Strategic Legal Counsel
for High Value & Complex
Assignments, Transactions, Projects & Disputes
MJLA|LEGAL
MJLA started in 2003 as a full-service corporate law practice, and its first office was situated at Fane Road, Lahore. The areas of practice covered
corporate and commercial, banking and finance, employment and labour, intellectual and real property, environment, and dispute resolution.
Clients trusted us with their legal mattes which had sensitive business implications. We strived hard to live up to their expectations. The team, work and
clients expanded fast, and soon MJLA gained reputation for delivering legal solutions which make positive business sense and give practical advantage
to the clients.
Clients were particularly pleased with the innovative approach, commitment to excellence, service standards, professionalism and integrity of MJLA
team. We worked with businesses of all sizes (start-ups, SMEs, multinationals, listed companies, business groups, large family-owned enterprises), mostly
as their retained legal counsel offering advice on a wide range of legal issues from routine and elementary queries to high-value, complex and challenging
assignments. We represented clients in diverse forums (Payment of Wages Authority, Labour Courts, Appellate Tribunals, Regulatory Authorities, Civil
Courts, District Courts and High Courts).
We worked very closely with several multinational enterprises and international law firms on Pakistan law related matters, and within a year of our
existence were picked-up by international legal directories for the quality of our work and dedication to serve the best interests of our clients. In 2003-04,
MJLA was ranked among the leading corporate and commercial law firms of Pakistan by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. In 2006, Chambers Global Guide,
London, recognised us as one of the leading law practices of Pakistan, and so did Chambers Asia Pacific from 2009 onwards.
We at MJLA take tremendous pride in benchmarking our capabilities against international standards, and keenly observe developments in the legal
services at the global level. By 2010, it was obvious that legal services across the globe were undergoing a fundamental transformation. The value chain,
business model and client relationships in legal services are being redefined, requiring corporate and commercial law firms to reinvent themselves by
aligning with the changing marketplace.
In keeping with our proactive approach, in 2012 MJLA decided to become a specialist business law firm, focusing on selected areas of practice to deliver
world-class value to its clients through innovation and thought leadership.
MJLA|LEGAL
Our History
We are a specialist business law practice which provides
sophisticated, cutting-edge and bespoke legal solutions for
high-value, challenging, and complex transactions, projects,
and disputes.
We mostly work with leading businesses on strategic and
sensitive legal assignments relating to corporate, commercial,
capital markets, competition, investments, privatization,
energy, projects, and legal risk management.
We offer bespoke legal solutions which make positive
business sense, integrate with the strategic and policy
objectives of our clients, and contribute to their long-term
success.
Our Expertise
With a proactive and collaborative approach, we work closely
with the senior leadership of our clients to: identify,
understand and analyse key-issues; discuss, evolve and decide
preferred choices; develop, improve and deliver a wining
solution - while maintaining and upholding the highest
standards of professionalism, trust and integrity.
To grow as an efficient and modern professional service firm,
and serve our clients better, we believe in continuous
improvement and regularly invest in building our knowledge
capital and technological infrastructure; we also make
extraordinary efforts to recruit, train and develop the best
and the brightest people in our team
Our Approach
Our representative clients include Fortune 500 corporations, multinational enterprises, and local business groups. We are preferred local
counsel of many leading international law firms in Pakistan.
MJLA|LEGAL
MJLA|LEGAL
“They focus on their clients' long-term benefit.” CHAMBERS ASIA PACIFIC, 2013
“They provide high-quality advice.” CHAMBERS ASIA PACIFIC, 2013
“A good, intelligent team that focuses on the issues and doesn't just provide quick fixes.” CHAMBERS ASIA
PACIFIC, 2012
“This firm is often instructed on significant transactional and advisory work…” CHAMBERS ASIA PACIFIC, 2012
“The firm’s client base is evenly divided between major local businesses …and international names.” CHAMBERS
ASIA PACIFIC, 2011
“[E]xcellent reputation for its “flexibility” and “willingness” to innovate.” THE ASIA PACIFIC LEGAL 500, 2009-
2010
“Clients appreciate that this firm’s service is “responsive and to the point” ... “the quality and integrity of advice is
good, and issues are diligently followed up and deadlines are met.” CHAMBERS GLOBAL GUIDE (2008)
Our Reputation
MJLA LEGAL enjoys a pre-eminent reputation for providing insightful, integrated and innovative legal advice and solutions to
senior leadership of corporations, institutions, regulatory bodies and Governments, for the most challenging and pressing legal issues
faced by them.
