Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates

Senior Partner: Nihad Kabir

Managing Partner: Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin

Litigation Partner: Md Asaduzzaman (On Sabbatical)

Number of partners: 6 (Six)

Number of other fee-earners: Senior Associates, Associates and Paralegals

Office Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates (SIA&A) is a long-established, full-service partnership practice based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The firm was founded by Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, a leading figure of the Bangladeshi Bar, and continues to maintain a practice built around rigorous legal analysis, careful judgement, and practical execution across corporate, finance, projects and disputes. The team advises domestic and international clients across sectors, and is consistently recognised for the strength of its Corporate and Finance capabilities.

Corporate and Finance

Team and location: 5 (Five) partners; Dhaka-based.

SIA&A advises on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, entity incorporation, corporate restructuring, shareholder matters, securities issues and general commercial transactions. The team is regularly instructed on banking and finance matters, including payment instruments, security packages, and foreign exchange aspects of cross-border transactions, and is known for handling complex mandates with disciplined documentation and timelines.

Illustrative experience includes advising on corporate and regulatory aspects of banking and finance documentation and security arrangements; supporting complex M&A and corporate transactions; and advising foreign investors on structuring and establishment in Bangladesh, including branch, liaison and representative office arrangements.

Partners involved: Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin; Nihad Kabir; Nazia Kabir; Anisul Hassan; Insiyah Ziauddin.

Key contact: Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin ([email protected]).

Power and Energy

Team and location: 4 (Four) partners; Dhaka-based.

The firm has a long-running practice advising on the energy, infrastructure and power sectors, including project documentation, regulatory strategy, and disputes arising under sector contracts. The team’s experience spans oil and gas, fertiliser and power matters, and it is frequently involved where projects interface with government decision-making and public procurement frameworks.

Illustrative experience includes advisory support on major infrastructure and PPP initiatives, as well as sector-facing work where commercial arrangements require careful alignment with regulatory approvals and concession or implementation documentation.

Partners involved: Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin; Nihad Kabir; Nazia Kabir; Insiyah Ziauddin.

Key contact: Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin ([email protected]).

Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution

Team and location: 3 (Three) partners; Dhaka-based.

SIA&A represents clients before all tiers of the Bangladeshi courts, including the High Court Division and the Appellate Division, and before specialised tribunals. The firm is also active in arbitration and supports clients through the preparation of arbitration materials, evidence strategy, and management of proceedings.

The team is particularly experienced in disputes arising from commercial relationships and sector contracts, and in matters involving public bodies and regulators, including judicial review and constitutional issues.

Partners involved: Nihad Kabir, Md Asaduzzaman (On Sabbatical); Anisul Hassan.

Key contact: Anisul Hassan ([email protected]).

The firm is regularly instructed on cross-border matters where Bangladesh law advice must align with multi-jurisdictional deal structures and dispute strategies. It frequently works alongside internationally reputed law firms on mutual client mandates and provides Bangladesh law input and opinions, including on jurisdiction, enforceability, regulatory interfaces, and transaction execution.

Arbitration; Aviation; Banking and Finance; Commercial Law; Company Law; Constitutional Issues and Judicial Review; Corporatisation; Employment Law; Insurance; Intellectual Property; Litigation; Media, Telecommunications and Technology Law; Non-Governmental Organisations, Societies and Trusts; Oil, Gas, Fertiliser and Power Sectors; Private International Law; Property and Trusts Law; Public Private Partnership (PPP) Projects; Regulatory and Administrative Law; Representative, Branch and Liaison Offices of Foreign Companies; Shipping; Tax, VAT and Customs.

Bangladesh — Dhaka

Address: Concord Ovilash (1st Floor), House No. 62, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh

Phone: (88-02) 41020690 (Office) | (88-02) 9550479 (Supreme Court)

Email: [email protected]