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January 28, 2025

RIAA Barker Gillette ranks high in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025

RIAA Barker Gillette has been highly ranked in multiple practice areas in the 2025 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide. The firm's dispute resolution, corporate/M&A, projects & energy and banking & finance practices received top-tier rankings.

We are delighted to share that RIAA Barker Gillette has been recognized as one of Pakistan’s leading law firms across several practice areas in the recently released The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 Guide.

Our firm earned Tier 1 rankings in the following practice areas:

Banking and Finance

The team has an “excellent reputation” for major local and cross-border financings, regularly advising sponsors, developers and lenders on projects in energy, power, mining, transport, logistics and infrastructure. The “skilled group” is experienced in all aspects of financing, security arrangements, debt-to-equity conversions, syndicated loans and Islamic finance.

Recognized lawyers: Bilal Shaukat and Shafaq Rehman

Corporate and M&A

The team is “well placed to advise on cross-border commercial arrangements”, with “particular expertise assisting clients making greenfield or brownfield investments”. Clients praise the “highly professional and diversely experienced legal team” providing “very professional advisory.”

Recognized lawyers: Ahsan Zahir Rizvi, Bilal Shaukat, Shafaq Rehman and Mazhar Bangash

Dispute Resolution

Recognized for a “wide range of cases before various courts, quasi-tribunal and regulatory tribunals”, the firm’s “strong team” has a “great know-how in legal commercial and business matters.” Clients appreciate the “mix of seasoned professionals and energetic highly motivated and qualified individuals.”

Recognized lawyers: Yousaf Khosa, Mayhar Mustafa Kazi and Shahbakht Pirzada

Projects and Energy

With a “wealth of experience on numerous major energy and infrastructure projects”, the team acts as project counsel on several thermal and renewable projects. Clients state, “RIAA Barker Gillette is one of the powerhouses in project & energy” with “seasoned and qualified lawyers.”

Recognized lawyers: Hasnain Naqvee, Bilal Shaukat and Nadir Altaf

The Legal 500 also ranked the firm highly in:

Capital Markets

Recognized for “complex transactions” in local and foreign debt and equity capital markets, handling IPOs, rights issues, structured finance, securitisations and privatisations.

Recognized lawyers: Bilal Shaukat

Labour and Employment

Frequently advises clients on labour, employment and industrial relations issues. Recommended for representation at labour courts, High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Recognized lawyers: Shafaq Rehman and Mayhar Mustafa Kazi

Tax

Advises on cross-border arrangements and navigating Pakistan’s tax landscape. Handles tax disputes before High Courts, the Supreme Court, and tribunals.

Recognized lawyers: Mayhar Mustafa Kazi, Yousaf Khosa and Shafaq Rehman

TMT

Skilled at advising on telecoms, media, and technology matters, including cross-border arrangements, outsourcing, and IP portfolio management.

Recognized lawyers: Yousaf Khosa

Insurance

The versatile team acts for insurance companies on disputes, transactions and regulatory compliance. Well-equipped for cross-jurisdictional matters.

Recognized lawyers: Shafaq Rehman

One client praises, “RIAA Barker Gillette has always had the most apt ability to handle, manage and steer complex and difficult matters in the right legal direction.”

“These rankings by The Legal 500 reflect the market-leading expertise, strategic approach and uncompromising client service that sets RIAA Barker Gillette apart,” commented Managing Partner Bilal Shaukat. “We remain committed to providing exceptional legal counsel to help our clients navigate complex challenges and achieve successful outcomes.”

Please click here to view RIAA Barker Gillette’s full rankings and editorial commentary by The Legal 500.

Please contact us at pk@riaabg.com for more information about how our top-ranked lawyers can assist you.

This article is not legal advice; it provides information of general interest about current legal issues.


RIAA Barker Gillette is Pakistan’s premier law firm, with an on-the-ground presence in four major cities in Pakistan: Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar, and affiliated offices in Dubai (DIFC) and London.

The firm practices in all areas of corporate, commercial and dispute resolution law. Leading international legal directories consistently recognize the firm as a top-tier law firm in Pakistan.

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RIAA Barker Gillette is the exclusive member firm in Pakistan for Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in over 125 countries worldwide.  

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What clients say...

  • Chambers Asia Pacific 2022
    "RIAA are responsive, professional and polite in explaining their advice, well researched in their opinions, and reliable in their response time… they also share commercial and operational consequences of the options presented in their advice. We are very happy with their support…." - Chambers Asia Pacific 2022

  • The Legal 500 2022
    “RIAA has an excellent litigation practice that advises on the full range of contentious issues as well as international arbitrations. The practice regularly handles all forms of civil, commercial, corporate, regulatory and white-collar crime matters before all the courts in Pakistan. It has extensive experience in a diverse range of industry sectors …” – The Legal 500 2022

  • Chambers Asia Pacific 2022
    "We find them to be extremely professional and responsive. They are meticulous in raising all the right legal points but at the same time are very solution-oriented in helping to structure the transactions in the right way to fully protect our legal rights." – Chambers Asia Pacific 2022

  • The Legal 500 2022
    “The team has an excellent track record of working on some of the most significant projects in Pakistan throughout the years.” – The Legal 500 2022 

  • Legal 500 2021
    We have worked with RIAA Barker Gillette for many years on a number of matters, including regulatory issues, labor, general corporate, competition law, and tax matters…..We have found high-quality lawyers across disciplines, who are able to balance the requirement for technically sound advice while also being practical and solution-orientated - Legal 500 2021

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