Legal Services

“Today, ESG is core to business resilience in unprecedented geopolitical and economic times.”

“Human Rights should find a permanent place in the boardroom.” – World Economic Forum

• Advisory on developing your own voluntary ESG priorities for the business
• Regulatory and Compliance for those companies that are required to comply either because of legislative or rule changes or because of industry sector best practices
• Human rights due diligence
• Helping to drive your sustainable development goals (SDGs) 
• Mitigating climate change and risk as well as transitioning to cleaner sustainable energy and net zero goals
• Advising on impact investing and sustainable finance
• Investigating corporate crimes and human rights breaches
• Guidance on diversity, equality and inclusive workplace standards
• Advisory on corporate governance
• Anti-bribery and corruption
• Labour and/or supply chain issues
• Greenwashing or product governance
• Litigation and dispute resolution of environmental claims
• Whistleblowing

M.Ravi Professor Andrew Harding Kyaw Min San Than Zaw Aung Sor Rattanamanee Goergoraon

Our team of lawyers have diverse backgrounds. We understand the legal ramifications of blockchain and the intersection of financial services and technology. We therefore provide full-service legal advice, from start up to successful exit, including:

• ESG advisory for fintech, blockchain and technology
• Advising on corporate formation and funding
• Developing and implementing comprehensive intellectual property strategies
• Provide advice on legal frameworks that enable the operations and capitalization of blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFT)
• Assessing regulatory issues based on the business model (including money transmitter/AML issues, gambling, securities, commodities, data privacy and other regulatory issues) and helping to mitigate regulatory risk
• Assisting with relevant licensing requirements
• Negotiating and drafting technology related agreements (partnerships, licenses, development, marketing and other agreements)
• Preparing customized terms of service and End User Licensing Agreements that protect our client’s business and mitigate legal risks
• Drafting a wide range of commercial agreements often used by technology companies including data privacy and protection policies
• Litigation of disputes in the technology sector

Our core team includes:

M.Ravi
Professor Andrew Harding
Kyaw Min San
Than Zaw Aung
Sor Rattanamanee Goergoraon

As the technology innovation is fast-moving and often unprecedented in this space, we stay networked with industry players and technical experts who can work with us on projects for our clients. We invite you to reach us on +95 9886855591 or at social@mravilaw.org.

Intellectual property (IP) law deals with the rules for securing and enforcing legal rights to the new ideas that you create. This includes your or your business’s inventions, designs, and artistic works, among other things.

For global companies, managing and protecting intellectual property has become increasingly complex, as they often operate in multiple jurisdictions with diverse IP laws and levels of protection and accountability. 

Any misstep may lead to serious legal or commercial implications. However, through our expertise and an established network of alliances, we can help in preventing pitfalls and have the resources to protect your IP.

In Myanmar for instance, we know that several internationally aligned IP laws were introduced in 2019. These include a new Trademark Law, Industrial Design Law, Patent Law, and Copyright Law, our team of specialist international and local lawyers are uniquely placed to provide investors and entrepreneurs the seamless advice that they need under the new framework. Our in-depth understanding of this new suite of intellectual property laws through the constant monitoring of its developments positions our foreign investor clients in good stead when it comes to protecting their intellectual property assets in Myanmar.

In Thailand, a new Copyright Act was passed. It extended the term of protection for photographic works to be the author’s lifetime plus an additional 50 years after the author’s death (an increase from the previous term of 50 years from the work’s creation). Another change affected the way takedown notifications work.

Over in Malaysia, the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) announced a Patents (Amendment) Act 2022 that came into force in March 2022. In Singapore, amendments to the Intellectual Property Bill came into force in May 2022. The Bill amended the older Patent Law, Trademark Law, Registered Designs Law, Geographical Indications Law of 2014, and Plant Variety Protection Law to improve business friendliness, operational efficiency, and clarity of law and procedure.

Whether you are an individual looking to protect your creative work, a business seeking to secure a trademark to safeguard its brand, or need assistance with an IP infringement claim, call us on +95 9886855591 or email at social@mravilaw.org and find out how our team will support you in your IP journey.

