Suhan Khan, FCIArb

Biography

Suhan Khan, FCIArb, is the Founding Managing Partner of Accord Chambers, one of Bangladesh’s leading law firms. He is a Fellow of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), UK, a panel arbitrator of the Thailand International Arbitration Centre (THAC) and a Member of the Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC). He is also a Barrister-at-law called to the Bar of England and Wales, and an Advocate of the Hon’ble Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the country’s highest judicial forum.

Suhan has been acting as the legal advisor for some of Bangladesh’s largest construction and infrastructure projects of national importance, and has advised multiple MNCs, INGOs, foreign investors, and esteemed organizations such as the United Nations (UNHCR) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh. He has been advising reputable global corporations, including Chevron, Siemens, Johnson & Johnson, L3Harris, Netflix, Xiaomi, Gulf Air, Trest Rossem (Russia), China Energy, China Railway, China Construction, Egis Rail (France), Axiata Group (Malaysia), Mitsui and Marubeni (Japan), alongside leading local conglomerates. Recently, he was appointed as a panel lawyer for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and the Chittagong Port Authority.

Suhan is routinely instructed by and works in closely collaborates with top-tier international law firms (such as A&O Shearman, Dentons, Clyde & Co., Reed Smith, Fenwick Elliott LLP, Charles Russell Speechlys, Bird & Bird, Three Crowns, Hogan Lovells, Preston Turnbull LLP, Allen & Gledhill, Rajah & Tann, Al Tamimi & Co., Sunshine Law Firm, Zhong Lun Law Firm, Grandall Law Firm,  DeHeng Shanghai, Nishith Desai Associates, Trilegal, Atsumi & Sakai, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Kocchar & Co.) as the definitive expert on matters involving Bangladesh law.

Experience

• Oil & Gas: Suhan serves as a trusted advisor to the world’s most prominent International Oil Companies (IOCs), expertly guiding them through complex disputes and the intricacies of Bangladesh’s legal and regulatory landscape. He is currently representing Chevron in a high-stakes ICSID investment arbitration seated in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, Suhan acts as Chevron’s lead outside counsel in Bangladesh, managing a broad spectrum of legal and compliance matters governed by Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) with the Government of Bangladesh and Petrobangla. His esteemed portfolio also includes advising Mitsui Oil Exploration Co. Ltd. (MOECO) on critical exploration and production contracts, facilitating high-level negotiations with BAPEX, Petrobangla, and the Ministry of Energy.
• Construction, Infrastructure and Mega-Projects: Suhan regularly represents and advises international contractors, expertly navigating both contentious disputes and complex advisory matters for Bangladesh’s most vital infrastructure developments. His portfolio encompasses projects of profound national significance, including the Dhaka Metro Rail, the Padma Bridge Rail Link project, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Third Terminal, and the Sylhet Osmani International Airport Expansion. Through this unparalleled track record, Suhan has firmly cemented his reputation as the preeminent legal authority in the construction and infrastructure sectors.
  
• Nuclear & Power: Representing a Russian state-owned atomic entity, Trest Rossem, Rosatom, in an international arbitration regarding Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant, as well as other legal and regulatory compliance matters.
• Power Sector arbitrations: Successfully represented a Chinese state-owned enterprise in ad-hoc arbitration against Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) under the Arbitration Act, 2001, seated in Dhaka, and a Malaysian power transmission construction contract entity, HG Power Transmission of Rohas, KL, against state-owned Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) in international arbitration seated in Singapore.
• Renewables & LNG: Successfully represented a French corporation in the ICC International Court of Arbitration seated in Singapore regarding Bangladesh’s first floating LNG terminal.
• Labor & Employment law: Suhan has been advising major MNCs in Bangladesh to ensure that their operations in Bangladesh is in compliance with the labor and employment laws of Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, and the Bangladesh Labour Rules, 2015. Suhan supervises his team in managing a substantial docket of labour court litigations. 
• Aviation: Advises a number of leading Middle Eastern national airlines as well as Bangladesh’s flag carrier in multi-level litigations. Repesented Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and Biman Bangladesh Airlines in complex litigations. 
• Maritime: Frequently appears before the Admiralty Bench and Arbitration Bench of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, High Court Division, and acts as an advocate in numerous admiralty suits, and resolves LMAA maritime disputes in London. Advised MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the world’s largest container shipping line.
• International Trade & Commodities: Acted in arbitrations seated in London (GAFTA), Singapore (ICC), and Paris, governed by English and Bangladesh law. Mr. Khan also represented a global consortium in a $1.45 billion coal procurement dispute.

Specialty

Suhan is an accomplished legal practitioner specializing in arbitration and corporate law. His distinguished expertise spans a broad spectrum of complex, high-value disputes, with a pronounced focus on the energy, construction, and infrastructure sectors. A formidable Bangladesh law expert, Suhan routinely serves as counsel in both international arbitrations globally and high-stakes commercial litigation within Bangladesh. Beyond his impressive dispute resolution capabilities and portfolio, he is highly sought after for his strategic advisory on intricate corporate transactions, offering clients comprehensive legal guidance across their most critical operations.

Education & Credentials

Suhan holds an LL.B (Hons.) from the University of London, an LL.M from Bristol Law School at UWE Bristol, and a PGDiL in Legal Practice from the Bristol Institute of Legal Practice. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales as a Barrister under the authority of Lincoln’s Inn and is a Fellow of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) in the UK. He is also an Advocate of the Hon’ble Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the nation’s highest court of law.

Achievements and Recognition

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK (FCIArb designation)
• 3rd Best Student Advocate from amongst 156 Student Advocates from across the world in an international platform
• Managing Partner of Accord Chambers
• Barrister-at-Law called to the Bar of England and Wales (Lincoln’s Inn)
• Counsel in several international arbitrations seated in Washington D.C, Paris, Singapore, London, and Dhaka. 
• Legal representation of one of Bangladesh’s largest conglomerates in multiple GAFTA arbitration matters in London
• Legal counsel for global oil enterprises enforcing awards in commercial arbitrations before ICC, FOSFA, ICA, and SIAC
• Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh with extensive practice before the arbitration bench, admiralty bench, company court, and constitutional courts.
• Frequently instructed by top-tier international law firms on matters of Bangladesh law.