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

For UK and international organisations considering investment, joint ventures or commercial operations in Bangladesh, working with experienced local counsel is essential. This note provides a practical overview of the types of corporate work Bangladeshi firms undertake, cross‑border considerations, and a checklist for engaging local counsel such as TRW Law Firm from a London perspective. It is written with England & Wales users in mind and is intended as general guidance for corporate decision‑makers and in‑house counsel.

Why engage local corporate counsel in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh has a distinct legal and regulatory framework that governs company formation, securities, foreign investment, banking and employment. Local counsel add value by:

• navigating registration and statutory filing requirements with local authorities;
• handling sector‑specific licences and regulatory approvals;
• advising on local market practice for transaction documentation and negotiation;
• coordinating with on‑the‑ground advisors (accountants, tax advisers, local regulators) to enable smoother closing and post‑closing implementation;
• managing dispute resolution options, including domestic litigation and arbitration mechanisms available in Bangladesh.

Core practice areas and cross‑border considerations

Experienced Bangladeshi corporate firms typically cover:

• company formation and corporate governance;
• mergers, acquisitions and disposals (including share and asset deals);
• foreign investment, joint ventures and representative offices;
• regulatory compliance (securities, banking, competition and sectoral regulators);
• employment and benefits, particularly local hiring rules and termination practice;
• tax planning and indirect tax issues in coordination with tax advisers;
• commercial contracts, supply chain arrangements and IP protection;
• dispute resolution (domestic courts and arbitration) and enforcement of foreign judgments/arbitral awards.

Cross‑border matters that commonly require both London and Dhaka advice include foreign exchange and repatriation of funds, pre‑transaction tax modelling, antitrust reviews and compliance with multi‑jurisdictional sanctions or export controls.

Practical checklist for instructing Bangladeshi counsel

1. Scope: agree a clear scope (due diligence, documentation, regulatory filings, post‑closing integration).
2. Conflict checks and regulatory compliance: confirm conflicts, AML and KYC procedures.
3. Fee basis: agree engagement terms, fee structure (hourly, capped fee, success fee elements) and billing currency.
4. Project management: assign single local lead point of contact and agree reporting cadence and timing assumptions for regulatory approvals.
5. Co‑ordination protocol: set expectations for interaction with London counsel, accountants and other advisers, including document sharing and confidentiality measures.
6. Local approvals: identify likely licencing or notification requirements and the anticipated timelines.
7. Dispute escalation: agree strategy for dispute resolution, arbitration seat, and interim relief options.

Jurisdiction and sources

Primary official sources and regulators to consult when dealing with corporate matters in Bangladesh:

• Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC)
• Bangladesh Bank
• Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC)
• Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)
• National Board of Revenue (NBR)
• Supreme Court of Bangladesh
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) (UK guidance relevant to UK investors)
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) (UK tax guidance relevant to cross‑border structures)

Engaging reputable local counsel and coordinating closely with London advisers will materially reduce execution risk and help manage regulatory and commercial complexity.

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