Asian jurisdictions have made significant strides in aligning their laws with the current times and modern-day business requirements

In Myanmar for example, new laws include the Myanmar Companies Law 2017 (MCL) and Myanmar Investment Law 2016 (MIL). The former legislation replaces the outdated Companies Act (1914), while the latter consolidates and replaces the previous Foreign Investment Law (2012) and the Citizens Investment Law (2013). Among other things, the MCL allows foreigners to own up to 35 percent of a Myanmar company, facilitating more foreign investor participation in the country’s economy. The MIL introduces new streamlined procedures for investment approval.

Singapore has one of the most pro-business governments in the world. According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, 5,455 local and foreign companies were incorporated in Singapore in April 2022 alone. Amongst some of the new developments in Singapore, are the tightening of the regulation of crypto businesses through a new Financial Services and Markets Bill, the tightening of data privacy rules and a mandatory data breach notification requirement. Singapore also strengthened its corporate governance regime with updates to company laws.

In Thailand, in May 2022, the Public Limited Company Act (No. 4) B.E. 2565 (2022) (Amendment) become effective. Its main purpose was to focus on modernizing and facilitating the corporate procedure of the Public Company in Thailand by removing some outdated requirements and allowing more usage of electronic means. The Thai Cabinet also approved a broad range of economic stimulus and investment incentives to attract highly skilled employees for certain sectors as well as wealthy foreigners to invest in the country.

Our dynamic team of lawyers, comprising both local and overseas counsel, will advise you across a wide spectrum of corporate and commercial projects, and cross-border investments. From shareholder matters and joint ventures to restructuring and venture capital advice to financing and complex mergers and acquisitions — and much more — our lawyers are fully equipped to provide you with the tailored and streamlined legal solutions that you will need to meet your business objectives and to help you unlock your investment opportunities.

Our core team includes:

M.Ravi
Pakpoom Vetvitayanuwat
UK Ling

To find out more about our broad range of legal expertise in this area, feel free to reach us on +95 9886855591 or at social@mravilaw.org.

The past few years have especially seen International NGOs become increasingly active in the region, expanding their footing beyond emergency relief and humanitarian aid to a variety of sectors such as education, health, and environment.

From a legal standpoint, establishing an NGO or an INGO is a significant undertaking involving substantial legal obligations. Implementing these obligations can be a convoluted and time-consuming process and may lead to severe consequences if not conducted under appropriate legal guidance.

Renowned for their work in human rights, rule of law, including in NGO advisory matters our founder and senior consultants are highly sought after in advising NGOs and INGOs. Together, we will help you navigate through the registration process of NGOs/INGOs and systematically take you through the steps needed to meet your necessary legal obligations. We have also helped in the setup of social enterprises.

Our core team includes:

M. Ravi
Sor Rattanamanee Goergoraon
UK Ling

You can expect timely advice from our team on the ins and outs of setting up an NGO/INGO, including the regulatory framework, procedures for registration, and your continuing obligations. Call us on +95 9886855591 or email at social@mravilaw.org to find out more about how our team will support you in your NGO/INGO journey.

Globalization brings cultures closer. It also brings businesses from different legal systems together to be part of a growing international supply chain ecosystem comprising manufacturers, importers, exporters, and end-users, among others. Additionally, globalization allows countries to expand their markets for both goods and services that otherwise may not have been available domestically.

To help you realize your business goals, we are here to support you in steering through international trade laws and regulations. To this end, we will guide you to ensure that your business stays compliant with the relevant trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties in the region. We will also endeavour to make sure that your obligations are met, and your opportunities are optimized.

Our core team includes:

M. Ravi
Pakpoom Vetvitayanuwat
UK Ling

Our team will gladly assist you with trade financing options, commodity and freight contracts, international sale distribution agreements, and the drafting and reviewing terms and conditions of trade for all parties in the supply chain. Would you like more information? Call us on +95 9886855591 or email at social@mravilaw.org to discuss.

Arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as mediation and expert determination offer parties a degree of flexibility and are a popular and cost-effective method for settling disputes among parties today. They also keep disputes out of the traditional court system, thereby providing parties a non-litigious option to resolve their dispute.

As the use of arbitration is a very common clause in today’s modern contracts, business agreements, sale of goods, and other commercial transactions, both our international and local clients benefit from the fact that our team is well-versed in ADR.

