WE HAVE MOVED TEMPORARILY

Premier Chambers is now located at Ma. Maadheli, 3rd Floor (3B), Majeedhee Magu

ABOUT US

Premier Chambers - Barristers & Attorneys

Premier Chambers, established in the early 90s, takes pride in being pioneers in the provision of professional legal advice and assistance in the Republic of Maldives. Our team consists of foreign and locally-trained lawyers, who are uniquely qualified and proficient in tackling complex legal matters.


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Practice Areas

Areas we are specialized in

Banking and Finance
Constitutional and Administrative
Commercial
Corporate
Criminal Defence
Foreign Investment
Family Matters and Inheritance
Intellectual Property
Islamic Banking and Finance
Labour and Industrial
Legislative Drafting and Consultancy
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Real Estate and Investment Projects
Tax Disputes
Tourism-related Acquisitions

News & Publications

Read our stories - get latest publications

P Invitation to Apply for Licensing Training

Premier Chambers LLP is taking on candidatesfor licensing training pursuant to the Legal Profession Act 2019 and the Licensing Rules made thereunder.

14 February 2022 Download

N Premier Chambers LLP ranked as a Band 1 Firm once again by Chambers and Partners

We are proud and delighted to announce that we have maintained our ranking in the respected international directory, Chambers & Partners, as a ‘Band 1’ Firm once again this year, in their Global Guide 2022. Read more.

21 October 2020

P Overview of the Rules on Service Charge

Overview on rules of Service Charge highlights changes brought to Employment Act by the sixth amendment to Employment Act and the service charge regulation.

18 January 2022 Download

P Overview of the Act to Create and Maintain Competition in the Business Sector

Law No. 11/2020 (Act to Create and Maintain Competition in the Business Sector) came into force on 31 August 2020 and attempts to create and maintain a competitive culture and a high standard in the business sector, and ensure more options for consumers and more opportunities for SME’s in the Maldivian economy.

12 May 2021 Download

P 18th Amendment to Maldives Export Import Act

Pursuant to the Presidential Decree dated 30 December 2020, a list of goods has been classified as single use plastics, and import of which to the Maldives will be banned with effect from specific dates.

06 May 2021 Download

P Overview of the Regulation on Sale of Shares of the Government in Joint Venture Companies incorporated to Lease Lands, Islands and Lagoons for the Development of Tourist Resorts.

The Regulation highlights the process of the transaction of the sale of shares of the government in the joint venture companies, stipulating the requirements for the same including how the price of the shares are calculated.

06 April 2021 Download

P Fathimath Thasleema v Housing Development Corporation Limited (2018/SC-A/11)

The Supreme Court has set a precedent as to the fact that, the obligations of the parties under an Agreement will only be deemed as what is expressly provided therein, and an agreement can be only terminated as expressly provided therein. The case further explains the circumstance where the rule of ‘contra proferentem’ can be applied.

21 February 2021 Download

P Overview of the Consumer Protection Act

The new Consumer Protection Act ratified on 31 August 2020 stipulates the standard of goods sold and services provided, the prohibitions associated with sale of goods and provision of services, as well as the penalties for violating the provisions of the Act.

31 December 2020 Download

P Overview of Sixth Amendment to the Employment Act

Significant changes have been brought to Law no. 2/2008 (Employment Act) (“EA”) by the recent sixth amendment to the EA (“Sixth Amendment”), which came into force on 22 September 2020.

28 October 2020 Download

N Congratulations to the newly licensed lawyers of our team

On behalf of the firm, we would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Uza.Maaisha Mohamed Musthafa, Uza. Rafaha Rasheed, Uza. Sarah Ahmed Shareef, Uza. Maisoona Musthafa and Uza. Fathimath Shaffa Shiyam, on attaining their license to practice law in Maldives. Read more.

21 October 2020

P Overview of Public Health Emergency Act

Law no. 20/2020 (Public Health Emergency Act) (the “Act”) came into force on 22 September 2020. The Act addresses various issues which have arisen due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and the state of public health emergency announced in the Maldives in relation to the same.

10 October 2020 Download

P Ismail Masood v HDFC (2014/SC-A/27) & HDFC v Ismail Masood (2014/SC-A/30)

The precedent set by the Supreme Court in the docket numbers 2014/SC-A/27 and 2014/SC-A/30 provides guidance on awarding compensation to employees where substantive fairness has been established at the time of dismissal, but procedural fairness has not been established.

18 September 2020 Download

N The firm bids farewell to Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim on the parliament’s confirmation of his appointment to the post of a Supreme Court Justice! We would like to express our deepest gratitude for his invaluable contribution to the development of the firm over the last 16 years. Read more.

