Professional Services

"CMS has closed its Iran office just over two years after becoming the first international law firm to move into the country. The firm opened in Tehran in February 2016, weeks after sanctions on the country were lifted in the wake of the landmark international agreement to limit its nuclear activities. However, President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in May last year, reimposing the previous sanctions, with CMS opting to close its base in the Navak Tower as a result. The office had been staffed by lawyers from the firm’s German arm, CMS Hasche Sigle, including corporate partner Jurgen Frodermann and German-Iranian energy partner Shaghayegh Smousavi, both of who have now returned to the firm's Duesseldorf base. CMS had considered a move into Tehran for some time, setting up an Iran taskforce in 2013 after the election of president Hassan Rouhani and the start of the negotiations over the nuclear deal. The sanctions on Iran were lifted on 16 January 2016, with the office opening at the start of February." (Yahoo News, "CMS exits Iran as sanctions prompt rethink by international firms," 1/24/2019).

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In February 2016, CMS announced plans to open a Tehran office in order to provide legal advice to businesses and investors in Iran.  (CMS website, “CMS Opens Iran office in Tehran,” 2/2/2016).  CMS explained, “[w]e support international companies seeking to gain an early competitive advantage and to build strong business relationships with Iran by providing access to lawyers who specialise in Iranian law and leveraging our practical experience of working on investment projects in Iran.”  (CMS website, “Welcome to CMS in Iran,” accessed 6/1/2016).  The Lawyer notes that “CMS has become the first international firm to open an office in Iran, two weeks after sanctions against the country were lifted by the US.”  (The Lawyer, “CMS becomes first international firm to open in Iran,” 2/2/2016).  CMS’s “clients in Iran will consist of multinationals and large SMEs, including Iranian companies.”  Id.

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CMS is the first international law firm to open a dedicated office in the Iranian capital, Tehran, led by partners of CMS Germany.

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"Python & Peter, a leading Swiss law firm, has opened an office in Tehran in a further sign of the country opening for business in the wake of the groundbreaking nuclear agreement signed last year. The new office will aim to advise foreign multinationals on how to operate in a country slowly awakening from years of international isolation and numerous economic downturns. In February, Germany’s CMS was the first international law firm to open an office in Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution... Iranian law firms with international standards are also rare. But a new generation of lawyers has been encouraged with the entrance of foreign law firms into the country, said Encyeh Seyed Sadr, partner and attorney at law in Bayan Emrooz, a new local law firm. Lack of trust in Iran’s judicial system, fears of bias and corruption as well as often lengthy proceedings and high tariffs means many foreign companies are wary of losing their investments should they run into difficulties with their local partners... In a further sign of the growing international interest in setting up business in Iran, a team from the Swiss Chambers’ Arbitration Institution visited Tehran last week, offering fair, independent and flexible arbitration services in any potential future disputes between Iranian and foreign companies." (Financial Times, “Leading Swiss law firm opens Tehran office,” 5/5/2016)

"As excitement builds around the potential PV market in Iran, German consultancy company Planet in Green agreed a 20 year power purchase agreement for a large-scale PV plant near to Tehran. Iran is opening up to outside investment and the PV market wants to take full advantage of this. European PV companies seem to be the ones taking the first steps in the country, which has huge solar resources and a need for extra power. Planet in Green Projects GmbH is a German consultancy company that specializes in PV projects. The contract that it has concluded with the with Iranian renewable energy organization SUNA is for a 100 MWp close to Iran, which will produce 165 million kWh per annum..." (PV Magazine, “German company signs PPA for 100 MW solar plant in Iran,” 6/14/2016)

Iranian Hackers Targeted Deloitte Via A Seriously Convincing Facebook Fake (October 14, 2017).

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"The 3rd Banking and Business Forum Iran Europe will be held in Frankfurt on Nov. 16-17. Billed as a "major event on opportunities in investment, banking and finance in Iran" it will take place in the context of the 19th Euro Finance Week Conference, a major European banking and finance event. The privately-owned Saman Bank is co-sponsoring the forum, reports the bank's official website. International Bankers Forum president Nader Maleki and Iran's ambassador to Berlin Ali Majedi will preside over the meeting on "banking and finance – insights on the current situation." Valiollah Seif, governor of the Central Bank of Iran will deliver the keynote  speech with a focus on Iran's nuclear accord in a segment titled "new opportunities for Iran and the EU: Implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action". Joining Seif will be senior EU diplomat Helga Schmid who is the secretary general of the European External Action Service. Rudi Bonte, Marcus Pleyer, Will Newton and Rolf M. Zollner are among the speakers. Bonte, a senior advisor to the Deloitte Banking Union Center in Frankfurt, will detail a European perspective on the need for financial sector reforms." (Financial Tribune, "Focus on Investment, Banking at Iran-EU Forum," 11/10/2016).

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Deloitte has two speakers listed at the 3rd Banking and Business Forum Iran-Europe, taking place in Frankfurt, Germany, from November 16-17, 2016. (Euro Finance Week, Speakers).

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A representative of Deloitte, attended the FT Iran Summit 2016 (“the Summit”), that took place at the Landmark Hotel in London on March 9, 2016

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“The world’s ‘Big Four’ accountancy and professional services firms are taking steps to establish operations in Iran following the lifting of international sanctions in January. KPMG, Deloitte, PWC and EY are understood to have held discussions over either setting up offices in Tehran or otherwise commencing operations in the country. It is not yet known when such movements would take place, but the auditing firms told Arabian Business they had had sufficient demand from clients looking to enter the market to justify an expansion of their services into Iran… A Deloitte spokesman said that the firm has ‘no on the ground presence in Iran’ at the moment, ‘but is able to provide clients certain professional services from teams outside Iran’. The spokesman added: ‘Deloitte continuously assesses developments to set appropriate plans and strategy for the Iran market.’” (Arabian Business, “‘Big Four’ plan to set up in Iran,” 3/3/2016)

"Western and Middle East insurance specialists see Iran as an appealing $8 billion market in the wake of its nuclear deal with world powers, though uncertainty over when sanctions on Tehran will be lifted means they are treating the country with caution... Marine and energy come top of the list for insurance sectors in which to write business, both for the anonymous respondents to the emailed questions and for other industry specialists. 'Historically we have dealt with Iran; it’s interesting to see what’s happening there,' said Ben Abraham, head of marine at insurance broker Willis, adding that the firm would adhere to the sanctions regime but would be watching for any changes. 'From a marine perspective, there are some large ship owners in Iran. There are lots of cargo, port terminals.'” (Reuters, "Foreign Insurers Take Cautious Look at Iran Business in Wake of Nuclear Deal," 7/26/15)

"Henry Smith, associate director at Control Risks, said managers based in Dubai and elsewhere had been flying to Tehran to consider opportunities. The accord between Iran and six nations needs formalising and implementing. Mr. Smith says it will be up to companies' head offices to make the final decision because of the perceptions of risk with regard to Iran. He thinks it will be October at the earliest before sanctions are lifted." (BBC, "Iran: Now a Business Opportunity?," 7/14/15)

Seaport Controllers is a German shipment inspection and certification company that works in Iran through its partner, Balivan Co. (Seaport Controllers Website, "Network - Middle East")

SGS is a German multi-industry company that works in Iran through its partner, SGS (Iran) Limited.

"BearingPoint, previously known as KPMG Consulting, was authorized to buy payroll software from Iran in order to complete its work developing a finance and budgeting system for Afghanistan's government. Iran and Afghanistan share a common language, and BearingPoint said software purchased elsewhere would require substantial modification." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)