Sabeti & Khatami is a legal practice offering clients first-rate advice, commercial awareness, effective solutions and outstanding service on matters of Iranian law with an international element.
Sabeti & Khatami aims to establish enduring relationships of trust with the most discerning clients, and to be their legal advisor of choice on strategic or complex matters of Iranian law.
To that end, we believe we offer a unique proposition in the market through our people: top-level international experience and reputation plus leading domestic expertise and standing. This permits us to deliver the combination of high-quality legal advice and outstanding client service that sophisticated clients expect of premier law firms.
We are organised as a true partnership, with a collective sense of responsibility for every client matter. Our team consists of highly-qualified lawyers, all of whom hold post-graduate law degrees, mostly from top North American or European law schools.
Like every outstanding law firm, we are shaped by a strong shared culture. For us, that culture consists of comprehensive dedication to the interests of clients, creativity in solving problems and zealous attention to detail.
We embrace our clients’ challenges as ours, and seek to apply legal knowledge while seeing things from the perspective of clients.
Our Strengths
First-rate Advice & Effective Solutions
We have the expertise and commercial awareness to formulate and deliver advice that is on-point, clear and responsive. Where there are complex legal challenges, we have the experience and creativity to devise effective solutions.
International Approach
Our partners have worked at or with top global law firms and their clients for a combined thirty years. We understand fully the perspectives, concerns, preferences and constraints of international clients. This allows us to meet the expectations of the most sophisticated clients for quality of work and service.
Domestic Credibility
Complex matters in Iran inevitably require interactions with local players and regulators. We have the credibility, relationships and reputation to engage effectively with top local entities and regulators on behalf of clients.
Local understanding
We understand local practicalities, prevailing commercial-legal practices and the practical interpretation of laws and regulations in Iran’s challenging environment. We combine these to deliver advice that helps clients effectively manage their business and risks in Iran.
Work Highlights
Automotive
We are advising a major Asian automobile manufacturer and its international counsel on contractual and licensing issues vis-à-vis a local representative.
Banking
We are advising a European bank and its counsel on counter-guarantees issued against local bank guarantees supporting equipment sales contracts, to help identify the client’s options vis-à-vis a major domestic bank.
Funds / e-commerce
We advised a leading venture capital fund on a major cross-border corporate restructuring, documenting the transaction and new arrangements, and negotiating with international counsel and investors to help achieve delicate compromises on governance, sanctions and other matters.
Oil & gas
We advised a major Asian national oil company in relation to a significant IPC agreement with the National Iranian Oil Company and the client’s position under the agreement.
Renewable power (solar and wind)
We advised a major French renewable company on the potential acquisition of a wind farm and a solar park, including conducting acquisition due diligence, acquisition structuring, domestic financing, local content issues, PPA, regulatory issues, corporate matters and a foreign investment license.
Oil & gas
We advised a leading Japanese trading company on its position under major oil purchase contracts vis-à-vis its domestic national counterpart.
Automotive
We advised a major European automobile manufacturer on a range of legal matters relating to its joint venture in Iran, including post-sanctions restructuring, local financing, regulatory, licensing, intellectual property and contentious matters.
Renewable power (landfill gas)
We advised a South Korean consortium on structuring and documenting a landfill gas-to-energy project in Tehran, including drafting and negotiating the concession agreement and the project terms, and advising on regulatory, PPA, land and licensing matters.
E-commerce
We advised a leading domestic online travel company on its partial acquisition by a domestic-international investment fund and merger with a competitor. We are subsequently advising the company on a cross-border partnership and licensing arrangement.
Fintech
We are advising a leading domestic fintech company on a range of legal matters related to cross-border corporate restructuring, corporate governance and compliance, and ongoing acquisition negotiations with local investors.
E-commerce
We advised a European e-commerce company on corporate, regulatory and transactional matters related to setting up a b2b e-commerce platform in Iran, crossborder corporate restructuring, share acquisition by local investors and corporate and labour issues.
Renewable power (solar)
We advised a Spanish renewable energy group on setting up four solar parks across Iran, including corporate and investment structuring, advising on licensing, PPA and sovereign guarantee matters as well as documenting and negotiating land lease agreements.
E-commerce
We are advising two e-commerce companies on their respective merger deals, including in relation to deal structuring, negotiating and drafting merger documents, and business and asset transfer matters.
FMCG
We advised a major European food manufacturer on its joint venture with local partners, including acquisition structuring, licensing and foreign investment matters.
Transportation infrastructure
We advised a prominent European shipping and logistics company on regulatory and licensing matters, joint venture and port service contracts, as well as corporate and arbitration matters in connection with a major investment in an Iranian port.
Contentious (commercial)
We successfully advised a major European trading company on its various commercial disputes, designed litigation strategy, prepared court submissions and engaged and oversaw, on the client’s behalf, seasoned local litigators.
Contentious (IP)
We successfully advised a South Korean electronics multinational on intellectual property infringement claims against third parties, retaining and managing, on behalf of the client, expert local litigators, formulating a litigation strategy and preparing pleadings and motions.
Capital markets (debt)
We are advising a preeminent issuer of domestic debt on structuring, documenting, regulatory aspects and Sharia approvals in relation to novel debt capital market instruments.
Capital markets (equity)
We are advising a preeminent domestic e-commerce company on preparations for its initial public offering of shares in the domestic market.