A&O and Ashurst among firms under scrutiny for Pakistan government ties
Allen & Overy (A&O), Ashurst and Arnold & Porter have found themselves under the spotlight for their links with the Government of Pakistan, in the wake of growing unease among the UK legal profession over the regime's clashes with local lawyers. The three firms have previously advised the Pakistani Government, which was recently criticised by the UK's Law Society and Bar Council for the escalating political crisis in the region which has affected the country's under-fire legal community.
January 23, 2008 at 11:09 PM
3 minute read
Allen & Overy (A&O), Ashurst and Arnold & Porter have found themselves under the spotlight for their links with the Government of Pakistan, in the wake of growing unease among the UK legal profession over the regime's clashes with local lawyers.
The three firms have previously advised the Pakistani Government, which was recently criticised by the UK's Law Society and Bar Council for the escalating political crisis in the region which has affected the country's under-fire legal community.
A&O advised the Government of Pakistan on the sale of a 26% stake in Pakistan Telecommunications in 2005. The sale, worth $2.59bn (£1.41bn), was the largest-ever privatisation in the country. The magic circle law firm refused to comment but it is thought it has no current plans to review its relationship with the client.
Ashurst won its first instruction from the Pakistani Government last year, advising the state on the procurement of a new communications satellite called Paksat, intended to replace the existing model in 2010. The firm is not thought to be holding any current review of the relationship, although it insists each instruction is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Arnold & Porter advised on a groundbreaking securities deal involving Pakistan's first US-sold bond for a decade, while legacy firm Denton Hall advised the Government in 1995 on a telecoms deal but has not acted for the client since merging with Wilde Sapte in 2000.
The Law Society, the Bar Council and the Association of Muslim Lawyers issued a joint statement last year (7 November) raising their concerns over the situation in Pakistan after President General Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency and sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Law Society president Andrew Holroyd commented: "The rule of law requires everyone to receive robust and independent legal advice. The Law Society continues to urge the Government of Pakistan to return to an internationally-recognised standard of the rule of law and to release and reinstate those lawyers and judges who remain in detention."
Former Bar Council chairman Geoffrey Vos QC defended firms' advice to the Government, saying: "I do not think the best way to achieve the compliance with the rule of law is a complete boycott. We have to make every effort to persuade, cajole and lead by example. The way to promote the rule of law is to engage."
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