Syed Mustafa Mahdi is a common law qualified lawyer, practising as a Registered Foreign Lawyer (Solicitors Regulation Authority) and as an Advocate before the High Court(s) of Pakistan. Syed has sustantial legal experience in commercial, aviation, shipping, customs, construction, arbitration, financial markets, and cross-border transactions to which he brings a commercial, pragmatic and organised approach with a depth of experience and knowledge.
Syed currently serves as a Legal Advisor and Panel Lawyer for The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), All Pakistan Shipping Association (APSA), Dnata Pakistan, US Embassy (Pakistan), Maersk Line Pakistan, Marine Group, Gerry’s Group, FedEx Pakistan, Global Aviation Private Limited, as well as a large number of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs). Syed regularly represents leading Middle-Eastern and British airlines across various Courts of Pakistan.
As a reflection of his expertise, Syed qualified as a Fellow at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (“FCIArb”), The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (“FMIArb”), Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (“FAMINZ”) and is the only Arbitrator to have achieved these enviable and distinguished titles in Pakistan.
Syed has been accepted and empanelled as an Arbitrator and/or Mediator with European Commission (European Union), The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom & Pakistan), Hainan International Arbitration Court (China), Asian International Arbitration Centre (Kuala Lumpur), Shanghai Arbitration Commission (China), Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (Saudi Arabia), Maldives International Arbitration Centre (Maldives), Utatuzi Centre (Kenya), Disputes Board MENA (United Arab Emirates), Jamaica International Arbitration Centre (Jamaica), Court of Arbitration for Art (The Netherlands), International Centre for Appropriate Dispute Resolution (Pakistan), New Zealand International Arbitration Centre (New Zealand), Caspian Arbitration Centre (Switzerland), Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited (Pakistan), Sulha Solutions (Canada) respectively. Additionally, Syed also holds the position as an Honorary Secretary of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb Pakistan Branch) and a Co-Founder of Energy Related Arbitration Practitioners (ENERAP) in Pakistan.
Syed was shortlisted as a nominee for the National Mediation Awards, UK (2020) from Pakistan. Syed was also awarded Best Full Service Arbitration Specialist- Pakistan by APAC Insider Legal Awards 2019 (United Kingdom). Syed was also invited at the 8th Judicial Conference (2018) under the auspices of Supreme Court of Pakistan, where he presented his paper on Corruption of Arbitration Awards. Syed has been awarded as the “Leading Corporate Attorney of the Year Pakistan” by AI Global Media as part of their annual ‘Leading Adviser Awards 2018’ and also awarded as the “Corporate Arbitrator of the Year 2018 – Pakistan” by Acquisition International Magazine (UK).
