Cross Border Matters
Rahman’s Chambers is one of the leading Firms in Bangladesh for Cross Border related matters and disputes. Our lawyers have successfully argued before higher courts over a number of cross border maters notably the landmark decision reported in 2 CLR (HC) 586; 19 MLR (HC) 336. We have accumulated significant expertise and a wide array of clients worldwide from many sectors. Our expertise covers cross border banking, international trade, M&A etc. Chambers and Partners 2023 Global guide ranked us for our cross border works for consecutive seven years and says “Rahman’s Chambers has a specialist shipping law practice in Bangladesh, covering the full scope of maritime issues including ship arrests, marine insurance, bills of lading and admiralty. The team is also active on collision cases, often representing international P&I clubs and shipping companies. Additionally has a recognised practice in such areas as business formation, M&A and employment matters, alongside energy, infrastructure and real estate matters. Advocates at the firm are knowledgeable on restructuring and insolvency procedures.”
“Additionally has a recognised practice in such areas as business formation, projects and energy, real estate and employment matters.
-Chambers & Partners GLOBAL, 2020
“Specialist shipping practice covering the full scope of maritime issues including ship arrests, marine insurance, bills of lading and admiralty. Also handles shipbuilding matters, as well as ownership disputes, mortgage claims and cargo damage claims. Offers further capabilities in international trade and commercial litigation. Acts for a range of clients including shipowners, operators and P&I clubs.”
-Chambers & Partners GLOBAL, 2019
Chambers has been ranked for “Corporate and Finance” for consecutive years.
– Chambers & Partners, 2023-2021
“Another interviewee reports: “I have a high-level opinion of them, with one of their strengths being a commitment to delivering on time.”
– Chambers & Partners, 2020
Rahman’s Chambers has been ranked for shipping. “Offers further capabilities in international trade and commercial litigation”
– Chambers & Partners, 2019
“Their response times are excellent and they make you feel generally very well informed.”
– Chambers & Partners, 2018
Over the years the Firm has been engaged by Clients to deal with a number of cross-border matters notably, as given below:
INSOLVENCY
- Advising Bangladeshi creditor in recovering dues from a major garment retail company in Poland adjudged bankrupt through insolvency court in Poland.
- We have advised a leading leather company on legal issues and possible exit involving the cross-border insolvency of an Italian company, a joint venture partner in a subsidiary company in Bangladesh.
- We have successfully advised and assisted in initiating proceedings of bankruptcy for an Indian company MI Industries Pvt. LTD against a Bangladeshi company Ha-meem group resulted in out of court settlement.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
- Advising Larsen and Toubro Ltd, a major MNC involving double taxation treaty benefits with its operation of branch office and several projects.
- We have recently completed advising UBICO an organization created under a bilateral investment treaty on breach of treaty provisions and obligations of respective countries under international law and consequence of such breach etc.
- We have conducted several due diligence for LDA Capital, involving security laws of Bangladesh, and assisted a US-based client in structuring a complex transaction involving Backstop Liquidity Facility (BLF). We were also involved in the negotiation of the transaction involving investment in a listed company in Bangladesh.
- We have advised our client over a dispute involving fraudulent delivery of cargo from another country in an international trade-related dispute where we have assisted the client in recovery loss & damage by launching proceedings in the country of origin.
SHIPPING
- We have advised A.P. Moller Maersk Line head office over issues involving shipment and foreign exchange control regulation, effective cargo discharge regulation. This assisted in framing new policies affecting Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the countries that have similar legislation.
M&A(ACQUISITION)
- We have successfully advised and assisted Oriental Container Line regarding the takeover of the company by another OOCL; a Hong Kong-based company as part of a global takeover.
- We have advised a Cyprus based company IQ Option Europe and IQ Option International on several aspects involving IT and e-commerce and also the impact of the forex rules and regulations over operating and making a transaction through mobile applications from Bangladesh which primarily targeted for their retail clients globally.
INTERNATIONAL BANKING
- We have advised both international lender banks and borrowers over several aspects of international banking involving Bangladesh as follows: (a) international lending after due approval of BIDA, both sole and club/syndicated loan basis with other lenders along with drafting and perfecting security documents. (c) International trade finance related claim and litigation (d) International factoring for a major global lender.
