Shuaib M. Shah

Barrister-at-Law

Legal Practice

With 25 years of experience as a lawyer, Shuaib’s practice is primarily related to the structuring and implementation of sophisticated multi-million dollar banking transactions and project finance, sales and acquisitions of resort hotels, acting for owners, international hotel operators, developers and financiers of world class luxury resorts, and airline owners, operators and financiers. Shuaib has acted as counsel on most of the complex and high value financing transactions and major infrastructure development projects in the Maldives, such as the merger and acquisition of the world’s largest seaplane fleets by the Blackstone Group. 

Shuaib’s major clientele includes (without limitation):-

  • International banks, such as, HSBC, Aareal Bank, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Bank of China, and ICBC.
  • Private equity firms, such as Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, and Davidson Kempner. 
  • Development banks, such as International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development and Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.
  • International hotel operators, such as Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Hyatt Hotels and Taj Group. 
  • Airline financiers and owners such as Nordic Aviation Capital, Qatar Airways, and Emirates Airlines. 
  • Major contractors for infrastructure projects such as TATA Group, Beijing Urban Construction Group, and China Communications Construction Company Ltd. 

Shuaib is also frequently appointed as the Maldivian counsel by international law firms such as Clifford Chance, Allen&Overy, DLA Piper, Horgan Lovells, Baker McKenzie, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. 

Awards and recognition

Shuaib has consistently been ranked as a ‘Tier 1’ top lawyer and ‘Elite Practitioner’ in Maldive by legal directories for over 10 years.

Education and background

Shuaib graduated from the University of London with a First Class (Honours) Degree in Law and was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple, London, in 1994.

Shuaib was trained as a barrister in private practice in London at leading sets of Chambers at Hardwicke Building Chambers (Lincoln’s Inn) and Plowden Buildings (Middle Temple). Shuaib was a tenant at general common law chambers 3 Pump Court (Temple). 

Shuaib subsequently worked as in-house counsel in Citibank Private Bank, during which time he advised the Bank on structure, documentation, contractual agreements and marketing materials for wide range of sophisticated financial products, including multi-currency mutual funds; over-the-counter (OTC) and exchange traded derivatives; and various Islamic banking products, including murabaha and mudaraba transactions.