The lawyers at Atai Associates assist and provide step-by-step advisory services regarding all aspects of commercial transactions affecting foreign corporations covering a wide range of legal activities such as formation and registration of branch offices, representative offices, joint venture and partnerships. We can assist in legal interpretation and negotiation of transfer of technology agreements, agency and licensing, asset and project finance, distribution and supply agreements, handling litigation concerning contractual matters, banking and insurance sectors and conducting arbitration procedures both on the domestic and international level.

Iranian employment procedures are complicated, especially if a company is foreign-owned and employs local and expatriate staff. Atai Associates advise clients on all aspect of labour law and employment issues, including preparing employment agreements with local employees, handling all labour and employment disputes and obtaining residence and work permits for international staff.

Atai Associates has a highly regarded winding-up and liquidation practice. We have a strong reputation for handling liquidation of companies and acting as liquidator. Our expertise covers handling dissolution of companies and applying for dormant company status. Our top-rated specialist advise on closing down of companies or branches including attending to calculation of employee severance payment etc.

The due diligence work covers conducting research at government offices and ministries including the tax offices, companies’ registration office, information on directors and shareholders, checking credibility and reputation of target companies, making enquiries at the Iranian chamber of commerce and other guilds association, referring to tax and revenues department, liaising with the officers of target company and collating other information required for completion of transaction. We also provide a final report on the financial soundness of the target company on the basis of the information collected from various agencies.

Atai Associates is a leading Iranian law firm to offer investment treaty arbitration services. Iran is party to numerous bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with many capital-exporting countries which provide international arbitration as an option for resolution of investment disputes between investors and the Iranian government. We advise on the rights and obligations of private investors under the provisions of the relevant BIT and the available remedies for prosecuting their claims including access to international arbitration. Our task involves preparation of the notification of claim and submission of the request for arbitration to the respondent at the pre-hearing stage and filing of case with the arbitration institution and representation of the client claimant at the arbitration proceedings.

When dealing with dispute resolution, Atai Associates reviews the respective contracts relating to the dispute, analyses the rights and obligations of the client under the contract, and evaluates the legal contractual rights of the client and his chances for winning the case. The firm then advises the client accordingly, and the client resolves the method of their settlement with the opponent party.

We advise local and international corporations on general Iranian tax law and the services include corporate tax, income tax and other taxes. We provide also consultancy services for tax optimisation process. We advise on issues that affect companies strategic tax planning. We conduct tax investigations and deliver creative tax solutions to our clients who are from a wide spectrum of sectors.

Our services cover legal matters at all stages of business such as incorporation of companies and other business entities, carrying out the required administrative formalities, legal formalities, board of director’s and shareholder’s meetings, operation concerning increase and reductions of capital, acquisition of private and public companies, share transfers, creation of branches and subsidiaries, group reorganizations, corporate financing and joint ventures.

We advise on administrative and regulatory matters relating to the protection of environment, assist the corporate and real property teams on acquisition or sales of business with respect to the environment legal aspects and represent our clients before administrative and civil courts for instances of the environmental issues. Our top-rated specialists advise on a full range of environmental and health & safety matters. In addition, we have expertise in advising on environmental risks in a variety of corporate and real estate transactions. Our team keeps up with continuously changing environmental regulations.

The Firm has been involved in many acquisition projects from the early days of its establishment and it has advised many Swedish, German, Luxemburg, British, Kuwait and Japanese companies who acquired or established joint ventures with Iranian companies. We have a wide knowledge and expertise in structure and negotiation of business acquisitions.

The Firm represents and advises many foreign companies on all type of investments. We provide full services in obtaining and implementing government approvals for establishing companies with foreign capital and assist them in preparing the necessary applications for obtaining the investment permit, establishing subsidiaries and opening branches. Our work covers many major light and heavy industry sectors and numerous service sectors revolving around foreign investment. The aim of our specialists is to work constructively to ensure that our clients’ objectives are met within the relevant legal context. Our commitment to our clients does not stop at the conclusion of a transaction. We regularly advise clients on post-investment operations.

Privatization is a new concept in Iran and the process developed by flotation of governmental shares on the stock market. Our experience revolves around correct understanding and interpretation of relevant laws and regulations in relation to transferring the state-owned companies to the public as well as the stocks offered by the private sectors. Privatization requires expertise in the full range of legal practice areas, including corporate, international capital markets, banking, project finance, construction, real estate, information technology, taxation and environmental law. We are at the forefront of developments in Iran’s privatization practice and pride ourselves in being able to offer services to our clients.

We provide a wide range of services in the protection of proprietary rights in trade. The services include representation of the clients in litigation, prosecution and filing defense of infringement and other actions. We advise on the protection, enforcement and exploitation of full range of IP rights. Our IP group advises on how to establish, strengthen and protect IP assets of a business and on agreements including exploitation, outsourcing, licensing and technology transfer.

It is a strong area of practice of our Law Firm. Since its foundation, Atai Associates had a reliable experience and reputation in dispute resolution. The Firm has successfully represented foreign clients in many commercial cases or arbitration procedures. Our services include consultation, negotiation, arbitration and litigation in such areas as banking, contract disputes, commercial matters and intellectual property issues.