Pradhan & Associates

Pradhan & Associates is a top-tier full service commercial law firm in Nepal.  Since its establishment, the firm stands out from the crowd and is widely recognized as Nepal’s premier commercial law firm.

The firm has set the standard for excellence in legal services in Nepal and is recognized as a leader in cross-border transactions.  We are a law firm predominantly engaged in international practice.  We offer professional services primarily to foreign companies and international institutions.  The firm is well known for its expertise in commercial transactional work as well as in complex commercial litigation and arbitration.  The firm has been involved in some of the most high-profile and ground breaking transactions in Nepal.

The firm takes pride in its capability in advising the world’s leading companies.  The firm has been advising foreign governments, supranational bodies, bilateral and multilateral agencies, Fortune 500 companies, etc.  We have strong ties and working relationship with many foreign law firms and frequently acts as a local counsel in Nepal for major large international law firms.

The firm has earned several international awards and honors in the area of commercial law, such as: Most Trusted Law Firm in Nepal, Law Firm in Nepal, Commercial Law Firm in Nepal, etc. for several years in a row and numerous practice area awards.  Major international legal directories have ranked the firm as the top ranked law firm in Nepal and members of the firm amongst the leading lawyers in Nepal as well as amongst the world’s pre-eminent lawyers in various areas of practice.

Areas of practice
Mergers and acquisitions:  We are at the forefront in mergers and acquisitions practice.  In this area, our service includes cross-border M&A, distressed M&A, leveraged buyouts, joint-venture investment, strategic alliance, corporate governance, tax advice on M&A transaction, due diligence of targets etc.  We have handled some of the most high-profile and the largest cross-border acquisition deals in Nepal.  We primarily advise foreign public and private acquirers in high-profile and high value cross-border transactions in a number of sectors including hydroelectricity, solar, telecommunications, technology, construction, hospitality, food and beverage, etc.

Project and infrastructure development:  We advise lenders, multilateral and bilateral agencies, underwriters, sponsors, project developers, suppliers, contractors and other project participants on legal matters related to financing, project structuring, government regulation, construction and other project development issues relating to project finance and infrastructure development.  We have seasoned experience in advising various project participants in hydroelectricity, other types of infrastructure projects, such as roads, construction and expansion of airports, transmission lines, etc.

Banking and finance:  We have been involved in many ground-breaking and innovative banking and finance transactions.  We periodically advise world’s major international banks, export credit agencies, bilateral agencies and supranational bodies in sophisticated cross-border banking and finance transactions in aviation, infrastructure, electricity generation, electricity transmission grid and manufacturing sectors.  We have advised supranational organizations in granting sovereign debt to obtaining sovereign guarantee from the Government of Nepal in sophisticated cross-border banking and finance transactions.  We have also advised various multinational financial institutions in relation to payment system services and assisted them in obtaining licenses from the central bank.

Aviation:  We handle contentious as well as non-contentious work in aviation sector.  In non-contentious sector, we advise in aircraft sale-purchase, aircraft financing, aircraft and engine leasing, aviation insurance and re-insurance issues, liens and security documentation, etc.  We have handled dozens of leasing and purchase-sale transactions relating to various types of aircraft, including, Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, ATR, de Havilland, Cessna, Beechcraft, Dornier, etc.  Similarly, we have advised aircraft owners, lessors, major international banks and financiers in dozens of registrations of aircraft, creation of liens, mortgage and security interest over aircraft, de-registration of aircraft, repossession of aircraft and other issues.  In contentious sector, we handle matters relating to aircraft leasing disputes, repossession of aircraft, air carriers’ liability, management of accident liability claims, accident investigation, accident litigation, etc.  We have assisted various national and international airlines and their insurers/reinsurers in the management of dozens of fatal aviation accidents.

Corporate and commercial:  We advise domestic and foreign public and private companies in full range of corporate and commercial matters which include corporate transactions, corporate finance, corporate governance and commercial contract related matters. We routinely provide local law advice to foreign companies and assist them in establishing either wholly-owned subsidiaries or joint-venture entities. We extensively advise our clients on various types of commercial contracts.  We have been extensively advising world’s top auto, beverage, tobacco, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetic and medical device, FMCG manufacturers, technology companies, hospitality franchisors in commercial, regulatory, product safety, international trade and other related issues.

Telecommunications, media and technology (TMT):  We pride in our capability in advising the world’s leading as well as emerging technology, media and telecommunications companies in sophisticated TMT transactions.  In TMT sector, we advise technology, telecommunications and media companies on every aspect starting from establishment and licensing to privacy, data protection, regulatory, competition, product safety, spectrum auction, international trade and other related issues.  We regularly advise world's prestigious technology and media companies in the areas of social media, online video streaming services, e-commerce, cloud computing and data storage, block chain computing and other upcoming technological developments in the TMT sector.

Litigation and arbitration:  We handle complex and high value litigation and arbitration in all areas of commercial and business laws.  This field of practice includes all types of litigation before courts of law and tribunals, domestic and foreign arbitration tribunals and other forms of dispute resolution.

Food, drug and medical device:  We advise major food and beverage, tobacco, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetic and medical device, FMCG manufacturers in the highly sensitive areas such as product approval, food safety, labeling, packaging, false advertising and other commercial issues. In this area, our service includes product registration, regulatory compliance, consumer protection issues, health and safety issues, license agreements, etc.

Intellectual property:  We provide full range of services in the area of intellectual property law.  We have seasoned experience in advising and representing foreign clients in protecting and enforcing their trademarks, patents, designs and copyrights.  We represent major Fortune 500 companies in managing their large trademark portfolios and protect their well-known marks.  Our lawyers also have litigation experience in all areas of intellectual property law including patents, trademarks, copyright infringement, false advertising and dispute relating to licensing and franchise agreements. 

Data protection and privacy:  We advise our clients on data protection and privacy requirements, compliance, effective risk management strategies and policies and procedures issues.  We have been advising major social media platforms, cloud computing companies, technology companies, international airlines, international banks and financial institutions, insurance and reinsurance companies, automobile companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc. on the wide range of data protection and privacy related issues including cross-border transfers of personal data, Data Transfer Impact Assessments, cloud computing and data storage, healthcare and clinical trial issues, etc.

Tax:  We provide expert tax advice to domestic and foreign companies in all areas of domestic and cross-border corporate and commercial tax issues.  We provide tax advice on a wide range of international transactions from structuring acquisitions and private equity transactions to international employment taxes. In this area, our service includes corporate tax, tax policy matters, tax on inward investment, cross-border employment tax issue, double taxation agreements, tax controversies and tax litigation, etc.