We help our clients to make intelligent legal choices for continuing long-term success. We act as trusted legal counsel to senior
leadership on a wide range of strategic legal issues, may that be legislative, regulatory or policy reforms, devising legal strategies to
support new business models, structuring suitable business vehicles or transactions, negotiating and finalizing key commercial
contracts, formulating and implementing good corporate governance practices, divesting or acquiring assets and businesses, carrying
out corporate restructuring, mitigating key-risks, or implementing succession planning of owners or senior leadership.
Very often, clients come to us with a critical legal challenge or opportunity which substantially impacts their objectives and future success, and requires expertise, dexterity, and client-friendly, far-sighted, holistic approach, for successful resolution. We indentify the key-issues, collaborate with the clients to develop best possible legal solutions, help the clients to select the best option which gives real and practical advantage, and deliver a legal solution which effectively supports the client objectives.
Clients mostly contact us for expert judgment and proactive and practical legal counsel to address specific legal issues involving or arising out of: regulatory reforms or initiatives; interpretation of laws and legal rights and liabilities; negotiations, drafting and interpretation of contracts; building, managing or concluding business structures and commercial relationships; policy-making, critical decisions, and risk management; settlement of claims and resolution of disputes; and regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings. We help our clients to manage legal risks while maximising business value and efficacy.
We regularly act as legal advisors and consultants to foreign businesses operating or interested in doing business in
Pakistan, and assist them on legal aspects of foreign investment, structuring transactions, project documentation,
corporate governance, acquisition of companies or business assets, joint ventures, mergers and takeovers, private
equity transactions, risk management, and amicably resolving business and commercial disputes. We also act as legal
value partner to Pakistan subsidiaries of foreign companies for regular advice on high-value legal matters.
Strategic Legal Counsel
Expert Legal Solutions
Cross-Border Transactions
Our Services
MJLA|LEGAL
High-Stakes Disputes
We advise and represent local and international businesses about/in high-value and complex disputes, and specialise in
designing and executing intelligent legal strategies for achieving business and commercial objevtives in legal arenas.
Joint Ventures and Partnerships
Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers
Venture Capital
Private Equity
Corporate Governance
Tax Planning & Restructuring
Bankruptcy and Commercial Insolvency
Sale of Goods and Services
International Trade
Succession Planning
Corporate & Commercial
IPOs
Capital Management
Capital Restructuring
Convertible and Exchangeable Securities
Regulatory Affairs
Capital Markets
Areas of Practice
Abuse of Dominance
Merger Control
Cartels
Prohibited Agreements
Regulatory Affairs
Market/Sector Investigations
Enforcement Proceedings
Competition
Contracts
Products
Structures
Transactions
Projects
Loans
Regulatory Affairs
Banking & Islamic Finance
Employment & Labour
Employment Contracts
Regulatory Compliance
Downsizing
Industrial Relations
Employment Disputes
Foreign Direct Investment in Pakistan
Investments Abroad by Pakistani Businesses
Infrastructure/Public Private Partnership
(PPP) Projects
Engineering and Construction Projects
Investment/Projects
Legislative, Regulatory and Market Reforms
Due Diligence, Bidding and Negotiations
Regulatory Affairs
Sale and Acquisition of Assets Transactions
Privatization
Data Protection
Use & application of AI
E-Commerce
Cyber Security
Contracts
Frauds & Data Breach
Regulatory Affairs
Data & Technology
Licensing & Approvals
Regulatory Compliance
Medical Negligence
Patients Rights & Remedies
Public Health Initiatives
Enforcement & Investigations
Healthcare
Legislative, Regulatory and Market Reforms
Generation, Transmission and Distribution Projects
Contracts
Regulatory Affairs
Energy
Transaction Structuring & Execution
Licensing & Approvals
Due Diligence
Commercial Contracts & Conveyancing
Land Disputes
Urban Planning & Real Estate
Renewable Energy
Carbon Credits & Markets
Sustainability & ESG
Environmental Compliance
Environmental Disputes
Environment & Climate Change
Double Taxtio Treaties
Transfer Pricing
Transaction Planning & Structuring
Permanent Establishments
Investigations & Disputes
International Taxation
Litigation
Arbitration
Mediation
Negotiations
Regulatory Disputes
Commercial Disputes
Shareholder Disputes
Banking Disputes
Dispute Resolution
Advised one of the leading business groups of Pakistan on the equity investment in their new venture
by an institutional investor.Assisted a large family-owned business in setting-up a governance framework to align business success
and family interests.Advised a multinational listed company on effects of regulatory changes on its business model and
commercial practices.Advised a multinational listed company on corporate governance and investments in associated
companies.Advised a major power sector statutory body on various aspects of the Shareholders’ Agreement and
the Investors Agreement entered into between the statutory body, and an international power company
in respect of an independent Pakistani power producing company.
