Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin is the Managing Partner at Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates (“SIA&A”), a top-tier and one of the oldest partnership law firms in Bangladesh. He has a remarkable legal career spanning over 25 years, exceling in providing comprehensive corporate advisory services, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, takeovers, regulatory matters for listed and private companies listings, and public and private equity transactions.
Acknowledged as a seasoned dealmaker in Bangladesh, Afzal has advised over three hundred transactions, garnering recognition from prestigious publications such as Chambers and Partners, Asia Business Law Journal, and Legal 500. Noteworthy engagements include advising on the Unilever-GSK acquisition, investments in Apollo Hospitals by TPG, Evercare, and CDC Group, and contributions to the Laugfs Gas acquisition by Kai Heng Long Global Energy and disinvestment by local shareholders to foreign shareholders in Petromax LPG Limited.
His professional achievements extend to serving as an external consultant for the Asian Development Bank on the Ashuganj Power Plant Corporatisation Project and contributing to the Privatization and Corporatisation of Biman Bangladesh Airlines under a World Bank-funded initiative. In the legislative arena, Afzal regularly reviews proposed laws for the Law Reform Commission and provides advisory services on amendments to the Arbitration Act, 2001.
Beyond his corporate expertise, Afzal offers counsel in diverse sectors, including power, energy, telecommunications, technology, and banking. His proficiency extends to private-public partnership projects, and he serves as an external legal consultant for the Asian Development Bank. Recognized as one of the top 50 lawyers in Bangladesh, he holds Band 1 status in the corporate and finance category.
Admitted to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh in 2001 and a Barrister of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn since 1996, Afzal’s early career included a role in the Civil Litigation department of PricewaterhouseCoopers in London from October 1995 to February 1998. Afzal joined SIA&A in March 1998, and has played a pivotal role in expanding the firm in the diverse sectors and being involved in several landmark M&A transactions.