Abu Sayeed Mohammad Quasem has immense experience of working in leading set of chambers. He also held short-term secondee position in two multinational banks and two large multinational companies in Bangladesh. He completed his LL.B from University of London, U.K., LL.M in International Commercial Law from University of Westminster, U.K., and LL.M in Maritime Law from University of Hertfordshire, U.K. He is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

He practices in a broad range of commercial law areas, including admiralty, arbitration, banking and financing, company, corporate and commercial, power and energy, merger and acquisition, telecommunications and securities laws. His principal area of practice is domestic and cross-border investment projects. He regularly advises local, foreign and multinational banks and financial institutions, as well as investors, on diverse acquisition, financing and restructuring transactions. He has acted as counsel in many foreign investment and project finance matters, including multibillion-dollar transactions, in the energy, infrastructure, telecommunication and various other sectors. He has also acted as counsel in several litigations involving company, commercial and administrative law matters.

MAJOR TRANSACTIONS

Project Finance, Energy and Infrastructure

• Counsel to the Export-Import Bank of China on a USD 1.984 billion facility for the 2x660 MW coal-fired power project at Payra, Bangladesh (2016–2022).

• Counsel to Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and NEXI-covered lenders (Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Societe Generale, Tokyo Branch) on a USD 642 million facility for the 750 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant at Meghnaghat, Narayanganj, Bangladesh (2017–2022).

• Counsel to the onshore security agent and account bank, within an international lender syndicate, on a USD 861 million financing for an elevated expressway project in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2019–2020).

• Counsel to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as lender on its up to USD 95 million financing to Robi Axiata Limited, the second-largest mobile network operator in Bangladesh, as part of IFC's COVID-19 response (2020).

• Counsel to the sponsors and project company (a Chinese and Bangladeshi joint venture) on a 1,200 MW twin coal-fired power project involving USD 1.782 billion of investment (2015–2021).

• Counsel to a European energy major, as sponsor, on its proposed investment in the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydropower Project in Nepal, a cross-border project involving construction of transmission lines and export of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh (2021–2022).

• Advised the Credendo-covered lenders on a EUR 550 million buyer's credit facility for the capital dredging of the main access channel of the Payra Sea Port at Patuakhali, Bangladesh (2018–2020).

• Counsel to the lenders on the financing of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) contracted to provide services at an LNG regasification facility in Bangladesh (2020).

• Counsel to the sponsors on the establishment of a 100 MWp solar power plant at Teknaf, Bangladesh (2024–2025).

• Counsel to the sponsors on the establishment of a 50 MWp solar power plant at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh (2024).

Mergers, Acquisitions, JV and Investment

• Counsel to Japan Tobacco International on its approximately USD 1.47 billion acquisition of the tobacco business of Akij Group (United Dhaka Tobacco Company), the largest single private foreign direct investment in Bangladesh's history at the time (2018).

• Counsel on the Bangladesh aspects of a proposed cross-border “merger of equals” between two multinational telecom groups, affecting a listed Bangladeshi mobile operator, including antitrust, regulatory, and indirect change-of-control analysis (2019).

• Counsel to a US-based private equity firm on the Bangladesh aspects of its acquisition of a majority stake in a Hong Kong-headquartered intimate apparel manufacturer, within a multi-jurisdictional transaction spanning Asia and Africa (2022).

• Counsel to Mitsui and Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd., Singapore, on its acquisition of an 18.5% stake in ACI Motors Limited, a leading Bangladeshi mobility business, together with additional performance-based earn-out consideration (2024).

• Counsel to Marriott International group companies on approximately nine hotel and serviced-residence projects in Bangladesh, advising on, negotiating, and drafting the hotel management and operation agreements and related brand, technical services, and licensing arrangements with local owners (2018–2022).

• Counsel to a Hong Kong-based apparel group on two related acquisitions of garment manufacturers in Bangladesh's export processing zones, involving a multi-jurisdictional share purchase, BEPZA and Bangladesh Bank approvals, capital gains tax structuring, and an earn-out (2024).

• Counsel to a Japanese corporate investor on a multi-million-dollar convertible loan financing for a leading Bangladeshi retail company, novel in the Bangladeshi market for being extended by a foreign non-bank corporate lender on special regulatory approval, with an option to convert to equity on performance targets (2024–2025).

• Counsel to a Bangladeshi mobile network operator and its European (Dutch) shareholders on the monetisation of a portfolio of more than 5,000 telecom towers and related passive infrastructure (2019–2020).