Advised a Fortune 500 company to establish a tax efficient presence in Pakistan through a special
purpose vehicle.Advised a group of companies on incorporation of a special purpose vehicle (a joint venture company)
for the role of Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Contractor in a multi-billion Rupees project.Advised a Fortune 500 company on efficient tax planning model in relation to the applicable double
taxation treaty.Advised a global company having a subsidiary company in Pakistan on transfer pricing arrangements
and documentation.Advised a blue-chip listed company on various aspects of de-merger including corporate governance,
listing and taxation.Policy legal opinion to a large manufacturing company successfully addressing legal objections by a
financial institution, enabling the company to avail working capital facility.Assisted one of the leading business groups’ of Pakistan with due diligence of a major sugar plant for
acquisition of the same.Assisted an international company in the due diligence of a Pakistan subsidiary of a foreign entity for
acquisition purposes.Successfully structured a commercial transaction whereby a defunct joint venture project, mortgaged
with a financial institution, was resuscitated by the new management.Advised a public-private partnership company established by the Government of Pakistan on the
policy framework to lease out space for industrial purposes.Successfully represented a food company before Lahore High Court in a writ proceedings in which the
quality of its products were challenged without evidence.Successfully represented a fertilizer company before the Competition Commission of Pakistan in a
show cause proceedings in which commercial practices of the company were scrutinized for alleged
violation of the competition law.
Advised an international group of companies about acquisition of a major chemical company in
Pakistan including the transaction structure and also conducted due diligence exercise for the
acquisition.Advised a major international company that provides consultancy, design, engineering, and
management services for infrastructure development on the acquisition of the company in Pakistan
which was a subsidiary of a leading international construction consultancy firm.Advised a Fortune 500 US company on equity investment in a listed company in Pakistan, and acted as
its external legal counsel to conclude the transaction.Worked with a Fortune 500 company to identify applicable regulatory framework in Pakistan,
establish a business vehicle, start business operations and build regulatory compliance capabilities.Advised an international commercial bank, on regulatory framework in Pakistan for starting banking
business, and requirements for obtaining license from the State Bank of Pakistan.Advised one the leading international telecommunication services company based in Europe on
Pakistani law aspects of the transfer of assets in Pakistan, as part of a global agreement between the two
international telecommunicationservices companies.Advised a UAE based company on entering into a joint venture arrangement with a Pakistani company
in connection with bidding for work related to a major infrastructure development project in Pakistan.Instructed by subsidiary of an international company to represent the subsidiary before the Securities
and Exchange Commission of Pakistan in connection with the dispute relating to the issued share
capital of the subsidiary.Advised a leading international company with group companies throughout the Asia-Pacific on the
business continuity plan of its subsidiary based in Pakistan.Represented one of the major business groups of Pakistan in negotiations of the business group with the
foreign consultants for feasibility study and design contract of a power plant.Advised a leading milk processing company in a commercial dispute with a foreign supplier of cattle
which was amicably settled by the parties.
Advised an engineering company (operating at international level), to develop contract management
processes and legal risk mitigation system for project work.Advised a joint venture company about setting-up a provident fund trust, its governance framework and
legal policies, as part of good corporate governance.Advised a listed company about regulatory compliance requirements for launch of its new products in a
highly-regulated market segment.Advised the management of a newly acquired financial institution about managing a large portfolio of
pending litigation.
