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Our practices

Projects and infrastructure

We act as legal counsel to project sponsors, developers and investors, providing assistance on project structuring, documentation and financing arrangements.

We have long dominated the projects and project finance markets in Pakistan, handling most of the country’s major deals and projects in this space while maintaining a regional practice involving Middle East projects. We handle all aspects of local and cross-border project financing and have extensive experience based on our involvement in some of the region’s landmark projects. We advise sponsors, developers and lenders of projects in various sectors, including construction, energy, power, mining, transport, logistics and infrastructure. We handle a range of bank and capital market financings and projects that combine different forms of complex financing models.

We were involved in drafting Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002 and the regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector. We advise on bidding processes, performance of contracts, project finance, contractual claims, and projects-related disputes. Our expertise encompasses the full range of projects in the construction, oil and gas, power, mining and infrastructure sectors.

Our team members have negotiated and drafted documentation relating to IPPs, cross-border pipeline and transmission line projects, refineries, airports, ports, hospitals, elevated expressways and motorways, telecom projects, LNG/LPG projects and railway projects.

We closely scrutinise the relevant documentation, including checklists relating to the conditions precedent, to be satisfied under the financing arrangements (including LCs, constitutional documentation, board and shareholder resolutions, certificates and letters). We work with our affiliated firm, RIAA Barker Gillette (UK) LLP, to arrange requisite English law legal opinions.

Contact one of our lead projects and infrastructure partners, Hasnain Naqvee, Bilal Shaukat or Nadir Altaf, today.

At a glance
  • American Maglev Technology, Inc.: represented client in the Karachi Mass Transit Project.
  • Civil Aviation Authority: represented client in the construction of the Jinnah Terminal Karachi Airport.
  • Engro Elengy Terminal: represented the lenders including IFC in a 3MPTA LNG receiving, storage and regasification terminal project.
  • Engro Energy Limited: represented client in the 225 MW Permeate Gas/Diesel based Project at Daharki, Sindh.
  • Government of Pakistan (InterState Gas Systems Limited): represented client in the development and negotiation of various agreements relating to the USD 7b Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline Project.
  • Government of Pakistan (InterState Gas Systems Limited): represented client in the development and negotiation of various agreements relating to the USD 4b Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline Project.
  • Government of Pakistan and the Government of Sindh: represented client in the Karachi Circular Railways Project.
  • Hutchison Port Holdings Limited: represented client in the USD 500m container terminal project at the Pakistan Deep Water Container Port, Karachi.
  • IJM Corporation Berhad: represented client in the Karachi Elevated Expressway Project. Drafted and negotiated the Project Implementation Agreement with CDGK and all ancillary agreements.
  • National Highway Authority: represented client in the construction of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, the first ever foreign constructed road project in Pakistan. The Firm drafted and negotiated all the Concession and Financing Agreements on behalf of the client which became the model for subsequent road projects.
  • Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited: represented client in turnkey projects of 200,000 telephone lines throughout Pakistan. Negotiated various transaction and concession documents with Alcatel CIT, Siemens, Ericsson and China Telecom.
Practice areas
  • Airports
  • Cross-border pipeline and transmission line projects
  • Elevated expressways and motorways
  • Hospitals
  • IPPs
  • LNG/LPG projects
  • Ports
  • Project finance
  • Public private partnerships
  • Railway projects
  • Refineries
  • Telecom projects
Publications and articles

News/Insight

  • RIAA advises Nippon Express on TCS Logistics stake in Pakistan

    Nippon Express Holdings has completed a strategic minority investment in TCS Logistics (Private) Limited, one of Pakistan’s largest and most established logistics companies. NX South Asia & Oceania Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Japan-based NX Group, executed the transaction on 2 February 2026...


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  • RIAA advises PIGL on Attock Cement sale to Fauji Cement & KAPCO

    RIAA Barker Gillette represented Pharaon Investment Group Limited Holding S.A.L. (“PIGL”), a leading international conglomerate based in Lebanon, as sole legal counsel on the Attock Cement sale. PIGL divested its 84.06% controlling stake in Read more

  • RIAA Advises WPP on Acquisition of Media Businesses in Pakistan

    WPP Inc., a global leader in media and marketing communications, has completed a landmark transaction in Pakistan. The WPP Pakistan acquisition gives WPP full ownership of three entities: Ogilvy & Mather Pakistan (Private) Limited, Mindshare Pakistan (Private) Limited, and Soho Square Pakistan Private Limited. This ends longstanding local partnership arrangements and consol...


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  • RIAA Wins Pharmaceutical Tax Exemption Case

    The Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (Karachi Bench) recently issued a significant judgment in favour of our client, a leading pharmaceutical multinational, concerning the applicability of a pharmaceutical tax exemption under SRO 551(I)/2008. The dispute centred on whether medicated shampoos and c...


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  • RIAA Barker Gillette Achieves Top Legal 500 Pakistan Rankings

    RIAA Barker Gillette has secured leading rankings in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026, reinforcing its position as Pakistan's premier full-service law firm. The firm achieved Band 1 rankings across four core practice areas, with multiple partners recognised as leading practitioners.


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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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