08 September 2020

P Ibrahim Jihad v Housing Development Corporation Limited (2019/SC-L/91)

The Supreme Court's interpretation of s.43 of Law No. 22/2010, in the case is a significant step towards preventing abuse of the court process, which will hopefully aid aggrieved parties to get justice in a more expeditious manner, without having to go through appeal proceedings that are vexatious and frivolous.

01 September 2020 Download

N MIRA Announces New Deadlines for Tax Submissions and Payments

Following the relaxation of the lockdown measures in the Maldives, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (“MIRA”) has, pursuant to its announcement on 15 June 2020, resumed counter services from 5 July 2020 onwards. Below is a summary of the changes imposed via the announcement. Read more.

28 July 2020

P Overview of the Guideline for Restarting Tourism in Maldives

Maldives has opened up its borders on 15 July 2020 with enhanced preventive measures after keeping it closed for almost 4 months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This overview provides a brief summary of the guideline on restarting tourism in Maldives, published by the Ministry of Tourism (“MoT”), providing the essential safety standards to be met by all stakeholders of the tourism industry, related to COVID-19.

25 July 2020 Download

N Government of Maldives Offers Lease Rent Deferrals for Third and Fourth Quarter of 2020

On 28 June 2020, the Ministry of Finance published a circular stating that deferrals will be offered for lease rent payments for the third and fourth quarter of 2020, for resorts and other state-owned lands, to alleviate the economic downturns faced due to COVID-19 and to sustain businesses going forward. Read more.

13 July 2020

P Overview of the Public Health Emergency Bill 2020

The Government of Maldives has proposed a Public Health Emergency Bill to address various issues arising due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and the state of public health emergency announced in the Maldives in relation to the same. Once passed into law, it shall remain in force for a period of 60 days, from the date on which a state of public health emergency announced relating to Covid-19 is lifted. Here we provide a simple overview of what the Bill proposes.

22 June 2020 Download

Fees & Engagement

How we charge and engage

Fees

We offer alternative fee terms for matters, depending on the scope and nature of work undertaken. The distinct fee workings are based on the classifications detailed here.

Details of the hourly rates and fee terms for all kinds of matters are available upon request.

Engagement

Before undertaking a matter for any client, we check for any conflict of interests. Following clearance of conflicts, an engagement letter, setting out the terms and conditions upon which the firm will act for the client will be signed by both the designated attorney from our firm, as well as the client, prior to the commencement of any work.

Fees for individual matters are charged at hourly rates of the attorney undertaking the work, subject to a non-refundable minimum charge, payable before commencement. If the work done exceeds the minimum number of hours corresponding to the minimum charge, the clients will be charged for the additional hours at the hourly rate of the attorney assigned to the matter.

Where the scope and nature of work is clear, a fixed fee may be charged. If any additional work outside the agreed scope of work is requested for by the client, such additional work will be charged at the hourly rate of the attorney.

The monthly retainer fees depend on the attorney or attorneys assigned to the client under the monthly retainer arrangement. Under this arrangement, monthly fees are charged for a specified number of hours per month. If the work done during the month exceeds the number of hours agreed on, additional hours will be charged at the attorney’s hourly rate.

These terms are limited to cases where the claim is straightforward and unlikely to be contested. A hybrid fee, consisting of a capped professional fee and a recovery commission is charged for debt recovery matters. The scope of work will include litigation at first instance courts, as well as any pre-litigation actions to be taken. However, fees for appeals to higher courts will be negotiated separately.

The fees consist of a fixed charge, which will depend on the seriousness of the offence, as well as the seniority and experience of the attorney attending to the matter. If additional work outside of the agreed scope of work is required, additional hours will be charged at an agreed rate.

Fixed fees are charged for corporate services, which include, but are not limited to, providing legal advice and assistance during simple registration processes, such as business and company registrations, as well as providing company secretarial services. Matters that include obtaining additional approvals, such as foreign investment approvals are not covered under this.

Fixed fees are charged for matters such as privatization of land and conveyancing.

Fixed fees are also set for certain miscellaneous matters, which include, but are not limited to, due diligence searches, attestation services and translations.

Our Team

People behind our success

Contact Us

We are always here to help, let's talk.

    Get in touch with us

  • Maadheli, 3rdrd Floor (3B)
    Majeedhee Magu, Machangoalhi
    Malé, Republic of Maldives
  • +960 3314377, +960 3328116
  • +960 3314378
  • admin@premier-chambers.com
  • www.premier-chambers.com
  • Sunday - Thursday
    08:00 AM - 04:30 PM