International companies looking to do business in Iran will often enter, or consolidate their position in the market by working closely with an Iranian partner, either through a business relationship, partnership agreement, formal joint venture, or in some cases a merger or acquisition of an Iranian company. This interactive and practical workshop will examine all of the legal and compliance considerations for companies entering the Iranian market through different structures.

Choosing a Business Partner

• What amounts to a sufficient level of due-diligence and what red flags should you be looking for when conducting checks on an Iranian business partner?
• What level of due diligence is required when analysing the ownership structure of a counterparty including beneficial ownership?
  • direct and indirect Iranian customers, same approach, or?
• How to avoid partnering with entities under sanctions
• What else needs to be cleared before taking commitments?
  • products, banks, payers, intended use, others?
• How to avoid facilitation by US colleagues?
• The importance of a cross functional approach and shared tracking tools
• Focus on internal communication and training sessions

Joint Ventures

• Practical tips for establishing workable joint ventures in Iran
• Incorporating a joint venture under Iranian law
• What are the liabilities and rights of the parties?
• An examination of conditions that must be satisfied
• Recent high profile joint ventures and where the opportunities exist

M&A’s

• The use of M&A’s as an entry strategy to Iran
• Taking two companies compliance programmes and getting them to align. How to decide what you are going to go with and how it is going to work?
• Identifying sanctions risks in M&A transactions