Faculty Profile

Shyikh Mahdi
Shyikh Mahdi
Prosecutor, International Crimes Tribunal; Barrister-at-Law
Barrister-at-Law


Profile Sections
General Information

Shyikh Mahdi is a Barrister-at-Law and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. He is currently serving as a Prosecutor (Assistant Attorney General) at the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh.

In addition to his prosecution role, he works as a self-employed Advocate and Legal Advisor, advising local and foreign clients on corporate, commercial, arbitration, and litigation matters. His clientele includes Rupali Bank, Islami Bank, Gonoshasthya Kendra, Beximco, TopClean, Nasir Group, Save the Children, and several international law firms. He has represented clients in high-value debt recovery litigation, mergers and acquisitions, acquisition of a satellite TV channel, and international commercial arbitration.

He previously worked at Vertex Chambers (ranked by Legal500) as an Associate and Legal Consultant, where he was involved in co-drafting the Secured Transaction (Movable Properties) Act, 2023, advising on corporate and financing matters including Islamic bond structuring and venture capital funds, and representing clients in Singapore-seated international commercial arbitration.

Education
  • LLM (Commercial & Corporate Law) — Queen Mary University of London, UK, Distinction
  • LLM (General) — University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • LLB (Honours) — University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Second Class
  • HSC — Notre Dame College, Dhaka
  • SSC — Adamjee Cantt. Public School, Dhaka
Experience
  • Prosecutor (Assistant Attorney General), International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh (October 2024 – Ongoing)
  • Self-Employed Advocate and Legal Advisor (June 2021 – Ongoing) — debt recovery litigation, M&A, acquisitions, arbitration, corporate advisory
  • Associate and Legal Consultant, Vertex Chambers (December 2016 – May 2021) — legislative drafting, corporate financing, arbitration, advisory for clients including GrameenPhone, PwC, British American Tobacco, BRAC
  • Caseworker, Chancery Solicitors, London, England (October 2018 – September 2019)
  • Trainee, Al Amin & Associates, Bangladesh (January 2015 – November 2015) — trial proceedings at District & Sessions Court, Dhaka
  • Adjunct Faculty (Associate Professor), Daffodil International University (January 2022 – Present) — Forensic Science & Evidence, International Commercial Arbitration, Comparative Constitutional Law
  • Lecturer (Law Clinic Program 2025; PGD in Entrepreneurship Development 2023), East-West University
  • Volunteer, qLegal, United Kingdom (2018–2019) — taught start-up law and IP rights to school pupils in London
Publications

LL.M. Dissertations:

  1. "Legal and Regulatory Challenges of Sukuk Financing in Bangladesh" (Queen Mary University of London)
  2. "Rights-based Assessment of the HIPC Debt Relief Measures" (University of Dhaka)

Peer-Reviewed Articles:

  1. "Alternative Remedies for Juvenile Offenders in Bangladesh," SCLS Law Review of Bangladesh, Vol. 1, No. 3 (2018)
  2. "Access to Justice for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh," Syriah Journal of the University of Indonesia, Vol. 1, No. 3 (2016)
  3. "Impact of Microfinance in Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh: From an Islamic Perspective," ILEM International Summer School Proceedings (2015)

Over 25 articles in various daily newspapers, magazines, and periodicals in Bangladesh; over 15 blog posts in various legal blog sites.

Research Interests

Commercial and Corporate Law, International Commercial Arbitration, Islamic Finance (Sukuk), Access to Justice, Juvenile Justice, Human Rights and Refugee Law

Achievement, Awards & Grants

National Champion and Best Mooter, Henry Dunant Moot Competition (2012).

Paper Presentation:

  • Rohingya Conference 2016, Bogor, Indonesia
  • 3rd ILEM Summer School, 2015, Seljuk University, Turkey
Seminar & Conference

Conference Participation:

  • Queen Mary Legal Research Conference, 2019, London, UK
  • Global Youth Conference 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • AsianSIL Regional Conference, 2014, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Training & Workshop

Conducted workshops on advocacy and research skills; trained over 700 law students across 10 universities in Bangladesh.

Others
  • Co-founder, Denning Law Institute (Bangladesh)
  • Mentor, Founder's Institute (Bangladesh Cohort, 2020)
  • President, Dhaka University Moot Court Society (2015–2016)
  • Member, Bangladesh Bar Council
  • Member, Supreme Court Bar Association and Dhaka Bar Association
  • Member of the Hall, The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, London, United Kingdom