Mahir Chowdhury Abir

Mahir Chowdhury Abir is an Associate at Avon Chambers, where he has worked since July 2023, from the chambers' formative period. Working closely with Head of Chambers Barrister Asif Bin Anwar and other colleagues, he has contributed to more than 300 contentious and non-contentious legal matters. He joined the chambers as an Apprentice Lawyer and, following enrolment as an Advocate, has continued to develop a broad, disputes-led practice grounded in research, drafting, case preparation and commercially focused advice.

His litigation work spans civil and commercial disputes, constitutional and administrative law, writs and judicial review, banking and financial disputes, land and property matters, labour and employment, tax and customs, criminal complaints and proceedings, and family and personal law. His role commonly involves analysing the factual and legal issues that determine a dispute, developing case strategy with senior counsel and colleagues, reviewing evidence, preparing pleadings, affidavits and written submissions, advising on procedure and settlement, and supporting matters through contested proceedings.

Alongside disputes, Mahir maintains an active corporate and commercial advisory practice. He has worked on company formation and governance, regulatory compliance, shareholder arrangements, commercial operations, restructuring and risk, and the drafting, review and negotiation of service agreements, shareholder agreements, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, vendor contracts, confidentiality agreements, settlements and other commercial instruments. His entrepreneurial background gives him a practical appreciation of the commercial considerations that sit behind legal instructions.

Arbitration forms an important part of his developing disputes practice. In 2025, he served as Substitute Secretary in two ad hoc arbitral tribunals involving commercial, land and civil disputes, gaining practical exposure to arbitral procedure, tribunal administration and award-related work. He also works with U.S. attorneys at Rose Law Firm, Oregon on cross-border litigation and arbitration, supporting evidence analysis, legal research and drafting across jurisdictions.

Mahir holds an LL.B (Hons) from the University of London and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Eastern University. At the University of London, he obtained an Upper Second Class degree, achieved a First Class result and Country Highest in Public Law, and received the Best Researcher Award twice. He has also built a distinguished record in competitive advocacy: Best Mooter at the Henry Dunant Memorial Moot in 2023, Best Mooter (All Over) at the Stetson International Environmental Moot in 2025, and Best Mooter at the 2025 Philip C. Jessup Bangladesh Rounds. He subsequently represented Bangladesh at the White & Case International Rounds of the Jessup in Washington, D.C.

Beyond practice, Mahir is a member of the Dhaka Bar Association and has contributed to advocacy training and public discussion on the profession. Eastern University invited him to conduct a session on oral advocacy strategies in 2025, and The Daily Star later featured his views on the responsible use and regulation of artificial intelligence in legal practice. His advocacy achievements have also received extensive national media coverage.

Whether working on a contested brief, a commercial arrangement or an arbitral matter, Mahir approaches the task as part of a team, with close attention to the record, the governing law and the client's practical objective. His practice is defined by breadth, rigorous preparation and a research-led approach to resolving complex legal problems.