For instance, our lawyers are adept at handling complex ADR matters, including in all aspects of international arbitration, from drafting relevant clauses to providing advice on the type and location of the arbitration, arbitral procedure, and enforcement of the award.

Our team is also experienced in the other ADR methods of mediation and expert determinations and will advise on the particular option best suited to your needs. If you would like further information on how we can help you through ADR, call us on +95 9886855591 or email at social@mravilaw.org.

At M. Ravi Law, we understand land and property, whether that be for infrastructure development, commercial purchases or leasing or buying property for private residential use.

Whether you operate in the real estate sector (residential, commercial, or industrial) or the infrastructure sector (rail, roads, hospitals, schools, energy, or other resources), and whether your project or transaction is simple or complex, we are equipped with the appropriate expertise to help you navigate your way in a commercially viable manner.

Among other things, our team understands the commercial risks involved in infrastructure and real estate transactions. To maximize our support to you, we take pride in leveraging our various practice area strengths to provide you with the well-rounded and end-to-end advice that you will need. This includes guiding you on how to complete your investment deals in your chosen jurisdiction and supporting you through the legal framework, acquisitions and leases, finances, and other transactions.

We also advise building contractors throughout the construction process, from bidding to (if required) claims-handing. Moreover, our specialized expertise in drafting strategic agreements and other documentations for real estate and infrastructure projects means that you will be supported at every stage of your project. For more information about the range of advice that we offer in this area, call us on +95 9886855591 or email at social@mravilaw.org for a chat about this.

Applying for a license to run a venue, to export, or to import goods, are seemingly straightforward matters, but can get tricky if you are unaware of the various rules and regulations. 

Whether you are applying for a new license or varying an existing one, we can offer you peace of mind that your application will be professionally prepared. Additionally, if your venue is the subject of a review, we provide clear and concise advice to help you navigate through the rules and regulations.

Similarly, complying with the numerous regulations that affect your business can be daunting. Our team will guide you through the necessary steps to ensure that your business meets its regulatory obligations and always remains compliant.

Our lawyers are skilled in providing you with relevant advice on the compliance of various regulatory regimes, including those involving business and financial services. We also advise on regulatory investigations and enforcement matters in the event of a breach.

If you have any questions about regulatory or licensing matters or are not sure about the steps you need to take to proceed with them, call us for a chat to see how we can help you. You can reach us on +95 9886855591 or social@mravilaw.org.

With economies recovering from the pandemic, a number of labour and employment law issues have emerged throughout the region. Worker welfare rights, migrant employee rights, back to work and remote work arrangements are only some of the issues affecting the workforce today and human resource managers are finding it challenging to ensure that their companies stay on top of all the changes.

Our team is equipped to advise both employees and employers on their rights and obligations to an employment agreement, and other matters of workplace disputes or issues regarding compliance. Among other labour and employment issues, our lawyers also advise parties on workplace investigations, workplace discrimination and bullying, employee breach-of-confidentiality, employment entitlements, working hours, overtime, restrictions on foreign workers, secondments, termination, severance, and retirement. 

We assist both foreign nationals and foreign companies in needing guidance on employment matters. Additionally, we provide advice on the transfer of employees arising from mergers and acquisitions. We acknowledge that every client is different and has their own set of unique circumstances. Please get in touch with us on +95 9886855591 or social@mravilaw.org to discuss your particular situation and we will be able to advise you of your potential options.

Being found and led by an international human rights lawyer as well as being supported by a senior team comprising of other constitutional law and human rights law consultants, it is inevitable that we are consistently sought after for the vast variety of constitutional rights work that we do in all the countries that we operate in.

Some examples of work include:

• The rights of LGBT persons
• Death Penalty & Capital Punishment 
• Freedom from torture cases
• The right to legal representation
• Protection of intellectually disabled persons in and out of prison
• The protection of minorities and the provision of equality principles 
• Asylum cases
• Media freedom and issues involving the right to free speech
• The UNHRC’s newly established universal right to a healthy environment

Our core team includes:

M.Ravi
Professor Andrew Harding
Kyaw Min San
Than Zaw Aung
Sor Rattanamanee Goergoraon

We understand that a lot of the work we do under this is sensitive and sometimes highly volatile. You can reach us on +95 9886855591 or social@mravilaw.org to discuss your constitutional rights in a confidential and safe environment.