legal guide09.indd - Islamic Finance News

IN THE CATEGORY OF
Islamic Banking & Finance
Faresa Jafarey Ahsan
Corporate Partner
Direct Line: +92 21 583 5016
Email: f.ahsan@liaquatmerchant.com
Juris PK, 4-C, 9 th Zamzama Commercial Lane
Phase V Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel : +92 21 583 5101 – 04
Fax: +92 21 583 5109 / 10
Website: www.liaquatmerchant.com
Individual Profile
Faresa is a Barrister-at-Law and joined Liaquat Merchant Associates
(LMA) in 1984. Since then she has played a major role in developing corporate
work at LMA. She currently heads the eight-member corporate
department which advises extensively on all matters pertaining to banking,
finance and corporate matters.
Since the introduction of Islamic banking in Pakistan in 2003, LMA has
structured, designed and drafted Islamic banking documents in consultation
with Shariah advisors and bankers, both within and outside Pakistan.
The documents prepared by LMA are used by the corporate, commercial
and consumer departments of banks and pertain to a wide variety of
products. These documents are now used as standard base documents
on a recurring basis, for transactions worth billions of Pakistani rupees.
LMA has structured and advised on Islamic treasury documents, such as
Mudarabah placement and Commodity Mudarabah finance. LMA has also
drafted Islamic security documents covering a wide range of collateral.
Faresa has been instrumental in the development of the Islamic
banking law practice at LMA due to her knowledge, insight and sound
understanding of the issues involved when structuring Islamic banking
transactions. She has worked closely with bank officers, as well as
Shariah advisors, in coming up with the best course of action, keeping
in mind that the civil and commercial laws of Pakistan are in the process
of being adapted to Shariah principles applicable to banking.
The firm is headed by managing partner Liaquat H. Merchant who has
been the driving force behind the practice. LMA enjoys an excellent
working relationship with Kennedys, renowned insurance and banking
lawyers in London, and also with Habib Al Mulla & Company, one of the
most reputable law firms in Dubai headed by Dr Habib Al Mulla. With
15 Barristers-at-Law and Advocates, the firm also enjoys a relationship
with Lane & Partners and during the past few years has developed a
structured relationship with DLA Piper of the UK. This has resulted in
the two firms working together on a number of projects in Pakistan.
Areas of Expertise:
• Islamic Finance
• Microfinance
• Consumer Finance
• SME Finance
• Banking & Finance
• Litigation & Alternative
Dispute Resolution
• Capital Markets & Derivatives
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Clinical Negligence
• Power Projects
• Corporate / Commercial
• Privatization
• Real Estate & Construction
• Cross-Border Joint Ventures
& Cross-Border Litigation
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Information Technology
• Shipping & Admiralty
• Structured & Project Finance
• Takaful
Other offices:
Dubai, Abu Dhabi*, Islamabad*,
Lahore*, London*
* denotes associate offices
Clients:
Chase Manhattan Bank, American
Express Bank, Deutsche Bank,
Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard
Chartered Bank, National Bank
of Pakistan, Habib Bank, United
Bank, Allied Bank, MCB Bank,
Habib Metropolitan Bank,
Emirates Bank, Bank Al Habib
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