Practice Guide – International
Bangladesh is one of the leading manufacturers of garments, pharmaceuticals, and leather goods. The volume of international trade in different parts of the world is increasing due to the expansion of trade. As trade volume grows, so does the number of cross-border disputes and claims at the same time. The disputes usually concern international trade and commerce involving loss of cargo, defective delivery of cargo, the default in payment, etc. Besides, large numbers of cross-border disputes are also taking place in relation to the payment, investment, shipping. In the absence of an arbitration clause, the only recourse available is to rely on the conflict of laws principle and select appropriate forums where the matter can be brought before the Court of law. Forum shopping is, historically, challenging work as contesting parties rarely reach an agreement on a forum (For more details on Private International Law please click here). The legal service in cross-border matters is complex, as it involves knowledge and expertise in different jurisdictions. From the Bangladeshi context, cross-border legal services required in the area of international trade, insolvency, shipping, information technology, share accusation, etc. As a leading law firm, we had the opportunity to deal with a number of cross-border matters.
Cross-Border disputes involving international trade is very common. Disputes arise from several reasons e.g. misdelivery of cargo, non-payment, defective cargo, shortfall etc. In the absence of suitable arbitration clause, resolving such disputes is always a difficult task. Accordingly non-contentious legal support for vetting e.g. trade documents proved very fruitful which allows clients to avoid significantly various legal risks and losses.
Due to several factors involving money market including interest rate, global lenders are becoming more and more popular in Bangladesh amongst borrowers. Although foreign lending requires prior approval, however, the same has been granted in several occasion by BIDA in recent times. Foreign lending is critical in terms of recovery and also security documentation. Disputes resolution mechanism has to be chosen very carefully. Hence legal due diligence is very important.
Our senior lawyers have deep understanding of projects finance transactions involving PPP projects, who have experience of drafting and negotiating several finance documents for sponsor with Multilateral development banks e.g. Islamic Development Bank, international financial institutions e.g. IFC, development financial institutions like DEG, FMO, OFID, Regional development banks e.g. ADB.
Insolvency of a company, having invested in a subsidiary located in another country, makes a significant impact on the business and operation of that subsidiary company and due to a significant number of investment by the number of multinational companies, need for legal services for cross-border insolvency is also increasing.
Shipping companies, port authorities and customs authorities’ deals with huge quantities of various cargos originated from different countries. In Shipping, common disputed areas are misdeclaration of cargo, shortfall, misdeclaration of weight, quantity and quality etc. Such disputes are essentially cross-border disputes involving laws and regulations of more than one jurisdiction. Both contentious and noncontentious legal supports are required.
Cross-Border legal service on Information Technology (IT) matters is a very common affair. IT companies and consumers both require legal support involving IP, Cyberlaw of another jurisdiction. Protection of IP is an extremely important factor for IT companies; on the other hand data privacy of consumers is becoming a global concern requiring cross-border legal advisory support.
Global take over or buying or selling of shares in a company located in another jurisdiction is clearly a cross-border transaction. Multinational companies and foreign investment companies frequently take the services of lawyers in cross-border share acquisitions work which involves due diligence, valuation signing agreements and few other formalities.
Our Clients
- IQ Option Europe and IQ Option International
- MI Industries Pvt. (India) LTD
- UK P&I Club
- A.P. Moller Maersk Line
- OOCL
- Plastoccats Limited
- Oriental Container Line
- B.Z Moda (BD) Ltd.
- Scarpe Moda
Related Resources - Library
The value of law reports in the legal profession cannot be overemphasized. They can be regarded as the life-wire of the legal profession. We have a rich library with a mixture of printed and online legal databases. We have printed version of All England Commercial Cases, Indian Digest of Supreme Court cases, Yearbook Commercial Arbitration of Wolter Kluwer and most law reports of Bangladesh. We subscribe to the online legal database Manuputra providing access to most reputed law reports. Read more
Our Services Include
- Cross Border claim
- Conflict of law matters
- Cross border litigation