Asfandyar Qureshi

Asfandyar has a particular interest in commercial law, having undertaken and worked on many commercial matters. Highlights include:

• Representing a multinational steel company in a DIFC jurisdiction challenge on a c.$35 million claim (with Mohinderpal Sethi KC).
• Advising on choice of law (English vs DIFC) and seat of arbitration (London vs DIFC) in the drafting of a settlement agreement between two international management consultancy firms on an 8-figure USD dispute (with James Bickford-Smith).
• Advising on the settlement of a c.£3.5m dispute between real estate investors.
• Representing a solicitor’s firm in a dispute concerning allegations of dishonesty, misappropriation of funds and other serious corporate wrongdoing.
• Representing a provider of domestic appliance extended warranty plans in proceedings concerning allegations of breach of contract and professional negligence.
• Assisting (as a pupil) in a dispute between two competing Boards of a foreign Central Bank in a high profile ongoing dispute as to which Board is properly authorised to give instructions in relation to inter alia c.$2 billion of gold stored in the vaults of the Bank of England.
• Assisting (as an analyst at a commercial litigation firm) 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.

Asfandyar has experience dealing with claims across the range of employment, business protection and partnership law. Highlights include:

• Representing an employer against allegations it owes c.$35m to a former employee (with Mohinderpal Sethi KC).
• Advising on the settlement of an 8-figure USD multinational ‘team move’ dispute (with James Bickford-Smith).
• Advising on the settlement of a c.£3.5m partnership dispute between real estate investors.
• Representing a private clinic seeking injunctions to protect against breaches of restrictive covenants.
• Representing an employer in proceedings before the ET against claims of discrimination and in respect of employment status issues.
• Representing an employee in proceedings before the ET in claims of sex and disability discrimination.

Asfandyar is an avid sports fan and welcomes instruction in sports law. Recently, as a pupil Asfandyar assisted in the commencement of an arbitration on behalf of an EFL Championship club contesting sanctions placed on it by footballing authorities.

Education

2012-15 : BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University of Oxford: First Class

2016-17: Graduate Diploma in Law at City, University of London: Distinction

2017-18: MPhil in Philosophy of Religion at University of Cambridge: 74 (First Class equivalent)

2019-20: Bar Professional Training Course at City, University of London: Very Competent

Scholarships and Prizes

2015: Fitzgerald Prize, Exeter College, University of Oxford: awarded for performance in Final examinations

2017-18: Hartwell Studentship, University of Cambridge: full scholarship (tuition fees and living expenses) for MPhil degree

2018-19: BPTC Scholarship, City, University of London

2018-19: Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn

2019: Won the Oxford International Intellectual Property Moot (and the prize for Best Written Submissions), mooting in front of Lord Kitchin, Lord Justice Floyd and Mr Justice Carr in the Grand Final