Abdulla Shairu — Professional Biography
Abdulla Shairu is a senior Maldivian lawyer, human-rights advocate and the owner of Advocatus Office, a private legal practice established in 2020. He has practised law since 1999 and has more than 25 years of professional experience.
His practice covers criminal defence, civil litigation, family law, employment disputes, constitutional law and judicial review. He regularly represents clients before the Criminal Court, Civil Court, Family Court, Employment Tribunal, High Court and Supreme Court of the Maldives.
Shairu was granted rights of audience before the Supreme Court on 5 July 2011 and before the High Court on 7 July 2011. His practising status remains active under registration number 05/1999. He was commissioned as a public notary in December 2020, and Advocatus Office provides notarial services. Bar Council of the Maldives
- Registration number 05/1999 Practising status active
- Supreme Court 5 July 2011 Rights of audience granted
- High Court 7 July 2011 Rights of audience granted
- Public notary December 2020 Commissioned
Legal practice
Over his career, Shairu has worked on a wide range of matters, including:
- Serious criminal prosecutions and criminal appeals
- Constitutional rights and unlawful-search cases
- Civil and commercial disputes
- Construction and property disputes
- Family-law proceedings
- Employment and unfair-dismissal claims
- Administrative and judicial-review proceedings
- Detention conditions, prisoners’ rights and allegations of mistreatment
- Media freedom and cases involving journalists
He is particularly associated with criminal defence and the protection of people accused of serious offences. His work emphasizes the presumption of innocence, procedural fairness, lawful investigation, reliable evidence and the constitutional rights of detained persons.
Human-rights and public-interest work
Shairu has provided legal assistance to people arrested or detained during political demonstrations and public assemblies. His work has included challenging detention, raising concerns about prison conditions and defending freedom of expression and press freedom.
In May 2026, he publicly raised concerns about the treatment and detention conditions of journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Naseer at Maafushi Prison. He argued that prison regulations could not override the basic rights, dignity and protections guaranteed by law. Adhadhu
He was also part of the legal team representing Adhadhu’s CEO and editor in criminal proceedings relating to the “Aisha” documentary, a case involving significant questions about criminal liability, media freedom and public-interest journalism. Adhadhu
Constitutional and political litigation
Shairu has appeared in politically and constitutionally significant proceedings. In 2023, he represented The Democrats in Supreme Court litigation concerning Parliament’s regulations and the constitutional limits of judicial intervention in parliamentary affairs. Sun Online
He also brought proceedings concerning the timetable for an internal Maldivian Democratic Party election, arguing that the announced timetable was inconsistent with the party’s regulations. Atoll Times
He previously served in the Maldivian Democratic Party’s rights and legal structures and has provided legal assistance connected to democratic reform and political activity since the early 2000s. In 2014, he contested the MDP parliamentary primary for the Thimarafushi constituency.
Public service and leadership
Shairu previously served on the Board of Directors of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company Plc, one of the country’s principal state-owned infrastructure companies. His membership of the MTCC Board was officially recorded by the President’s Office in 2010. President’s Office
Through Advocatus Office, he also supervises and works alongside other lawyers, combining courtroom representation with legal drafting, case strategy, client counselling and professional development.
Professional approach
Shairu’s work is guided by the belief that every person—regardless of the allegation, social status or political circumstances—is entitled to competent representation and a fair hearing. His professional focus is on:
- Protecting constitutional rights
- Holding public authorities accountable to the law
- Testing the legality and reliability of evidence
- Ensuring humane treatment of detainees
- Promoting access to justice
- Defending judicial independence and the rule of law
His career reflects a longstanding commitment to criminal defence, human dignity and the principle that justice requires fairness to both the accused and the wider community.