Commercial and company law support for Bangladesh transactions — London (Holborn Gate)

Our London office at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH, acts as a coordination hub for international clients undertaking commercial and corporate activity involving Bangladesh. We provide English law advice where appropriate, project manage cross-border deals, and work with trusted local counsel to address local substance, regulatory and compliance requirements. The content below is directional and intended to assist sophisticated organisations in planning and scoping transactions; it is not a substitute for tailored legal advice.

Services we typically provide

• Structuring and corporate finance: advising on holding structures, capital raising and syndicated finance under English law where required.
• Mergers & acquisitions and joint ventures: transaction documentation, warranties and indemnities, and cross-border closing mechanics.
• Commercial contracts and supply chains: drafting and negotiating distribution, agency and technology arrangements with cross-border performance considerations.
• Regulatory and compliance: coordinating AML/KYC, export controls, sector-specific licensing reviews and sanctions screening.
• Dispute resolution planning: advising on governing law and dispute resolution clauses, arbitration seat selection and enforcement strategy.

Practical checklist before engaging in Bangladesh-related transactions

1. Define commercial objectives and acceptable risk allocation for the transaction.
2. Engage experienced local counsel early to advise on mandatory local law requirements and registrations.
3. Carry out focused legal and commercial due diligence on target entities, contracts, licences and permits.
4. Assess tax and repatriation considerations and consult tax advisers on cross-border implications.
5. Review corporate governance, shareholder rights and minority protections in target entities.
6. Decide governing law and dispute resolution forum — evaluate English law and London arbitration versus local forums.
7. Implement compliance measures: sanctions screening, AML controls and data protection safeguards applicable to operations.
8. Plan for local employment and benefits issues, and for any required local statutory filings at closing.

Choosing governing law and dispute resolution

For international parties, English law remains a neutral and predictable choice for many commercial contracts and financing documents. London-seated arbitration or arbitration under international rules often provides enforceability advantages across jurisdictions. That said, certain matters (for example, property transfers, corporate registrations or licences) will require compliance with local law in Bangladesh; these cannot be supplanted by choice of foreign law and must be addressed through local counsel and appropriate local filings.

Jurisdiction and sources

• UK Government (gov.uk) — guidance on UK export controls, sanctions and trade.
• HM Revenue & Customs — UK tax and customs guidance.
• Companies House — corporate registration and filings in the UK.
• Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) — investment-related information.
• Bangladesh Bank — central bank guidance on foreign exchange and financial regulation.

Engaging cross-border counsel early and combining English law contractual certainty with local execution capability is the most efficient way to manage commercial risk. Our London team can advise on English-law elements of transactions and assist with engagement of reputable local advisers in Bangladesh where local law expertise is required.

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