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Our industries

Manufacturing and retail

We provide wide-ranging advice to multinational corporations, trading firms, business groups and other enterprises in the e-commerce and retail sector.

We assist manufacturing and retail clients in the technology, FMCG, food and beverage, household goods, electronics, leisure and tobacco industries.

Our advice includes major local and cross-border M&A, joint venture and financing transactions, and FDI into jurisdictions including Pakistan (for both greenfield and brownfield projects), franchises, distribution and licensing agreements, and outsourcing and technology contracts. Our dispute-resolution capabilities ensure that we are regularly involved in litigation, including contractual disputes, IP-related claims and employment matters.

Practice areas
  • Contractual disputes
  • Dispute resolution
  • Distribution and licensing agreements
  • Employment
  • FDI (for both greenfield and brownfield projects)
  • Financing
  • Franchises
  • IP-related claims
  • Joint ventures
  • M&A
  • Outsourcing
  • Technology contracts
At a glance
  • Dressman A/S, represented client in a trade mark application.
  • English Biscuit Manufacturers Limited, represented client, Pakistan’s leading biscuit manufacturing company by market share, in litigation matters filed by/against Associated Biscuits International Limited pending before the Sindh High Court relating to a shareholder dispute.
  • Imperial Footwear (Pvt.) Limited, represented client in a trade mark application.
  • KASB Capital, represented client in its acquisition of 40% shares of Shakarganj Food Products Limited
  • Lakson Tobacco Company Limited, represented client in issuance of Term Finance Certificates.
  • Pakistan Tobacco Company, represented client before the Peshawar High Court Peshawar in a constitutional petition wherein all the tobacco (over and above the quota fixed by Pakistan Tobacco Board) was charged with Tobacco Development Cess.
  • Phillip Morris (Pakistan) Limited, represented client in several matters before the Payment of Wages Authority in Hyderabad.
  • SEFAM (Pvt.) Limited, represented client in relation to obtaining exclusive distribution rights in Pakistan of the products manufactured by Moleskine Asia Limited. The Firm negotiated the terms and conditions of their distribution agreement with Moleskine Asia Limited and rendered its legal opinion regarding the aforementioned agreement to the client.
News and insights

Speak to e-commerce and retail partner Shafaq Rehman today.

News/Insight

  • Coal Supply Safeguarded in High-Stakes Pakistan Energy Dispute

    RIAA Barker Gillette has secured the suspension of an injunction that threatened to disrupt coal offloading for Huaneng Shandong Ruyi (Pakistan) Energy, a 1320 MW imported coal-fired power plant central to Pakistan's generation mix. The appellate court's decision restored operational flexibility in a complex Pakistan energy dispute spanning multiple agreements, a foreign-seated arb...


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  • E-Commerce Advisory on Customs Valuation in Pakistan

    RIAA Barker Gillette recently advised one of the world’s fastest-growing international e-commerce platforms on customs valuation in Pakistan and import compliance. The engagement addressed the platform’s expanding operations in Pakistan amid evolving regulatory requirements for cross-border digital commerce.


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  • RIAA defeats ship arrest of M/V Lady Ileen amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis

    The Strait of Hormuz crisis has produced a new wave of shipping disputes — diverted voyages, stranded cargoes, war-risk invocations — with Pakistan's admiralty courts at Karachi emerging as a key forum. Against that backdrop, last week the Sindh High Court released M/V Lady Ileen, a Palau-flagged bulk carrier arrested at Karachi since March 2026. The Court acted on a jurisd...


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  • PTA Anti-Dumping Duties: RIAA Barker Gillette Secures 9.50%

    In July 2025, RIAA Barker Gillette filed an application on behalf of Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited (LCPL) before the National Tariff Commission (the Commission), seeking anti-dumping duties on imports of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) from China. T...


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  • Constitutional Challenge to NEPRA Prosumer Regulations

    RIAA Barker Gillette has filed a constitutional petition before the Islamabad High Court challenging the NEPRA Prosumer Regulations 2026. The regulations replaced Pakistan's decade-old net metering regime with a n...


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What clients say...

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025

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

  • Legal 500 2025

    "We have worked with RIAA on a number of complex multi-jurisdictional matters. Throughout, they provided not only exceptional local advice but proved excellent at collaborating with firms across the world. They were instrumental in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy."

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025

    "Our operation is complex and has many nuances, and they have helped us navigate all of them promptly and professionally."

  • Legal 500 2024

    "Very professional firm, able to provide clear, concise and constructive advice. Proven very astute in formulating overall strategies of engagement."

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

    "RIAA is highly professional, meeting tight deadlines with the utmost proficiency. They have always come up with out-of-the-box solutions."

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