HBKU hosts leading expert in Qatari constitutional law

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation, welcomed Dr Hassan Abdulrahim al-Buhashim al-Sayed, as part of an HBKU Law School initiative that gives its students the opportunity to hear from leading scholars and practitioners in the legal system of Qatar and the region.A highly respected judge who sits on the Qatar International Court and an associate professor in Constitutional Law at Qatar University, Dr al-Sayed shared his first-hand experience of practising law in Qatar at the event and gave valuable insights into various aspects of Qatar’s legal landscape held at the HBKU Law School facilities. The event is likely to become a regular series.Dr al-Sayed discussed the history and establishment of the Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar during the event. As an expert on constitutional law and a legal practitioner, Dr al-Sayed not only presented the students with his in-depth knowledge of the constitution itself, but also provided the students with a unique understanding of how legal professionals in Qatar currently work with the constitution in their daily practice. Dr al-Sayed also fielded questions from the students.An expert on constitutional law, Dr al-Sayed studied at Kuwait University and the University of Jordan before completing his PhD at the University of East Anglia in the UK. Dr al-Sayed returned to Qatar to practise law and provide legal education. He served as dean of the university’s College of Law from 2007 to 2010. He has also served as vice president of the Qatari Bar Association.Dr al-Sayed said, “I believe that it is important that students sometimes take their learning out of the classroom and have the opportunity to hear from people with a range of experience and viewpoints that may differ from their professors.”Prof Clinton W Francis, founding dean of the HBKU Law School, commented: “We are extremely fortunate that Dr al-Sayed took time out of his busy schedule to join us at HBKU. He is a highly experienced and well-regarded legal expert here in Qatar, and I am sure our students greatly appreciated his willingness to share his in-depth knowledge of Qatari law with them.”