Ajmalul Hossain QC

A counsel for and against banks, financial institutions, corporations and others in complex actions, arbitrations and mediations involving multi-million pound sums. Cases include transnational banking, trading, supply and financial contracts. Acted for several hundred ex-employees of BCCI in the multi-million pound liquidation of BCCI in England, Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands, recently settled in their favour.

Recent cases include the successful release from detention of two Channel 4 Television journalists in Bangladesh. This involved negotiations at the highest level of Government and with British and Italian diplomats.

He has advised in setting up of subsidiaries, branches and representative offices of banks, financial institutions and companies in Bangladesh, UK, USA and the Middle East and is an Expert Witness on laws of different jurisdictions appearing in courts of North America, Europe and Asia.

An arbitrator in several domestic and international arbitrations, references dealt with and pending include ICC arbitrations on contractual disputes concerning a $200 million power project and a contract for the supply of aircraft and as sole arbitrator appointed by LCIA on $32 million claim on a guarantee.

Judicial function as Chairman of Employment Tribunals dealing with complex cases of sex, race and disability discrimination, unfair and wrongful dismissal.

Year of Call: 1976
Queen's Counsel: 1998
Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh: 1988
Professional memberships: Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fellow of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies, Standards Panel of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Recent and reported cases:

Among the numerous reported cases in which Ajmalul has appeared are:

Woolwich Building Society v Daisystar Ltd & Anor (No. 2) LTL 16/03/2000 (CA)
(Civil procedure: Recusal of Judge on grounds of bias)

Woolwich Building Society v Daisystar Ltd & Anor (No. 1) LTL 16/03/2000 (CA)
(Set-off in damages for fraud)

BCCI v Ali & Ors [1999] 4 All ER 83
(Employment contract (Stigma claims), banking)

BCCI v Ali & Ors [1999] 2 All ER 1005
(Employment contract)

Guinle v Kirreh LTL 03/12/99 (Ch. D)
(Civil procedure, arbitration)

Alam & Ors v BCCI SA & Ors
(Breach of trust action; claim for US$400 million, settled for US$136 million)

Bengal Liner Ltd v Shadharan Bima Corporation (Bangladesh Supreme Court) [1996] BLC (AD) 127
(Bangladeshi law)

Re BCCI SA (in liquidation) (No. 9) (1996) The Times, 8 October
(Corporate insolvency)

Cargill International SA v BSFIC (QB, Com Ct) Morrison J. [1996] 2 Lloyd's Rep 526; [1998] 2 All ER 406 (CA)
(Banking, commercial contract, international trade)

Re BCCI (No. 10) [1995] BCLC 362
(Corporate insolvency)

Pentagen Technologies Ltd v Express Secretaries Ltd (1995) The Times, 7 April (CA)
(Company law)

BEI v SKI [1995] 2 Lloyd's Rep 1 (CA)
(International trade)

BCCI v Malik (1995) The Independent, 13 March (Ch D); [1996] BCC 15
(Banking, commercial contract)

BCCI HK v Sonali [1995] 1 Lloyd's Rep 227 (QB, Com Ct)
(Banking, private international law)

Harvey v Institute of Motor Industry [1995] IRLR 416 (EAT)
(Employment)

Justfern v D'Ingerthorpe [1994] ICR 286 (EAT)
(Employment)

Email: ajmalul.hossain@selbornechambers.co.uk