Madinah can offer Investment and Property Law advice and consultancy specifically tailored to match individual client requirements. The specific services to be provided would be defined in the initial client consultation. Madinah can advise on how the investment can conform to these requirements. The services offered include inter alia the following generic services for
Investment Law:
- International, National, and Regional Financial Regulations and Investment Thresholds: Investments must conform to national and international requirements. The scope, scale and timing of investments must conform with national and regional priorities.
- National and International Currency Regulations: Investments must conform with national and international requirements for transparency and meet money-laundering regulations.
- International, National, Regional and Local Grants and Incentives: Certain investments may qualify for Government subsidy or financial support. Qualification for such grants requires early structuring of the project brief to maximise the available financial assistance.
- IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards): Many nations incorporate IFRS as a prerequisite for company accounts and assessment of tax liabilities. Structuring project finances to meet IFRS requirements can minimise such tax and financial liabilities.
- Financial Reporting and Accounting: Implementing national reporting and accounting requirements (after compliance with IFRS) will minimise governmental scrutiny and assist in the swift agreement of tax and other liabilities.
Property Law:
Madinah can offer Property Law Services specifically tailored to match individual client requirements. The specific services to be provided would be defined in the initial client consultation. Effective developments require that property issues are dealt with expeditiously at the beginning of the project. This avoids subsequent project disruption dealing with legal challenges. The services offered include the following generic services:
- Property Titles and Ownership: Demarking clear site boundaries and establishing that the prospective vendor has the legal right to enter into such sales can avoid disruption and delay to potential projects.
- Land Tenure Issues: Establishing tenure (Freehold or Leasehold) affects the valuation of the selling price and may affect the feasibility and viability of a project development. Land restrictions, rights and covenants can determine whether the prospective land meets feasibility requirements.
- Land Taxation Issues: Assessing the liability for current and future tax liabilities can significantly affect the viability assessment of a project. It is important to ascertain such liabilities and include them in viability studies.
- Property Searches and Analysis: Identifying the optimal location needs a combination of quantitative and qualitative assessments. Comparing and contrasting alternatives may establish clear priorities, either for location, maximum price or other criteria.
- Outstanding Mortgages and Taxes: In some jurisdictions or circumstances, a new land owner may also accrue the liabilities of previous owners and may become liable for any outstanding mortgages or taxes. Even if this is disputed the delays and/or financial implications can have serious consequences for the success of a project.
- Zoning Categories: National and local Government categorise land according to their own development plans. Establishing clear guidance as to what development would obtain approval can involve negotiations and trade-offs with Government authorities. Expertise and local knowledge are necessary to achieve speedy answers to such questions.
- Zoning Statements and Building Code Analysis: The process of obtaining permission to proceed with the execution of a specific project is dependent on obtaining local government authorisation. The scale, size or maximum permitted density or height of the buildings may be specified in a local permission but granting such a permission can be a lengthy process. Informal preliminary discussions, and subsequent discussions to alter or amend permission is frequently necessary. The process for issuance of a zoning statement may also involve the payment of local Government fees. There may be scope to negotiate the scale of such fees and determine an advantageous payment schedule.
- Zoning Ordinances and Building Permits Applications: Obtaining building permission requires applications to a number of relevant authorities to obtain the necessary approvals. Expertise and local knowledge are necessary to achieve speedy and comprehensive approvals.