KUSUM LAW FIRM PVT. LTD.

Firm Details

Managing Partner: Miraj Shrestha

Senior Partner: Senior Advocate Sudheer Shrestha

Executive Partner & Legal Counsel: Senior Advocate Chakra Bikram Shah / Advocate Shiva Kumar Shrestha

Number of Partners: 3

Number of Other Fee-Earners: 10

International Offices: None (Extensive cross-border advisory with global firms and INGOs)

Firm Overview

Kusum Law Firm Pvt. Ltd. (“KLF”) is a full-service corporate and commercial law practice based in Kathmandu, Nepal, with more than three decades of cumulative partner-level experience advising domestic and international clients. The firm is recognised for its sophisticated handling of complex regulatory matters, foreign investment structuring, INGO/IGO compliance, intellectual property prosecution, carbon-credit and environmental frameworks, and labour & employment advisory. KLF’s practice is distinguished by its policy-centric approach, precision in statutory interpretation, and its long-standing counsel to diplomatic missions, development partners, hydropower developers, and multinational enterprises.

Main Areas of Practice

Corporate, Banking, Foreign Investment & Cross-Border Transactions

Partners & Fee-Earners:

• Partners: 2
• Fee-Earners: 4
• Primary Location: Kathmandu

Work Highlights / Description:

KLF advises on the full spectrum of foreign investment compliance under the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 2019 (“FITTA”), including FDI structuring, technology-transfer agreements, capital repatriation, regulatory approvals, and cross-border remittances governed by the Nepal Rastra Bank Unified Directives. Recent engagements include advising multiple Korean and Singaporean investors on inbound investment vehicles, carbon-credit linked financing structures, and regulatory clearances for technology deployment in Nepal.

The firm frequently leads due diligence, transaction structuring, and drafting of shareholders’ agreements, joint venture arrangements, and acquisition instruments. The Firm is also a retained legal advisor for class 'A' commercial bank of Nepal.

Key Partners:

• Miraj Shrestha
• Senior Advocate Chakra Bikram Shah

Key Clients (Representative):

Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Aloft Hotel, international private investors.

Contact:

Mr. Miraj Shrestha (Managing Partner)

+977-9851026040

INGO/IGO, Diplomatic Missions & Development Sector Advisory

Partners & Fee-Earners:

• Partners: 2
• Fee-Earners: 3
• Primary Location: Kathmandu

Work Highlights / Description:

KLF acts as long-standing legal adviser to several intergovernmental and international organisations, including IWMI Nepal, ICIMOD, and diplomatic missions such as the Swiss Embassy, Norwegian Embassy, and Australian Embassy. The firm regularly advises on treaty interpretation, immunities and privileges, host-country agreements, registration and renewal under the Social Welfare Act and SWC Guidelines, labour compliance for expatriate employees, and complex issues surrounding jurisdiction, data sharing, and cross-border dispute coordination.

The firm recently advised ICIMOD on cross-jurisdictional PAN declaration frameworks across Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and represents IWMI in renewal negotiations concerning institutional immunities and visa privileges.

Key Clients (Representative):

IWMI Nepal, ICIMOD, Action Aid International, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of Switzerland, Australian Embassy.

Contact:

Miraj Shrestha

+977-9851026040

Hydropower, Infrastructure & Energy Projects

Partners & Fee-Earners:

• Partners: 1
• Fee-Earners: 2
• Primary Location: Kathmandu & Field Offices

Work Highlights / Description:

KLF has a strong track record in hydropower transactions and regulatory compliance, advising developers on licensing under the Electricity Act, land acquisition, community negotiations, environmental approvals (IEE/EIA), and project finance documentation. The firm has been advising Dronachal Hydropower Company on shareholder restructuring, land acquisition disputes in Dolakha/Jiri, local stakeholder agreements, and regulatory filings relating to survey licences and EPC contracts.

Key Partners:

• Miraj Shrestha
• Supported by project counsel and local representatives

Key Clients (Representative):

Dronachal Hydropower, Bavarian-Hydropower GmbH & Co. KG, Mandu Hydropower.

