Asfandyar Qureshi

Barrister

Call: 2019

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Overview

Asfandyar is an established “go-to” early junior for commercial dispute resolution, particularly in matters with an international element. He acts both as junior counsel to silks and unled as sole counsel (including in trials against silks). Asfandyar’s recent work includes:

  • Acting in LCIA proceedings on a c.$55 million dispute concerning an African banking merger & acquisition (with Louis Flannery KC).
  • Acting for a foreign energy company in LCIA proceedings on a c.$150m dispute with a major global investment bank, arising out of disputed financial agreements (with Rupert D’Cruz KC).
  • Acting for a Swiss consultancy company in its dispute with an offshore shipping company arising out of alleged breaches of contract and fiduciary duties (with Mohinderpal Sethi KC).
  • Acting for a senior trader in High Court proceedings on a restrictive covenant and bonus dispute arising out of his move between rival hedge funds (with Niran de Silva KC).
  • Acting as sole counsel in a four-day trial against a Band 1 KC in a case concerning disputed loan agreements and serious allegations of fraud.

Asfandyar also practices in business protection; offshore / DIFC; employment; and sport. He has acted in trials across all these areas, both as junior counsel to silks and unled as sole counsel.

Asfandyar has a stellar academic record, having graduated with First Class Honours (and equivalent) from both Oxford and Cambridge. Prior to his work as a barrister, he was the judicial assistant to Lord Justice Coulson in the Court of Appeal, and an analyst at an international commercial litigation firm (where he worked in litigation across multiple jurisdictions arising out of the ‘1MBD’ controversy).

Expertise

Commercial Dispute Resolution

Asfandyar is an established “go-to” early junior for commercial dispute resolution, particularly in matters with an international element. He acts both as junior counsel to silks and unled as sole counsel (including in trials against silks). He is currently acting in a series of LCIA arbitrations for an insolvent foreign bank in disputes totalling 9-figures in controversy.

  • Acting as sole counsel in a four-day trial against a Band 1 KC in a case concerning disputed loan agreements and serious allegations of fraud: Ogunjobi v Ogunyanwo.
  • Acting for a foreign energy company in LCIA proceedings on a c.$150m dispute with a major global investment bank, arising out of disputed financial agreements (with Rupert D’Cruz KC).
  • Acting for a foreign bank (via its receiver in bankruptcy) in LCIA proceedings on disputes totalling c.$200m, involving complex financial instruments, commodities trading and serious allegations of fraud and money laundering (with Rupert D’Cruz KC).
  • Acting in LCIA proceedings on a c.$55 million dispute concerning an African banking merger & acquisition (with Louis Flannery KC).
  • Acting for a Swiss consultancy company in its dispute with an offshore shipping company arising out of alleged breaches of contract and fiduciary duties (with Mohinderpal Sethi KC): Seahorn Sarl v Navios Corporation.
  • Acting for a steel company in a DIFC jurisdiction challenge on a c.$35 million dispute (with Mohinderpal Sethi KC): Paramjit Kahlon v Liberty Steel Group Ltd.
  • Acting for a senior trader in High Court proceedings on a restrictive covenant and bonus dispute arising out of his move between rival hedge funds (with Niran de Silva KC): Jump Trading International Ltd v (1) Damien Couture (2) Verition Advisors (UK Partners) LLP.
  • Assisting in relation to the dispute about the sale of 60 Sloane Avenue to the Vatican’s Secretariat of State of the Holy See (with Charles Samek KC): Athena Capital v Secretariat of State of the Holy See.
  • Assisting the market leader in the appliance protection insurance market in claims against rogue traders of fraud and conspiracy (with Nicholas Goodfellow): Domestic & General Group Ltd v Premier Protect Holdings Ltd and others.
  • Advising on the drafting of commercial agreements involving multiple jurisdictions.
  • Various insolvency proceedings.
  • Assisting in the representation of an international businessman in litigation across multiple jurisdictions arising out of the alleged “1MDB” fraud, involving several billions of USD in controversy.
Business Protection & Partnerships

Asfandyar has a notable commercial-employment crossover practice, with instructions on several business protection, directors’ disputes and partnership matters, both led and unled.

  • Acting for a senior trader in High Court proceedings on a restrictive covenant and bonus dispute arising out of his move between rival hedge funds (with Niran de Silva KC): Jump Trading International Ltd v (1) Damien Couture (2) Verition Advisors (UK Partners) LLP.
  • Advising on the drafting of a settlement agreement between two management consultancy firms on an 8-figure USD dispute involving team move and bonus issues across multiple western and Middle Eastern jurisdictions (with James Bickford Smith).
  • Advising on the settlement of a c.£3.5m partnership dispute between real estate investors following the insolvency of one of the partners.
Offshore/DIFC

Asfandyar does a significant amount of offshore work, particularly in the DIFC (which he visits frequently).

  • Acting for a steel company in a DIFC jurisdiction challenge on a c.$35 million dispute (with Mohinderpal Sethi KC): Paramjit Kahlon v Liberty Steel Group Ltd.
  • Advising on the drafting of a settlement agreement between two management consultancy firms on an 8-figure USD dispute involving team move and bonus issues across multiple Middle Eastern jurisdictions (with James Bickford Smith).
  • Assisting in multiple DIFC employment disputes as sole counsel involving, inter alia, issues concerning bonuses and termination.
Employment

Asfandyar has ample experience through the full range of statutory employment and sport disputes. He frequently appears before the Employment Tribunal and courts as sole counsel in trials, mediations and other hearings.

  • Multiple trials involving issues of discrimination, harassment, unfair dismissal.
  • Assisting an EFL Championship club in litigation brought by a former player concerning allegations of discrimination (with Joel Wallace): Amrit Bansal-McNulty v (1) Queens Park Rangers FC (2) John Yems (3) Crawley Town FC.

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