Effective date: 2 February 2025. Revised: 19 September 2026.
Professional standing
Basnet Law Pte. Ltd. (the "Firm") is a law firm incorporated in the Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region ("GMC"), Kingdom of Bhutan. The Firm's attorneys practise in GMC on the strength of their admission as legal practitioners in the Kingdom of Bhutan under the Jabmi Act 2003, as amended, and they remain in good standing with the Bar Council of Bhutan in respect of that admission. In GMC the Firm is registered with the Gelephu Financial Services Office as a Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession and is subject to the anti-money laundering, sanctions, company and data protection laws that apply in GMC. The Firm conducts itself to the professional standards of competence, integrity, confidentiality and conflict avoidance that those laws and its attorneys' admission require.
Establishment of an attorney-client relationship
Contacting the Firm, visiting its offices, communicating with its staff or reading this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. Such a relationship is established only when:
- the Firm has completed a conflict of interest check and found no conflict;
- the Firm has completed the client due diligence that the GMC Financial Services Act 2025 and the AML and Sanctions Rulebook require;
- the Firm has agreed in writing to act on a specified matter and a written engagement and fee agreement has been signed; and
- the Firm has confirmed acceptance of the engagement in writing.
Until all of these conditions are met, no attorney-client relationship exists and the Firm has undertaken no duty of representation.
Confidentiality and privilege
Communications between the Firm's attorneys and clients within the scope of the professional relationship are confidential. Legal professional privilege applies in GMC under the common law and rules of equity that the Application of Laws Act 2024 makes part of GMC law, subject to GMC's own enactments. Clients should note that:
- privilege is subject to the exceptions the law recognises, and does not protect communications made in furtherance of a crime or fraud;
- communications made in the presence of third parties may not be protected;
- the Firm may be required by law to make reports to the Gelephu Financial Services Office that it is prohibited from disclosing to the client; and
- a court of competent jurisdiction may, in limited circumstances, compel disclosure.
The Firm maintains strict protocols to safeguard client information, described further in its Privacy Policy.
Fees and billing
The Firm agrees its fees in writing before it begins work. Fees are determined by the complexity of the matter, the time required, the expertise needed and the customary rates for comparable work, and never by the outcome of a matter. The Firm issues itemised statements at regular intervals, holds client money separately from its own, and refunds any unexpended retainer or advance promptly when the engagement ends.
Scope of representation
The Firm's representation is limited to the matters identified in the written engagement agreement. Unless the agreement says otherwise in writing, the Firm does not accept responsibility for matters outside that scope, does not monitor legal developments after a matter has concluded, and does not undertake to update advice or opinions once representation has ended. GMC law continues to develop; advice is given as at its date.
Ethical standards and professional conduct
The Firm's attorneys act with integrity, honesty and respect, avoid conflicts of interest that would impair their professional judgment, uphold their clients' legal rights diligently within the law, and provide competent and diligent representation. As officers of the court in the jurisdictions in which they are admitted, they support the proper administration of justice.
Limitation of liability and disclaimer
Information on this website, in the Firm's publications and in initial consultations is general in nature and is not a substitute for advice on your particular situation. It does not constitute legal advice; no warranty is given as to its accuracy, completeness or timeliness; legal positions and interpretations change; applying the law to specific facts requires professional analysis; and reliance on general information without engaging the Firm is at your own risk. The Firm's professional liability is limited to the extent the law permits and as set out in the engagement agreement.
Communication practices
The Firm aims to keep clients regularly informed. Attorneys may not be immediately available because of hearings, meetings or other professional commitments, and the Firm will respond to enquiries as soon as practicable, ordinarily within one to two business days. Electronic communications are not guaranteed to be secure, and confidential information should be sent only as the Firm instructs.
Governing law
This disclaimer is governed by the laws of the Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region, including the common law and equity applied in GMC by the Application of Laws Act 2024, and any dispute concerning it is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of GMC.
For any enquiries please contact the Firm at office@basnetgmc.com.
You may contact Basnet Law at basnet@basnetgmc.com or office@basnetgmc.com for any legal queries related to GMC.
