Syed Mustafa Mahdi
Partner at Spencer West LLP
Counsel at SYED MAHDI CHAMBERS
‘Chairperson for Arbitrations’ at European Commission
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 specialises in corporate law, aviation, hospitality, 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 is a frequent speaker and has published extensively on issues related to art law and business.
He has served as Arbitrator and Mediator in a wide range of art law and commercial disputes at both the domestic and international level. 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 The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom), 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), Mainland Hong Kong Joint Mediation Centre (Hong Kong and China), 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.He regularly participates as faculty and judge at various law schools and has conducted multiple trainings at the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) yearly events. He was appointed to the original Arbitration and Mediation pools of CAfA in November 2022.
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.
Syed’s educational background includes: Cardiff University (LL.M.); SZABIST (MBA)
Jurisdiction: Pakistan