Year of Call: 1990 Year of Silk: 2006
“He delivers the goods, and is particularly good at difficult cases. He is part of the team and very flexible. As such he’s completely what the modern barrister should be like.”
Khawar Qureshi is a QC at Serle Court Chambers and McNair Chambers Qatar.
Khawar was called to the Bar (Queen Mother’s Scholar, Middle Temple) in 1990 and took Silk in 2006. In 1993 he was the youngest advocate to have appeared in the International Court of Justice. He has taught Commercial law at Cambridge University, Public International law at Kings London and was appointed a Visiting professor in Commercial Law at the University of London in 2006. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2013 and is a bencher of Middle Temple.
Khawar has consistently been recognised by the legal directories as one of the leading advocates in commercial litigation, international arbitration, public international law, administrative and constitutional law.
Khawar has made extensive appearances in the English Court at all levels, and in many international arbitration/commercial matters for and against more than 60 governments. He was an “A” Panel UK Government Treasury Counsel from 1999-2006. Khawar has been Chairman of TheCityUK Legal Services group which is designated by the UK Ministry of Justice as the lead organisation to promote UK legal services internationally.
January 2020 - June 2021, litigation, arbitration and international law matters include:
Advising on separate BIT claims against a South American State (mining sector), a GCC State (infrastructure) and a Central Asian State (industrial sector), representing a claimant in a Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration and a London-seated LCIA arbitration concerning energy contracts, representing an African State in a London-seated LCIA arbitration in a case concerning the extractive industries sector, appearing and advising on challenges to arbitral awards before the English Commercial Court concerning Sections 67, 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996. Member of an LCIA arbitral tribunal which sat in person and virtually to determine a high-value shareholder dispute involving issues of Russian and English Law.
Advising the Head of State and senior Government Ministers in respect of proceedings before the International Court of Justice. Advising a foreign State on Diplomatic Immunity issues concerning English Court proceedings, representing a Claimant in Judicial Review proceedings concerning the UK’s conduct relating to the EU Withdrawal Treaty, advising major UK multi-national companies on the impact of Brexit on specific UK Treaty obligations, as well as representing a State entity as Intervener in Judicial Review proceedings concerning EU/Treaty obligations in the context of trade issues.
Advising the Director of Public Prosecutions of Kenya (as Lead Counsel for the Prosecution specially appointed in 2018) in respect of the criminal and constitutional proceedings pending before the Kenyan Courts and Judicial Services Commission relating to charges of fraud against Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya. Appeared as Advocate to the Court before the Qatar Financial Centre Commercial Court to assist the Court in respect of the regulatory framework underpinning a £40 million financial penalty imposed on the First Abu Dhabi National Bank PJSC, as well as providing a comparative analysis with reference to the USA and UK financial services regulatory regime.
Further, continuing to engage in capacity building and facilitating international education and awareness initiatives in arbitration and international law, including publications, webinars as well as Keynote Speaker at the inaugural webinar of the African Institute of International Law. Appointed to board member/special adviser positions at the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre, the African Asian International Arbitration Centre, and the OIC Arbitration Centre established in Istanbul.
Serle Court receives Tier 1 rankings in the Legal 500 2022 directory
We are delighted to announce that Serle Court has received Tier 1 rankings in the following practice areas in the Legal 500... Read More
Liz Jones QC named Chancery Lawyer of the Year at Best Lawyer Awards 2022
Serle Court is delighted to announce that Elizabeth Jones QC has been selected for inclusion in the 10th Edition... Read More
LLB, LLM, (Cantab) (First Class)
1999-2006 - One of around 20 Barristers appointed by the UK Government as “A” Panel Treasury Counsel to advise and represent the UK Government in civil matters.
1998 to 2008 – Member/Vice Chairman Bar Council International Relations Committee & Chairman Public International Law Committee
October 2006 – Appointed as Queen’s Counsel.
March 2008- Appointed as Head of Chambers of the first ever Barristers’ Chambers established outside the UK (McNair Chambers in Qatar)
October 2010 - Appointed as a part time civil Judge (Recorder).
2010 – Present - Chairman of the CityUK Legal Services and Dispute Resolution Group (representing the Legal Services profession of the UK and designated by the UK Ministry of Justice as the lead agency to promote UK legal services overseas)
January 2013 - Appointed as a Deputy Judge of the High Court (dealing with civil and commercial matters)
Commercial Bar Association
International Law Association
Administrative Law Bar Association
British Institute of International and Comparative Law
LCIA
Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) 1990, (Queen Mother’s Scholar, Middle Temple Colombos Public International Law Prizewinner and Middle Temple Public Law Prizewinner)
1989-1993 – Visiting lecturer in Commercial Law, University of Cambridge
1995- 2002- Visiting lecturer in Public International Law, King’s College London
2006-2013- Visiting Professor in Commercial Law, London University
2010 onwards - Halsbury Law Exchange (Lexis Nexis) Board Member
The Times
After 70 years, UK court to rule on Hyderabad Nizam’s money - The Times Headline
Global Arbitration Review
Comments; "Eleventh Circuit overturned a District Court decision and compelled arbitration in London" 1st September 2018
New Law Journal
Comments; "London trumps Florida connection" 10th August 2018
The Law Society Gazette
Comments; "Hopelessly ambiguous: US Judge rules for London arbitration over Florida" 9th August 2018
Comments; "Chinese court poses 'no immediate threat' to London's legal dominance" 22nd August 2018
The Financial Times
Byline; "Glencore subpoenaed by US justice department" 4th July 2018
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