TRW & Co’s UK branch is based at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH, England.

Clients based in England and Wales who need to instruct Bangladeshi counsel — whether for transactional work, disputes, regulatory matters or investigations — should approach selection with the same rigour applied to any cross‑border engagement. This note sets out practical considerations for identifying capable local counsel, structuring instructions and carrying out necessary checks without purporting to rank firms or individuals.

How to assess suitability

When evaluating firms or barristers in Bangladesh consider capability, sector experience and independence. Key indicators include recent matter experience in the relevant subject area (for example corporate, banking, real estate, regulatory investigations or arbitration), the firm’s approach to case management and its capacity to resource a matter to timetable.

• Prefer firms that can demonstrate recent, relevant matter experience and multi‑jurisdictional coordination.
• Assess whether litigation or arbitration expertise is required and whether the firm has courtroom or arbitral advocacy strength.
• Confirm language capability and the ability to produce enforceable documents in English where required.

Engagement model and commercial points

Agreeing the right engagement model early avoids later disputes. Typical commercial points to negotiate from a London viewpoint include the scope of work, fee structure, billing currency, staffing, confidentiality, conflicts and mechanism for escalation.

• Fee models: hourly rates, caps, blended fees or fixed fees for discrete phases.
• Budgeting: require phased budgets and regular updates against milestones.
• Data protection: agree handling of confidential materials and transfers from the UK.
• Choice of law and dispute resolution for the retainer: consider applicability and enforceability.

Due diligence and risk management

Carry out practical due diligence before onboarding: verify professional standing, regulatory compliance, and conflicts. Confirm anti‑money‑laundering (AML) and sanctions screening procedures where relevant. Obtain and check references for similar matters and request a written conflicts clearance.

1. Ask for proof of professional registration and a conflicts statement.
2. Request a description of compliance policies (AML/KYC, data handling, sanctions screening).
3. Agree escalation points and reporting intervals for sensitive or high‑value matters.

Practical checklist

• Define the precise scope and deliverables of the instruction.
• Confirm the local firm’s experience in the relevant practice area and ask for anonymised matter descriptions.
• Obtain written fee proposals and expected disbursements in GBP or USD where preferred.
• Verify regulatory registration and request conflicts and compliance documentation.
• Agree data transfer, confidentiality and file retention arrangements.
• Set reporting cadence and a single client contact in both jurisdictions.

Jurisdiction and sources

Always confirm regulatory and procedural points against official sources. Relevant authorities and resources include:

• Bangladesh Bar Council
• Supreme Court of Bangladesh
• Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC)
• Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)
• GOV.UK guidance and FCDO travel/advice pages for Bangladesh

For matters with English law elements or enforcement implications in England and Wales, check relevant guidance and procedures domestically (for example the Civil Procedure Rules, judgments enforcement guidance and professional regulatory rules).

Choose local counsel on the basis of demonstrable experience, clear commercial terms and robust compliance controls; coordinate expectations early and document the instruction clearly.

General information only; not legal advice and not a substitute for advice on a particular matter.