Premier Chambers

About the Lawyer
Shaaheen is the founder and Managing Partner of Premier Chambers. With over 34 years of experience in the legal field, he is recognized as both a formidable advocate and a leading figure in the Maldivian legal community.Notably, Shaaheen is ranked by Chambers and Partners, under Band 1 and as a leading lawyer in the Maldives since 2011 in the area of General Business Law, with clients describing him as “one of the most sought-after litigators in town”. He is also listed as a market leading lawyer in the areas of Banking and Finance, Corporate/ M&A, Projects and Infrastructure in the Asialaw Leading Lawyers.Shaaheen was a member of the Law Commission of Maldives during the years 1994-1998, and served as its Vice-Chairman from 2002-2007. Over the years, he also served as legal counsel to various government institutions and state owned enterprises. Prior to his commitment to full-time private legal practice, he served the Peoples Majlis at various positions. Elected to the Peoples Special Majlis (the constitutional assembly that drafted the current Constitution of the Maldives) in 2004, he served as the Deputy Speaker of the Peoples Special Majlis and in the Constitution Drafting Committee until its completion in 2008.He has served as senior external counsel to Bank of Maldives PLC since 1993, contributing to the development of bank security documentation and recoveries.
Experience
Shaaheen Hameed has over 34 years of experience in the legal field, with extensive involvement in banking and finance matters in the Maldives. He has been retained by Bank of Maldives PLC as senior external counsel since 1993, playing a key role in developing bank security documentation and recoveries. His career includes service on the Law Commission of Maldives (1994-1998, Vice-Chairman 2002-2007), legal counsel to government institutions and state-owned enterprises, and roles in the Peoples Majlis, including Deputy Speaker of the Peoples Special Majlis (2004-2008).
Specialty

• Banking & Finance

Education

• Master of Laws, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand – 2001
• Called to the Bar, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, England – 1992
• Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Warwick, United Kingdom – 1990

Achievements and Recognition

• Band 1 Ranking in General Business Law by Chambers and Partners since 2011
• Leading Lawyer designation in General Business Law and Dispute Resolution by Chambers and Partners (ranked since 2018)
• Market Leading Lawyer in Banking and Finance, Corporate/M&A, and Projects and Infrastructure by AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers
• Elite Practitioner ranking in Banking and Finance and Corporate and M&A
• Deputy Speaker of the Peoples Special Majlis (constitutional assembly) and member of the Constitution Drafting Committee (2004-2008)
• Vice Chairman of the Law Commission of Maldives (2002-2007)
• Member of the Law Commission of Maldives (1994-1998)
• Legislative Drafting Contributions — contributed to the development and drafting of significant laws and subsidiary legislation in the Maldives
• Client Recognition as “one of the most sought-after litigators in town”