Following an extensive nomination process, Asia Business Law Journal reveals the top lawyers in Bangladesh. Byung Jin Park reports
Law firms in Bangladesh are looking to turn challenges into opportunities as the country navigates an economic slowdown. Bangladesh’s economic growth slowed to 3.49% in the 2024–25 fiscal year, down from 4.22% a year earlier, amid repeated flooding and a period of political instability.
According to a World Bank press release issued in April 2026, Bangladesh’s poverty rate also increased from 18.7% in 2022 to 21.4% in 2025, adding 1.4 million more poor people that year. The World Bank says wages of low-income workers have not kept up with prices and this sector of society’s purchasing power has been reduced.
However, some law firms thrive in economic downturns. When companies facing cash flow pressures collapse during an economic downturn, law firms’ insolvency and restructuring practices experience a surge in activity, generating substantial fee income.
Economic downturn also tends to drive an increase in litigation. Disputes that might have been resolved through negotiation during stronger economic conditions, can escalate into more contentious legal battles when liquidity tightens, leading to a rise in civil litigation.
Labour disputes arising from large-scale workforce reductions and M&A involving distressed assets are also among the factors that create opportunities for law firms during economic downturns. As law firms seek to capitalise on opportunities created by the economic slowdown, competition within Bangladesh’s legal market is intensifying.
Against this backdrop of opportunities for law firms, Asia Business Law Journal proudly presents its A-List of the top 50 lawyers practising in Bangladesh, plus six Legal Icons for the first time. The A-List is based on extensive research conducted and nominations received from in-house counsel based in Bangladesh and elsewhere, as well as partners at international law firms.
Client feedback submitted to Asia Business Law Journal reveals a distinct preference for lawyers who provide commercially viable solutions.
Rational commercial understanding
Rezaul Hossai, CEO of strategic management company Celero in Dhaka, says that “as a corporate lawyer, responsibility is not only on solving legal issues but also giving guidelines and identifying grey areas to play around in a competitive market.”
Hossai has worked with Eftakharul Alam Bhuiya, head of chambers at ProLegal, since 2017. “As a corporate lawyer, Bhuiya has an exceptional positive attitude in legal understanding, rational commercial understanding, and dedication towards clients making him a very rare corporate lawyer whom I have worked with,” Hossai says.
Shamsher Ahmed, COO at Nexdecade Technology (Pvt) Ltd in Dhaka, also praises Bhuiya. “He is an exceptionally proactive and trusted adviser who has an outstanding work ethic, commercial acumen and deep expertise in corporate, commercial matters,” Ahmed says.
“He consistently provides practical solutions, sound judgement and the confidence that every matter is in safe hands.”
Mahmud Fahad, who serves as first vice president and head of court operations at City Bank in Dhaka, is among those who have recommended Saqeb Mahbub and his firm, Mahbub & Co.
“What sets Mahbub & Co apart is its ability to provide not only technically sound legal advice but also commercially pragmatic solutions,” says Fahad.
“The firm’s lawyers understand that clients require more than abstract legal opinions; they seek actionable guidance that aligns with business realities. This commercial awareness, coupled with legal acumen, allows the firm to add tangible value to its clients’ operations and decision-making processes.”
Valuable asset
Rizve Joarder, CEO and lead developer of Gazipur-based WebDevelopment24/7, has endorsed Khademul Islam Choyon, managing partner of KIC Legal, describing him as a “valuable asset” to the Bangladeshi legal community.
“With a calm and thoughtful demeanor, Choyon communicates his ideas effectively and provides well-reasoned solutions, making him a trusted adviser and a valuable asset of Bangladesh,” Joarder says.
Omar Nahian, head of business at the Dhaka-based travel agency Vindeshi, echoed these sentiments. “Choyon is widely regarded as one of the finest lawyers in Bangladesh. His arguments are not only logical but also highly persuasive, reflecting both experience and intellectual strength,” says Nahian.
Ruma Afroza Khanam, head of counsellor at Educator Study Abroad in Dhaka, added his praise for Choyon. “His communication skills are impressive — articulate, persuasive, and always grounded in logic and evidence,” Khanam says.
Tanjib-ul Alam, founder and head of chambers at Tanjib Alam and Associates, was cited by Confidence Group chairman Imran Karim as “one of the best lawyers in Bangladesh”.
“Tanjib-ul Alam has been our lawyer for a long time and performed his duties to the best of his ability. He is one of the best lawyers in Bangladesh in my view and I wish the best in all his endeavours,” says Karim.
Denise Shiu, partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in Hong Kong, has worked on multiple matters with Imtiaz Farooq, head of chambers at Farooq & Associates. She describes Farooq as a “well-rounded lawyer” who is available to advise on a broad range of legal issues in Bangladesh.
“In one circumstance, Imtiaz and his team were able to handle a very challenging closing involving foreign parties on a tight timeline so we were able to meet our original deadline,” Shiu says.
Compiling the A-List
The A-List is based on extensive research conducted by Asia Business Law Journal. To identify the top lawyers in Bangladesh, we turned to thousands of in-house counsel in Bangladesh and around the world – as well as partners at international law firms – and asked them to tell us which lawyers should make the cut.
A-List lawyers were defined on the nomination form as “lawyers who are currently the star performers of Bangladesh’s legal profession; the lawyers who are personally undertaking the country’s top legal work, crafting the most cutting-edge legal solutions to complex problems, and setting the highest standards in terms of quality, innovation and the ability to handle complex matters”.
Our Legal Icons were defined as “lawyers who are the luminaries of Bangladesh’s legal profession; the titans who command the respect of clients and juniors alike; the mentors who lead Bangladesh’s most admired law firms and/or legal teams, and who are the country’s most prolific rainmakers”.
All Bangladeshi private practice lawyers and foreign lawyers based in the country were automatically eligible for inclusion in the nomination process. As always, there were no fees or any other requirements for entry.
