Taif Aladalah Law & Legal Consultations

Where experience meets justice

Establishing and protecting business in Iraq

An Iraqi law firm in Basra and Baghdad. We act for foreign and Iraqi companies and investors on market entry, corporate structuring, tax, employment and litigation — before the ministries, courts and registries where their files are decided.

We represent clients before

  • Companies Registrar — Ministry of Trade
  • General Commission for Taxes
  • Social Security Department
  • Real Estate Registration Directorates
  • General Directorate for Industrial Development
  • Trademark Registry
  • Iraqi courts
2025 Registered with the Companies Registrar, Iraqi Ministry of Trade
Two offices Head office in Basra, branch office in Baghdad
Six departments Each led by a named lawyer in charge
25+ Iraqi and international companies advised
Entering the Iraqi market

The first decision a foreign company makes is the shape of its legal presence

Operating in Iraq generally requires a registered presence: a branch of the foreign parent, an Iraqi limited liability company, or an industrial project licence. Which route fits depends on your sector, the counterparty you are contracting with, and whether you intend to employ staff locally.

We help you identify the right route before time and money go into the wrong one, then handle the full procedure before the authorities — through the registration decision and everything that follows it.

Branch of a foreign company

Registering a branch of the parent company in Iraq while retaining its foreign legal personality. The usual route for companies contracting with government entities or field operators.

Foreign Companies & Investment

Iraqi limited liability company

A separate Iraqi entity, wholly or partly owned by the investor. Offers broader flexibility in local hiring, contracting and expansion of activity.

Iraqi Companies

Industrial or investment project

An industrial project licence from the General Directorate for Industrial Development, together with security approvals and trademark registration.

Foreign Companies & Investment
The procedure

Registering a foreign company branch, stage by stage

These are the actual stages a file passes through from start to finish. We carry them out on your behalf and confirm each stage as it completes.

Stage 1

Review of corporate documents and final accounts before filing

Stage 2

Certified legal translation of company documents

Stage 3

Authentication of documents inside Iraq

Stage 4

Filing with the Companies Registrar

Stage 5

Issue of the branch operating licence

Stage 6

Registration decision issued and collected

After registration

Opening the tax file and obtaining the tax identification, registering employees with social security, residency permits and work authorisations for expatriate staff, and the import/export licence where the business requires one.

Practices

Eleven practices, each owned by a department

Files are not passed around. Every practice sits with a specific department led by a named lawyer, so you know who is handling your matter from day one.

Foreign company registration

  • Review of corporate documents and final accounts
  • Authentication of documents in Iraq
  • Filing with the Companies Registrar
  • Branch licence and registration decision

Foreign Companies & Investment

Iraqi corporate

  • Incorporation of limited liability companies
  • Amending articles and transferring shares
  • Capital increases and mergers
  • Transfer of a deceased shareholder's shares to heirs
  • Liquidation

Iraqi Companies

Tax

  • Opening and transferring the tax file
  • Tax identification issuance
  • Tax clearance certificates
  • Tax disputes and penalties

Tax & Social Security

Final accounts

  • Preparation of company final accounts
  • Filing and consolidation
  • Instalment arrangements for late penalties

Tax & Social Security

Social security & employment

  • Opening a file with the Social Security Department
  • Registering employees and completing their formalities
  • Social security clearance certificates

Tax & Social Security

Industrial projects & investment

  • Security approvals for industrial projects
  • Project licence from Industrial Development
  • Trademark reservation and licensing
  • Registration of Iraqi and foreign trademarks

Foreign Companies & Investment

Residency & work permits

Residency for foreign and Arab nationals in Iraq, work authorisations, and opening employee files with the Social Security Department.

Legal Formalities

Import & export licensing

Issuing import and export licences for companies operating in Iraq, and handling their renewal.

Legal Formalities

Real estate

Property registration and transfer of title, settlement of real estate disputes, and representation before the registration directorates.

Real Estate Registration

Criminal defence & investigations

Defence and representation of clients in criminal matters, and attendance at investigative proceedings before the competent authorities.

Investigations & Criminal Matters

Legal translation

Professional legal translation across languages through a specialist partner office, with certification by the Translators' Association.

With a certified translation partner

Sectors

Sectors whose regulatory detail we know

Basra is Iraq's oil and maritime centre, and our client base reflects it. The sectors below are drawn from matters we have actually handled.

Oil, gas & oilfield services

Field service companies and subcontractors, both Iraqi and international.

Shipping, logistics & marine services

Import and export, customs clearance and marine supply through Basra's ports.

Trading & precious metals

Gold and jewellery import and trade, and general trading.

Construction & contracting

General contracting, public and private contracts, and engineering services.

Real estate development

Property registration, transfer of title and dispute settlement.

Information technology & telecoms

Telecom services, technology solutions and trademark registration.

Pharmaceutical & food manufacturing

Industrial project licensing, security approvals and trademarks.

Manpower supply

Residency, work permits and social security registration for workers.

People

Management

A legal team organised into specialist departments. Every matter has a named lawyer responsible for it and a single point of contact that does not change.

General Manager

Ismael Alabbood, Attorney at Law

Oversees the firm's work, manages its legal and strategic files, and represents the firm before official authorities and clients.

Office Manager

Latifa Imad, Attorney at Law

Responsible for day-to-day management, workflow, and coordination between the legal and administrative departments.

Director of External Relations

Dr. Isbraq Al-Wazzan

Leads institutional relations and communication with local and international companies and bodies, and develops strategic partnerships.

Legal departments

Six specialist departments, each with a lawyer in charge.

Foreign Companies & Investment Hanin Saeed · Hadeel Al-Rikabi

Registration of foreign company branches, incorporation, corporate documentation, and follow-up of investor procedures inside Iraq.

Iraqi Companies Bahaa Hazim

Incorporation of Iraqi companies, amendment of articles of association, share transfers, capital increases and corporate restructuring.

Tax & Social Security Ali Hazim

All tax and social security formalities, final accounts, and settlement of tax disputes.

Legal Formalities Fahad Al-Abal

Handling legal and administrative formalities before official departments, documentation and authentication, and obtaining licences.

Investigations & Criminal Matters Ridhwan Al-Tamimi

Defence and representation of clients in criminal cases, and attendance at investigative proceedings before the competent authorities.

Real Estate Registration Ali Al-Asadi

Property registration and transfer of title, settlement of real estate disputes, and representation before the registration directorates.

Clients

Companies and institutions that appointed us as legal counsel

CNLC Chinese oilfield services company
GWDG German scientific computing institution

Iraqi companies

Contact

Request a consultation

Send us the details of your matter and the responsible lawyer will come back to you within one business day. The first consultation carries no obligation.

Phone & WhatsApp
+964 780 333 4411
Email
info@altaiflaw.com
Head office
Basra — Al-BaradiyaRepublic of Iraq
Branch office
BaghdadCoverage across Iraqi governorates
Working languages
Arabic and EnglishCertified legal translation across languages
Instagram & Facebook
altaif.lawfirm

All information is treated in strict confidence.