School of Law
Recent PhD Graduates
Dr Farhan Bin Matoog ALFarhan
Directorof Studies: Professor Munir Maniruzzaman
Year of graduation: 2012
PhD Thesis:
“Reforming Saudi Foreign Direct Investment Laws: The Legal Impact, Challenges and Prospects”
Current Position:
Political coordinator and disarmament expert at the Saudi Arabia Mission for the United Nations in Geneva; Legal & counter terrorism expert. Member of the International Sea Bed Authority Legal and Technical Commission, U.N.
Statement of Experience:
“My story is a unique one. I started to do my PhD at Kent Law School (KLS), University of Kent and as the Head of the Legal Department of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, London and thereafter as a full-time diplomat at UN offices in New York and Geneva I found it to be a challenging task to get on with my PhD study. I needed expert and efficient advice and a reliable mentor with specialist knowledge in the field of International Investment Law, International Commercial Law and Lex Mercatoria. I found all those qualities in Professor A F M Maniruzzaman who was fortunately my LLM teacher and also supervised my major LLM dissertation while he was a faculty member at Kent. I was longing to be supervised by him again for my PhD research, so I decided to move to Portsmouth as a PhD student which was a very critical decision of my life. I thank him to accept me as his PhD student. I must mention here that Prof. Maniruzzaman became one of the most influential people I have ever met in my life and he has made a profound impact on my academic accomplishments.
Moving from a highly reputed critical law school, i.e. KLS (ranked 6th best law school in the UK in RAE-2008) to come and start my PhD at the University of Portsmouth was not really an easy decision. I am glad that I made that crucial move and looking back I feel that I have learnt a lot with a great deal of confidence and my years have been very fruitful ones at Portsmouth. Combining full-time work and study was a large undertaking, but it has helped me to become much more creative and the School of Law provided me all that I needed to be successful.
I very much appreciate the supportive environment in the School of Law, staff’s cooperation and their readiness to help, various research training programmes, annual postgraduate research students’ and staff conferences, weekly staff seminars and other specialist lectures taking place here. I have derived enormous benefit from attending them over the years.
Within such creative atmospheres the School of Law has cultivated the knowledge and expertise to deliver a world-class higher education service, tailored to the preferences of future leaders worldwide. Although I was privileged to study at LSE, Kent, Oxford and Harvard Universities, Portsmouth has a unique character, which has made my PhD degree a very special one.”
Dr Lorena Carvajal Arenas 
Nationality: Chile
Director of Studies: Professor Munir Maniruzzaman
Year of graduation: 2011
PhD Thesis:
“Good faith in the lex mercatoria: an analysis of arbitral practice and major western legal systems.”
Current Position:
Abogado, Supreme Court of Chile.
Statement of Experience:
“I knew from experience that PhD would be an arduous undertaking, especially in a foreign country. However, the conditions that the University of Portsmouth and the city offered me made this experience beyond my expectation. The city of Portsmouth and the cordiality of its people were essential for the success. Besides, the staff and my supervisor were always willing to support me throughout the process.”
Dr Ahmed Altyer 
Nationality: United Arab Emirates
Director of Studies: Professor Munir Maniruzzaman
Year of graduation: 2011
PhD Thesis:
“The WTO and developing countries: the missing link of international distributive justice”.
Current Position:
Lecturer in Law, Dubai Police Academy, and Major, Dubai Police, United Arab Emirates.
Statement of Experience:
“I was, not long ago, a PhD student, I have completed and I obtained my PhD. So I must have done something very right. A PhD by its nature is a very individualistic venture. You live with your research and your thesis for a long time like a recalcitrant pet animal. Once you’ve started it is actually impossible to stop, you will be absorbed in this deep and wonderful world called ‘Research’.
My aim was to get involved with a research-orientated academic position despite the fact that I was a police officer. I wanted to focus on lecturing. My long pursuit was International Law. The topic had plunged me into a deep ocean of conceptualizing, solving issues and directions and more understanding of how the mechanism functions, regardless of the complexities of the subject matter of my research.
The choice of my field, my orientation, and my success were the fruit of my dedicated supervisor, which experience - I need to emphasize - was the most important contributor to my motivation and success. My Supervisor had made the best impact on my attainment: productive meetings, availability, whenever I needed him, maximum extraction of knowledge, efficiency in correcting and directing my research. There is no better recipe for research other than think, think and think.
Despite the fact that English was my second language it didn’t affect at all my enthusiasm and the drive to go all the way with this long and fruitful venture of achieving a PhD. And I have to emphasize that Portsmouth University is an ideal place for higher degree research in its beautiful campus setting close to the seaside with relaxing atmosphere. I remain very grateful to all the staff who had been very supportive and helpful with patience and assurance over the years.”
Judge Dr. Essam Abdulaziz Alsheikh 
Nationality: Saudi Arabia
Director of Studies: Professor Munir Maniruzzaman
Year of graduation: 2011
PhD Thesis:
Current Position:
Judge in the Ministry of Justice, Member of the Permanent Diplomatic Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, New York.
Statement of Experience:
“I am very proud to be one of those who have graduated from the University of Portsmouth at the PhD level in the academic year 2010-11 from the School of Law. The years that I have spent at the School are the best, interesting and dynamic ones throughout my life. The cooperation and instructions of my thesis supervisor proved to be the greatest effect on my success as they helped me overcome all the obstacles that I had encountered as a research student. The vibrant and supportive academic atmosphere that the Law School offered made my research enjoyable (along with other researchers with whom I have made good friends) and has left me with a lasting impression.”
Dr Faisal AlBasher 
Nationality: United Arab Emirates
Director of Studies: Professor Munir Maniruzzaman
Year of graduation: 2010
PhD Thesis:
“WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism and the Reform of Third Party Rights: A Study from the Perspective of Developing Countries”
Current Position:
Lecturer in Law, Dubai Police Academy, and Major, Dubai Police, United Arab Emirates.
Statement of Experience:
“My studies at the University of Portsmouth have helped me further develop my knowledge, skills and career. During my studies I did not only had a great and dedicated supervision which led to the successful completion of my PhD program but also the required course and training that contributed to my success such as research method training courses and postgraduate-as-teacher workshop and many other internal and external conferences. This gave me the right opportunity to develop a teaching career and lectureship in law and in domestic and international dispute settlement at Dubai Police Academy.”
Colonel Dr Fahad Mohammed Alrefaei 
Nationality: Saudi Arabia
Director of Studies: Professor Munir Maniruzzaman
Year of graduation: 2009
PhD Thesis:
“The Protection of the Marine Environment from Oil Pollution by Ships in the Arabian Gulf and the Role of Saudi Arabia: A Study in International Law with Special Reference to Islamic Law”
Current Position:
Military Judge (Colonel), The Ministry of Defense, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Deputy Secretary General of the Arab Union (for International Arbitration).
Statement of Experience:
I must say that there is much I could say about Portsmouth University, but I have to sum it up by saying that I am proud to have graduated from this acclaimed university. I spent some of the best times of my life there acquiring knowledge and experience through my interaction with the teaching staff, in general, and with my supervisor, in particular, who was always a great mentor to me. Thanks to his assistance, care and illuminating directions I obtained during my PhD research that helped me realize my long-cherished dream. I found him supportive throughout all the stages of my research and enormously benefited from him through our direct contacts. He was outstanding in everything and he instilled in me the principles and moral standards that a student should live up to. In addition, the excellent administrative facilities and training programmes of the University and the School of Law were a boon for smooth and efficient pursuance of my research endeavour. I pride myself on belonging to this internationally renowned academic institution.”