Asfandyar Qureshi

Asfandyar is an established “go-to” early junior for commercial dispute resolution, particularly in matters with an international element. Highlights include:

• 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 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 for a Russian energy company in LCIA proceedings on a c.$150m dispute with a major investment bank, arising out of a disputed loan (with Rupert D’Cruz KC).
• Acting 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.
• 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 Swiss consultancy company in its dispute with an offshore shipping company arising out of alleged breaches of contract and directors’ duties (with Mohinderpal Sethi KC): Seahorn Sarl v Navios Corporation.
• Acting for 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 an agreement for the distribution of manufacturing tools involving multiple jurisdictions (the UK, Germany and Jordan).
• 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.

Asfandyar has a burgeoning commercial-employment crossover practice, having been instructed on several business protection, directors’ disputes and partnership matters. Highlights include:

• 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.
• Acting for a private clinic seeking injunctions to prevent breaches of restrictive covenants.

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

• 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).

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

Asfandyar is currently acting for 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.

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 (First Class equivalent)

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 for MPhil degree

2018-19 Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn

2018-19 BPTC Scholarship, City, University of London

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