Representative Work
MJLA|LEGAL
Strategic Legal Counsel
Expert Legal Solutions
Cross-border Transactions and Disputes
Legal Value Partner
Cisco. Inc.
Verizon Communications, USA
ICI Pakistan Limited
General Cable Corporation, USA
Engro Foods Limited
Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Ltd.
British Airways
Engro Fertilizers Limited
Veon/VimpleCom
Asian Development Bank
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)
Nokia Siemens Networks, Finland
Nestlé Pakistan Limited
Kerry Logistics
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)
Unilever PLC
Aon Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Trafigura Pte. Ltd.
Millat Tractors Limited
Mitsui & Co. Ltd.
Wateen Telecommunications
Reckitt Benckiser (Pakistan) Limited
General Electric, USA
Palladium International
ActionAid International
Barclays Bank
Shakarganj Mills Ltd.
Representative Clients
MJLA|LEGAL
Mr. Mujtaba Jamal has extensive experience of advising and handling complex, challenging and
high-value corporate, commercial and financial transactions, projects and disputes; his areas of
expertise include private equity, foreign investment, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions,
takeovers, conventional banking & finance, Islamic finance, corporate governance, commercial
contracts, public private partnership (PPP) projects, competition, regulation, and dispute
resolution.
Mr. Jamal has been recommended by the Chambers Global Guide and Chambers Asia for his
expertise in corporate and commercial laws for more than two decades. Chambers Asia Pacific
2011 ranked Mr. Jamal as one of the leading corporate lawyers of Pakistan and reported him as a
"brilliant lawyer, with a highly thorough approach." The Asia Pacific Legal 500 2012 reported him
as an “experienced attorney with sound business acumen.” Chambers Global 2012 reported him as
a "real business person's attorney who gives sound legal advice.”
Mr. Jamal is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Barrister-at-Law of the Lincoln's Inn,
London, and a law graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, London.
He has also completed EMBA degree course from Lahore University of Management Sciences
(LUMS). He holds post-graduate professional diploma in law from the Inns of Court School of
Law, London. He has attended Harvard Business School, USA, for executive education.
Mr. Jamal has worked with a leading international law firm as Legal Director in Dubai and
Riyadh, and also served as independent non-executive Director on the Board of a commercial
bank.
Team Lead
MJLA|LEGAL
We are a teams-based organization and practice one firm-one culture philosophy. Our legal team is selected, trained, well-versed and committed to help
clients with sophisticated legal solutions for high-value, complex, challenging and novel transactions and disputes. We form a dedicated team of lawyers
for each assignment in view of the nature and scope of work and the knowledge, skills and resources required to accomplish it.
Mr. Mujtaba Jamal
Advocate Supreme Court
Email: m.jamal@mjlalegal.com
MJLA LEGAL is a talent-powered learning organization which is committed to stand out as a great place to work and produce
sustainable performance excellence. People who thrive on converting a challenge into solution, and are constantly driven to build
personal mastery as a bedrock of their achievements, find us an exciting place to work. We are a teams-based organization in
which high-performance is a collaborative act.
We firmly believe that well-defined roles and responsibilities, positive work environment, enabling resources and infrastructure,
performance-based incentives, collaborative teamwork, training and development, coaching and mentoring, work/life balance,
and long-term career growth, are essential features of a great place to work.
Our small size and specialized focus provides our lawyers with unique opportunities to work, right from the start, on challenging
and high-value transactions and disputes, and interact with prominent clients on matters of strategic significance to their business.
MJLA LEGAL provides an atmosphere of unparalleled opportunities and responsibilities, encouraging hands-on training and
professional development.
MJLA lawyers stand out for their intellectual rigour, proactive approach, innovative work, dedication to service, teamwork,
insatiable desire to learn and improve, and impeccable integrity. Our lawyers work on complex and high-value legal transactions
and disputes, which require them to look beyond tasks to understand why solutions need to be crafted and how our clients’ needs
can best be served.
If you are interested to join our legal team, please send your CV with a covering letter explaining your reasons for applying to us
at: careers@mjlalegal.com
Careers
MJLA|LEGAL
MJLA|LEGAL
57-P, Gulberg II, Lahore, Pakistan
00 92 (0) 3018778701
legal@mjlalegal.com