• Counsel to a Chinese investor on the acquisition of a controlling stake in a multinational plasma-based biopharmaceutical company (2023).

• Counsel to a Singapore-based real estate investment manager on an upstream acquisition of a serviced-residence and hotel operating platform owned by a global real estate development company (2022).

• Counsel to a Hong Kong investor group on the restructuring of three garments manufacturing companies in Bangladesh (2025).

• Counsel to two multinational tobacco companies on their amalgamation by a scheme sanctioned by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, with one entity continuing as the surviving going concern (2020–2021).

• Counsel to a Japanese company on a joint venture with a leading Bangladeshi corporate group for the construction and operation of a river port in Bangladesh (2014–2017).

• Counsel to two power generation companies on their amalgamation by a scheme sanctioned by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh (2016–2017).

• Counsel to an international oil company on the sale of its stake in a special purpose company in Bangladesh (2016–2017).

• Advised one of Bangladesh's largest business conglomerates on the acquisition of an edible oil refinery business, including the share purchase, associated property transfer, and settlement of the target's secured bank and financial-institution debt (2023).

Banking, Capital Markets and Regulatory

• Advised an American multinational investment bank and a US-based multinational bank on Bangladesh capital markets and derivatives matters, including the issuance of taka-denominated notes, bonds, FX derivatives, and total return swap transactions (2019–2020).

• Advised a Singapore-based multinational financial services provider on government and corporate bonds (2020).

• Counsel to a leading multinational insurance company on its subscription of bonds (2021).

• Advised HSBC, Singapore, as lender, on a USD term loan facility to a member of a major Bangladeshi group (2022).

• Counsel to the arranger and to six local banks and financial institutions, as subscribers, on a preference share issuance raising funding to expand the capacity of five power generation projects in Bangladesh (2018–2019).

• Counsel to the issue managers on the proposed listing of a Singapore-incorporated company holding assets in Bangladesh, in connection with its application to list on the Singapore Exchange (2017–2018).

• Advised a US-based technology and financial services provider on the regulatory treatment of cryptocurrencies in Bangladesh (2020).

• Advised a US-based financial institution on its anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, international sanctions, and anti-bribery and corruption obligations in Bangladesh (2016).

Advisory, Regulatory and Disputes

• Advised an Indian construction company on its participation in a bid invited by the Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh, for construction of the Khulna–Mongla Port rail line, embankment, and track (2016).

• Advised a US-based financial institution on regulatory compliance in relation to the introduction of a charge card in Bangladesh (2015).

• Advised one of the largest American banks on regulatory risks relating to its Bangladeshi vendors (2015).

• Advised one of the largest multinational computer software, services, and solutions providers on the introduction of new software in Bangladesh and the associated regulatory restrictions (2015).

• Advised one of the largest internet browsing-system developers on regulatory compliance in relation to the introduction of a new search engine (2015).

• Advised a multinational company on the impact of Bangladesh competition laws on its distributorship agreements (2014).

• Advised one of the largest European oil and gas exploration and production companies on the applicability of Bangladesh petroleum laws to its transactions and operations in Bangladesh (2014).

• Advised a multinational telecommunications services provider on the securities laws of Bangladesh (2014).

• Advised a multinational telecommunications services provider and several US-based banks on the laws relating to data protection and the cross-border transfer, storage, and management of confidential information (2014).

• Advised a multinational financial institution on regulatory compliance in relation to the acquisition of shares of a defaulter company, reviewing the transfer documents and providing legal assistance on the transfer process (2013).

• Represented one of the world's largest biopharmaceutical companies on protecting its products against trademark infringement, passing off, and unauthorised copying of proprietary scientific data, including representation in multiple court proceedings in Bangladesh against competitors and the drug regulator (2015–2017).

• Represented several international, multinational, and national entities in registering trademarks, patents, and designs, and acted as counsel before the Registrar of Trademarks, Patents and Designs in related proceedings.

• Advised several multinational companies, banks, and factories on various labour-law matters.

• Counsel to local and international clients in a number of judicial review petitions before the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

• Counsel to local and international clients in a number of admiralty suits and company matters before the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

• Counsel to local and international entities in suits for trademark infringement before the District Court, Dhaka.

• Advising some of the largest Bangladeshi groups of companies on a regular basis on commercial, corporate, admiralty, fiscal, and other regulatory matters.

NOTABLE PUBLICATION

Bangladesh Chapter in Chambers Global Practice Guides on Project Finance (2020 and 2021)