Mehriban Efendi

Mehriban Efendi has more than 15 years’ experience in intellectual property, corporate, banking, finance and tax legislation advising the biggest international and local firms. In intellectual property area Mehriban has significant experience in advising in all aspects of trade mark work from registration issues through to matters of an enforcement nature. In addition to her expertise in handling trade mark issues in CIS jurisdictions, Mehriban’s background as a commercial litigator is invaluable in her conduct of contentious trade mark proceedings and in negotiating the settlement of such proceedings.

Mehriban also worked for many years in the  banking sector, providing legal services to local and foreign high street banks and was responsible for the legal aspects of everyday activity of the banks, providing legal opinions on the legality, validity and enforceability of loan documentation; providing advice on various legal and regulatory matters related to loan agreements; interacting with relevant state bodies, including authorisations and permits required; acting as a legal advisor in all tax issues; and reviewing project and finance documents.

Transactions of significance where substantial involvement can be disclosed have included:

OTP Bank – assisting Linklaters law firm with the due diligence and documentation in relation to the proposed acquisition of a majority shareholding in the second largest commercial bank in Azerbaijan;

Credit Suisse – advising Credit Suisse as to permissible banking and investment activities and services which can be carried on or provided by CS Switzerland with or for Azerbaijani clients. Providing advice on license requirements for participants of security market in the Azerbaijan Republic;

World Bank – Advising the World Bank Group (Financial and Private Sector, Washington DC) in relation to Doing Business 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 annual series of reports;

Morgan Stanley – Advising Morgan Stanley’s Dublin-based liquidity fund in relation to loan issue for institutional investor in the Azerbaijan Republic;

Bank of America Merrill Lynch – assisting Linklaters law firm in connection with the rebranding of Merrill Lynch International Bank’s private wealth management business in Azerbaijan;

Jones Day – Advising on Azerbaijani antimonopoly legislation.

Education: The University of Law, General Degree in English Law, London, UK 2012; University College London, University of London, Masters’ Degree in Law, London, UK 2011; WIPO Academy, General Introduction to Intellectual Property, Switzerland, 2006; CWC School for energy studies, London, UK 2005; Baku University named after Rasulzade, Masters’ Degree in Law, Baku, Azerbaijan 2000.