SYED MAHDI CHAMBERS (SMC)

PAKISTANI

PAKISTAN

KARACHI

Professional Accreditations
1. Fellow: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), United Kingdom
2. Fellow: The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (MIArb), Malaysia
3. Fellow: Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ), New Zealand
4. Fellow: Utatuzi Center, Kenya
5. Fellow: Kovise Foundation Conflict Resolution International (KFCRI). India
6. AHC: Advocate High Court, Pakistan
7. IAPM: International Accredited Professional Mediator
8. TTP: Travel and Tourism Professional

Professional Memberships
1. Sindh Bar Council (Lifetime)
2. Karachi Bar Association (KBA)
3. Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA)
4. International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)
5. Rising Arbitrators Initiative (RAI)
6. ICC - Young Arbitrators Forum (YAF)
7. Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC 40) – Young Practitioners Group
8. Young ICCA
9. LCIA – Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG)
10. HKIAC – HK45
11. AIAC (formerly KLRCA) – Young Practitioners Group (YPG)
12. SIAC – Young SIAC Group (YSIAC)
13. Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)
14. Young Professional- SVAMC-YP Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center, USA
15. The Asia-Pacific Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA)
16. European Law Institute (ELI)

Rights of Audience
1. Certificate of Practice to be enrolled as an Advocate Lifetime High Court(s) of Pakistan
2. Rights of Audience (Lifetime) at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), Kazakhstan

1. Active (for oral hearings): English (mother tongue/native), Urdu (fluent), Hindi (fluent).
2. Passive (for reading documents): English (mother tongue/native), Urdu (fluent)
3. Drafting (for drafting Awards/Decisions/etc.): English (mother tongue/native)

1. Cardiff University: Masters of Law (LLM- International Commercial Arbitration), United Kingdom
2. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST): Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Pakistan
3. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST): Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA), Pakistan
4. Certificate of Academic Standing by Bar Standards Board (BSB), United Kingdom
5. Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) by International Air Transport Association (IATA)
6. 5-day certificate course “Airline Distribution Strategies & e-Commerce” by International Air Transport Association (IATA), Miami, United States of America
7. Distance Learning International Diploma course “Stepping into Management”- Travel and Tourism (DTTM) by International Air Transport Association (IATA)
8. Distance Learning International Diploma course “Consultant” - Travel and Tourism (DTTC) by International Air Transport Association (IATA)
9. Distance Learning International Diploma course “Foundation” - Travel and Tourism (DTTF) by International Air Transport Association (IATA)
10. Distance Learning International Diploma “Travel and Tourism” from Cambridge University, United Kingdom

www.syedmahdi.com

Publication-8th Edition of Bi-Annual Newsletter (2020-1) of SAARC Arbitration Council (Page 27-29)
https://sarco.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/8th-Edition-SARCO-Newsletter.pdf

1. Invited by Karachi Bar Association (KBA) to deliver a training session to lawyers on Arbitration Act, Karachi, Pakistan (2021)
2. Hosted a landmark hybrid event at the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) to inaugurate the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb-Pakistan Chapter) (2021)
3. Invited by Karachi Bar Association (KBA) to deliver a training course to young lawyers on Domestic and International Arbitration Karachi, Pakistan (10-11 January 2020)
4. Conducted a Certificate Course for a group of 15 young lawyers at SYED MAHDI CHAMBERS on Recognition and Enforcement (Arbitration Agreements and Foreign Awards) Act 2011, Karachi Pakistan (26-27 December 2019)
5. Tutor, Assessor and Examiner to conduct a 48 hour credit summer course on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) for LL.M students (second batch) at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law (SZABUL), Karachi, Pakistan (July 2019)
6. Tutor, Assessor and Examiner to conduct a 48 hour credit summer course on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) for LL.M students (first batch) at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law (SZABUL), Karachi, Pakistan (July 2018)
7. Invited by The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) on behalf of Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan to present paper at the 8th Judicial Conference, Islamabad, Pakistan (04-05 May 2018)

Panel Admissions (Arbitration and/or Mediation)
1. Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), United Kingdom
2. Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), Kuala Lumpur
3. Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), Saudi Arabia
4. Maldives International Arbitration Centre (MIAC), Maldives
5. Utatuzi Center, Kenya
6. Disputes Board- MENA, United Arab Emirates
7. Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Mediation Centre (MHJMC), Hong Kong and China
8. New Zealand International Arbitration Centre (NZIAC), New Zealand
9. Caspian Arbitration Centre (CAS), Switzerland
10. Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited (PMEX), Pakistan
11. Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD)- Arbitration Committee, Pakistan
12. Shanghai Arbitration Commission, China

COUNSEL AND ARBITRATOR

Syed Mustafa Mahdi is a common law qualified lawyer with a professional experience of 10 years and practising at the Bar in Sindh (High Court), 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 regarded by his peers as one the prominent and accomplished attorney in this field. Syed is known for his formidable legal intellect, his excellent skills in advocacy, and his impeccable presentation style. Syed possesses an innate ability to delve straight to the heart of any matter and offer simple yet effective advice that will best serve a client's interest and lead to the best outcome possible. As a reflection of his expertise, Syed qualified as a Fellow at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (“FCIArb”) and is one the youngest Arbitrators to have achieved this enviable and distinguished title in Pakistan.

Awards / Recognitions
1. 2020: Nominated for National Mediation Award 2020 United Kingdom
2. 2019: “Best Full Service Arbitration Specialist- Pakistan” by APAC Inside Legal Awards
3. 2018: “Corporate Arbitrator of the Year- Pakistan” by Acquisitions International Magazine (UK)
4. 2018: “Leading Corporate Attorney of the Year- Pakistan” by AI Global Media (UK)