Contact:

Shiva Kumar Shrestha

+977-9851026040

Labour & Employment

Partners & Fee-Earners:

• Partners: 1
• Fee-Earners: 2
• Primary Location: Kathmandu

Work Highlights / Description:

KLF advises extensively on the Labour Act, 2074, including redundancy, restructuring, disciplinary proceedings, whistle-blower complaints, expatriate hiring, and compliance with the Social Security Fund regime. The firm has recently advised a diplomatic mission on upgrading an occupied position without triggering unlawful redundancy, examining Sections 109, 145, and 147 of the Labour Act. It routinely prepares internal policies, HR manuals, mutual separation agreements, and high-risk employment opinions for NGOs, INGOs, and private corporations.

Key Clients (Representative):

multiple corporate entities.

Contact:

Miraj Shrestha

+977-9851026040

Intellectual Property (Trademarks & Patents)

Partners & Fee-Earners:

• Partners: 1
• Fee-Earners: 2
• Primary Location: Kathmandu

Work Highlights / Description:

The firm maintains a vibrant IP prosecution and enforcement practice under the Patents, Designs and Trademarks Act, 2022 (1965). KLF handles priority filings, oppositions, notarized HRC review, divisional practice, portfolio management, and litigation before the Industrial Property Section of the Department of Industry. It has represented well-known foreign brands such as Adidas, Chocosuisee, Boots,Tangle Teezer and TauRx Therapeutics, Tong Garden including contentious matters involving infringing local entities.

Key Clients (Representative):

Tong Garden, Adidas, Tangle Teezer Limited, TauRx Therapeutics, OTG Enterprise Pte. Ltd., multinational FMCG brands.

Contact:

Miraj Shrestha / Shiva Kumar Shrestha

+977-9851026040

Carbon-Credit & Environmental Law

Partners & Fee-Earners:

• Partners: 1
• Fee-Earners: 1

Work Highlights / Description:

KLF advises on emerging carbon-credit markets, Article 6 frameworks, environmental compliance for brick-kiln transformation, and multi-party carbon-fund mobilization. The firm supports Good Bricks technology deployment, carbon-registry documentation, and negotiations with government bodies and international buyers.

Key Clients (Representative):

InnoCSR, South Asia Brick Kiln Associations (through ICIMOD assignments).

Education Sector & Corporate Governance

Partners & Fee-Earners:

• Partners: 1
• Fee-Earners: 2

Work Highlights / Description:

Given the Managing Partner’s leadership in Adhyayan School, the firm possesses niche expertise in education-sector governance, regulatory licensing, franchise structuring, share transfers, and board compliance. KLF drafts school-level policies, expansion agreements, campus establishment MoUs, and assists with corporate filings and restructuring of educational institutions.

Key Clients (Representative):

Adhyayan School Group, Manoram Preschool, various private education operators.

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Partners & Fee-Earners: 1 Partner; 2 Fee-Earners

Location: Nepal

KLF represents clients before all tiers of the Nepalese judiciary in contractual disputes, land and property matters, company and shareholder litigation, regulatory challenges, and injunction proceedings. The practice is known for precise pleadings, strategic case framing under the Civil Procedure Code, 2074, and strong appellate advocacy. The firm has recently handled complex cross-border recognition matters, including enforcement of foreign decrees and jurisdictional objections before the High Court.

Key Partner: Senior Advocate Chakra Bikram Shah / Shiva Kumar Shrestha

Clients: Corporate and private individuals.

Criminal Law & White-Collar Defense

Partners & Fee-Earners: 1 Partner; 3 Fee-Earner

Location: Kathmandu

KLF advises and defends clients in criminal matters relating to fraud, forgery, misappropriation, corruption, cybercrime, and organisational liability. The team provides early-stage intervention in FIRs, police inquiries, and bail applications, ensuring procedural compliance under the Criminal Procedure Code, 2074. The firm also assists INGOs and diplomatic missions on sensitive staff-related complaints and cross-border issues.

Key Partner: Miraj Shrestha / Shiva Kumar Shrestha/ Senior Advocate Chakra Bikram Shah

Clients: Corporate officers, expatriate staff, and individuals requiring discreet criminal defense.

Primary Contact for Chambers Enquiries

Miraj Shrestha

Managing Partner

Kusum Law Firm Pvt. Ltd., Babarmahal, Kathmandu

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +977-9851026040