Imran Lalani

Expertise

Imran is a dual-qualified British and Canadian Lawyer, called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn (England & Wales) and as a Barrister & Solicitor with the Law Society of Ontario (Canada). He has years of experience working both in private practice and as general counsel across four continents, including the UK, Canada, Middle East and Africa. Imran has a breadth and depth of practice that ranges from advising on commercial contracts with some of the world’s largest multinationals (such as Toyota Motor Corporation, Samsung Group and Toshiba Corporation), to complex, cross-border litigation in the Chancery Division of the High Court in London.

Imran has worked alongside some of the world’s leading law firms (Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, McGuireWoods LLP, Fladgate LLP and Littleton Chambers), accountancy firms (KPMG, RSM, PKF, and Grant Thornton) and fiduciary service providers (Trident Trust and TMF Group), in the areas of private client law, business law, and dispute resolution. In addition to private practice, working in-house for High Net Worth Individuals, Family Offices, and their associated trusts and businesses, puts Imran in a unique position to provide clients legal advice and add value to their business and financial positions in a direct, practical manner. Imran also has considerable experience in dispute resolution and has, on numerous occasions, acted as a mediator or arbitrator on commercial and family law matters. He has contributed, as a panel member, in providing advice and commentary to Parliament on family law legislation in East Africa.

Experience Highlights

Business and Commercial Law: drafted and negotiated commercial contracts, distributorship agreements, hire purchase and financing agreements with Toyota, Samsung and Toshiba for regional distributors of products, including motor vehicles, electronics and high-value medical imaging equipment.

High Court litigation in a UK care provider valued at over $100 million: part of a team that won a major, four-year litigation in the High Court of England and Wales, settled during trial, through compelling arguments made on breach of directors’ and shareholders’ duties, breach of shareholders’ agreement in a quasi-partnership, date of valuation, valuation methodology, and preparation of expert accountant’s valuation report. Drafting included letters before action, general correspondence, Petition, Amended and Re-Amended Petition, Replies to Defence, Joinder Applications, Witness Statements, Skeleton Arguments, numerous Open and Without Prejudice Offers, and Settlement Agreement and Release.

Family Offices: principal advisor to the Marc Group of companies, a large regional venture capital investor in Asia, on their portfolio of acquisitions and holdings. Review and drafting of commercial contracts, trust structures, due diligence on investments, and advice on financing agreements including for chaldal.com, Marc Developments, Marc Technologies, Enterprise Development Company and Marc Agro Processing.

High Value Commercial Mediation: represented client, as sole representative with full Power of Attorney, to settle a complex, muti-million pound dispute by way of commercial mediation. The mediation was led by KPMG’s Chair of Forensic Accounting.

Company formation, shareholders’ agreements, and trust structures: Vast experience incorporating companies, and advising on shareholders’ agreements, as well as the use of trust structures in Guernsey, Jersey, and the BVI (including VISTAs), for corporations, assets and UBOs in the UK, Canada, BVI, UAE, Kenya and Tanzania.

Employment contracts: advised clients in the UAE, Canada and East Africa on employment contracts and drafted employment contracts for the entire teams of staff, including senior management and directors, for companies in those regions.

Immigration to Europe and Canada: advised numerous clients on immigration to Europe and Canada for Permanent Residency and Citizenship on the basis of family sponsorship visas, entrepreneur visas, investor visas, express entry, provincial nominee programs, work permits and citizenship applications.

Career History

• Aventure Law, Barrister & Solicitor: 2021 – present
• Akran International, Lawyer: 2016 - 2020
• Aventure Partners, Of Counsel: 2014 - present
• Techealth Limited, Lawyer: 2012 - 2014
• Hudson Cartier Limited, Lawyer: 2011 - 2012
• Imaana Investments Limited, Lawyer: 2009 - 2011

Education

• Law Society of Ontario (Canada) – Lawyer Licensing Process: 2019
• Federation of Law Societies of Canada – JD Equivalency: 2019
• MSc in Management and Public Policy – King’s College London: 2012
• Bar Vocational Course – College of Law: 2008
• LLB Law (Hons) – University of Cardiff: 2007

Professional Membership

• Law Society of Ontario – Barrister and Solicitor: 2021
• Conciliation and Arbitration Board – Mediator and Arbitrator: 2012
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – Associate: 2009
• Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn – Barrister: 2009