Ashraful Hadi

Experience

Ashraful Hadi is a Barrister-at-Law and Advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh with over 21 years of legal experience. He has served as counsel in numerous reported litigations in the Bangladesh Supreme Court, including cases that resulted in amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 by Parliament. His experience spans multiple practice areas including revenue and taxation disputes, admiralty disputes, constitutional and regulatory matters, and commercial disputes.

He has served as lead counsel in construction arbitration and co-counsel in insurance disputes and contract arbitrations before the Asian International Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur. His international experience includes work at Eversheds LLP, a leading law firm in the UK, where he assisted in international maritime disputes through the London Maritime Arbitrators Association. He has collaborated with numerous leading international law firms on legal issues, transactions, and employment and labour law compliance matters.

Ashraful Hadi has provided extensive legal advice to international fashion brands and sourcing companies including Zara, Next, Marks & Spencer, Walmart, and JC Penney regarding sourcing business and commercial disputes in Bangladesh. He has also advised multinational and local financial institutions, insurance companies, and foreign investors on regulatory, financial, and tax matters, as well as business establishment structures and joint venture arrangements.

Additionally, he serves as an Independent Director on the board of Marico Bangladesh Limited, an international leading coconut oil and consumer goods manufacturing company, and has been elected as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Specialty

His primary areas of practice include employment and labour law, along with a broad spectrum of commercial and corporate matters. He routinely assists international and domestic clients with mergers and acquisitions, projects, and financings in Bangladesh, particularly in the telecommunications and energy sectors.

Ashraful Hadi has extensive experience handling PPP projects, banking and securities matters, energy and infrastructure projects, foreign investments, and international trade. His expertise extends to project financing, syndicated financing, bond issues, IPO and securitization matters, as well as taxation and revenue-related consultancy and litigation with revenue authorities. He also handles constitutional law matters, land acquisition-related issues, company law matters, and admiralty and shipping litigation.

He has participated in local and international commercial arbitrations through various forums, including the ICC, ICSID, and AIAC, with particular experience in complex energy disputes, engineering and construction disputes, and transportation and commodity disputes.

Education

Ashraful Hadi obtained his LLB (Hons) degree from the University of London in the United Kingdom and a B.Com degree from Chittagong Commerce College under the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. He was called to the Bar from the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, UK.

• Recognized by Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2018) for expertise in Corporate & Finance matters, noted for strong negotiation and litigation skills, and leading counsel in mergers and acquisitions across sectors including telecoms, energy, and aviation.

• Serves as Independent Director on the Board of Marico Bangladesh Limited, a leading international consumer goods company.

• Founding Partner of Alliance Laws, a leading commercial law firm in Bangladesh with over 35 years of combined legal experience among its partners.

• Elected as Member of the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (2018-2019), demonstrating leadership within the legal community.

• Has provided legal advice and assistance to major international clients including Citibank NA, JP Morgan Chase, Standard Chartered Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, and leading global fashion brands such as Zara, Next, Marks & Spencer, Walmart, JC Penney, and Cotton Group.

• Participated as counsel in local and international commercial arbitrations under ICC, ICSID, AIAC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, and PCA rules, handling complex disputes in energy, engineering, construction, transportation, and commodities.

• Presented key papers on legal reforms, including proposals for amendment to the Arbitration Act, 2001, organized by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries.