an oil storage project in collaboration with a state-owned company for a value of around USD 200 million; the work included review and advice on all project agreements starting with the joint venture between the two sponsors. 

8. Renewable Energy Projects

We acted as counsel to a foreign investor to develop two wind farms of 50 MW in Sindh for a value of USD 200 million; the work included full support from planning stage, regulatory consents, licenses, financing arrangements to EPC and insurance. 

Our Firm drafted standard documents for biomass/bagasse based power projects for the Alternate Energy Development Board and negotiated project agreements totalling almost 1,500 MW capacity involving investments of approximately USD 1.7 billion.

9. Power Generation Projects

We acted as sponsors’ counsel in establishing a 10 MW Thermal Power Generation project and a 2.4 MW Hydro Power Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, advising on all legal aspects from inception to financial closing.

10. Acquisition Transactions

We acted as Buyer’s counsel in the acquisition of a significant shareholding in an Islamic Bank valued at PKR 520 Million, and also represented a foreign company in the acquisition of a Pakistani listed company.

We also acted as acquirer’s counsel in the acquisition of several businesses and companies with a combined value of over USD 700 million; the work included support on pre-acquisition LOIs, due diligence, risk analysis, offers, negotiations and formal contract.

11. International Arbitrations

Our team represented a European-based multinational company before the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, demonstrating our expertise in handling cross-border disputes.

12. Corporate Structuring and Formation

We specialize in the formation and structuring of non-banking finance entities, special purpose vehicles, holding and subsidiary companies, franchises, agencies, partnerships, and trusts.

13. Procurements and Supply Transactions 

We advised local and foreign manufacturers and suppliers in the supply of goods and services procured by local businesses and governmental entities for a combined value of over USD 1000 million; including review of bid documents and bids, letters of awards and formal supply contracts.  

We advised foreign manufacturers and suppliers on local distributorships, franchises and partnerships with annual sales of over USD 50 million. 

14. Privatisation

We acted as counsel for the acquisition of a financial institution in the privatisation of a state-owned bank with an estimated sale offer of around USD 20 million.

Our Senior Partner has advised on the structuring of privatisation transaction of power distribution companies, and advisory agreements.

15. Telecommunication

We acted as counsel to two largest telecom companies in respect of their commercial transactions and regulatory affairs.

16. Advisory Services and Regulatory Matters

We have lately advised several clients in obtaining regulatory consents and licenses, including the licenses for midstream and downstream gas businesses.

The Firm has represented large gas transporters, suppliers and sellers before the gas regulator in transactions and other regulatory matters of a combined value of over USD 50 million.   

Our Firm advises on a wide range of legal matters including foreign investment contracts, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, private placements, bond issues, and regulatory compliance.

 

We are committed to delivering our clients wide-ranging, confidential and specialised legal services to meet their business needs and commercial challenges.

Contact us to discuss how we can assist you.

Contact our Offices