Overview
Kawsar is a CEDR Accredited Mediator, internationally recognised as the standard of excellence for mediators. He accepts instructions to act as a Mediator or as a Mediation Advocate, from both professional clients and on a direct access basis.
Kawsar’s wide legal knowledge and experience is supplemented by a firm understanding of what is required of mediators, including: a commitment to putting parties back in control; a detailed understanding of the facts and key issues; an ability to build rapport with and listen to all participants; an appreciation of the need to maintain momentum; and an ability to explore practical solutions to problems. Ultimately, Kawsar recognises that mediation is designed to resolve disputes to avoid costly and protracted litigation. Kawsar is acknowledged in his leadership and dispute resolution qualities as a current and former director, trustee, and governor of various national and international charities and organisations. These are invaluable skills in reaching successful outcomes in mediations.
He enjoys a diverse practice as a Barrister working on matters spanning from civil to regulatory, employment and public law. He has appeared before a range of courts and specialist tribunals. He is regularly instructed in complex matters, often beyond his level of call.
Before becoming a Barrister, Kawsar was a solicitor at ‘Magic Circle’ law firms Clifford Chance LLP and Allen & Overy LLP in London, where he specialised in Financial Services Regulatory Law acting for some of the world’s largest corporate and financial institutions on a range of high-profile, international and cross-border matters. He also worked on high-value International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation matters, complex Banking & Finance transactions, and in forming Private Funds. He is proficient in understanding complex civil and commercial matters.
Kawsar graduated with a First-Class law degree from the London School of Economics, before reading for the BCL at Oxford University as an OCIS Scholar, and then the LLM at Harvard Law School, where he was Fulbright Scholar. In 2009, Kawsar was a Global Fellow of the Prime Minister.
Wider Practice and Experience
Regulatory Matters
Kawsar is frequently instructed in professional discipline proceedings. He has acted for doctors, osteopaths and nurses in full and interim order hearings before: the General Medical Council’s Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service; General Osteopathic Council’s Professional Conduct Committee; and the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee.
He has also acted for landlords in appeals against local authority issued Interim and Final Management Orders and Final Penalty Notices under the Housing Act 2004.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kawsar represented businesses across the country in challenging local authority grant decisions. He was interviewed and recognised by the BBC as the leading barrister in this field.
Kawsar is an experienced investigator and has led internal investigations and inquiries in the corporate, public and charitable sector – often involving multiple jurisdictions. Recent investigations include a complex racial discrimination complaint at a public body and an employment grievance investigation within an international NGO.
He is currently a counsel to the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing and security cleared to SC Level. As a result, he has good knowledge of police law and other public law issues including judicial review, and claims under the Human Rights Act.
Employment Matters
Kawsar is an experienced advocate in all Employment Tribunal matters. He has a particular interest in discrimination cases and those involving a financial and/or corporate element. He has recently successfully represented:
• As leading junior, a group of 74 claimants in a class action against Carillion plc, in a 10-day preliminary hearing at the Manchester Employment Tribunal. The compulsory liquidation of Carillion plc is described by the Insolvency Service as the largest and most complex trading liquidation in the UK. Kawsar’s oral advocacy and submissions were praised by co-counsel as “very persuasive and attractive”; and
• A senior executive in a breach of (employment) contract claim against an international company involving complex legal argument on formation of contract at the London Central Tribunal.
As a member of the Attorney General and Government Legal Department’s ‘Junior Junior’ Panel, he enjoys a busy public sector practice in all types of civil, commercial, employment, regulatory and public law proceedings.
In addition to court work, Kawsar provides training and seminars to law firms, corporate and financial institutions as well as charities on a range of matters. He is instructed in pre-litigation matters including advising on: settlement and compromise agreements; handling internal grievance and disciplinary proceedings; and drafting policy documents.
Sector Experience
Banking, Finance, Leisure, Healthcare, Education, Social Care, local government, Police, Fire and Rescue and Health Services.
Previous Experience
- Associate (Lawyer), Allen and Overy LLP
- Trainee Solicitor, Clifford Chance LLP
Languages
- English
- Bengali
Appointments
Junior Junior Counsel, Undercover Policing Inquiry
Governor, Morpeth Secondary School
Level 1 Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel
Visiting Lecturer in Law, University of Law
Teaching Associate in Law, Queen Mary University of London
Junior Junior Counsel, Attorney General’s Civil Panel Counsel
Trustee, Toynbee Hall
Awards
Ann Goddard Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (2019)
Prime Minister’s Global Fellow (2009)
Shortlisted, Junior Lawyer of the Year, Law Society of England and Wales (2018)
Excellence in Advocacy, Criminal Bar Association Award (2018)
Tun Mahathir Scholarship OCIS, University of Oxford (2012-13)
2HC Scholarship, London School of Economics (2009-12)
Fulbright Scholarship, Harvard Law School (2013-14)
Memberships
Roll of Solicitors, Law Society of Ireland (2018)
The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
Accelerated Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC), University of Law (2014-15)
Roll of Solicitors, Law Society of England and Wales (2017)
Member, City of London Law Society
Member, City of London Solicitors’ Company
Qualifications
Harvard Law School, Master of Laws (LLM), Fulbright Scholar (2013-14)
University of Oxford, Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Tun Mahathir Scholar OCIS (2012-13)
London School of Economics, Bachelor of Laws (LLB), First Class Honours, 2HC Scholar (2009-12)
