Tashi Gyalpo
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: TASHI GYALPO
DoB: October 12, 1972
Sex: Male
Nationality: Bhutanese
Marital Status: Married
Village: Beldara
Gewog: Pemathang
Dungkhag: Samdrupcholing
District: Samdrup Jongkhar
Country: Bhutan
Employment: Self-employed at Bhutan Legal Eagles
Contact Address: Address: Building No. 11B, Flat No. 4, Changangkha Lam, Thim Throm, Thimphu, Bhutan; Email: tashiigyalpo@gmail.com; Phone No: +975-17601828 or +975-02-330277 (Office)
EDUCATION
June 2013 American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, DC
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow
Honors: Selected by Fulbright/U.S. State Department among 2500 professionals worldwide and competing professionals from Bhutan
Relevant courses: International Law; International Trade Law; International Contract Law; International Commercial Arbitration; American Legal Institution; Humphrey Seminar
Sept. 2007 University of East Anglia School of Law, Norwich, United Kingdom
LL.M. with Distinction on International Trade Law with Research Methods and Training
Honors: Selected by the Royal Government of Bhutan
Relevant subjects: International Economic Law; Sales & Carriage in International Law; Payments & Finance in International Law; International Commercial Arbitration
Mar. 2003 Royal Institute of Management, Thimphu, Bhutan
Post Graduate Diploma in National Laws (National Legal Course)
June 2001 National Law School of India University, Bangalore, India
B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) (Equivalent of Juris Doctor in the U.S.); GPA: 4.50 (In a scale of 1-7)
Honors: Full Government of India Scholarship
Activities: Captain of the University Football Team, 2001
BAR ADMISSION
Licensed to practice law in Bhutan, 2003
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2016-2021 Bhutan Legal Eagles, a recently established law firm in Bhutan,
Jabmi (Attorney-at-law) cum founder of the law firm
Worked on formation of the company; Drafted a shareholders’ internal agreement Advised a company on tax liability of imports
Worked as intermittent consultants for Asian Development Bank
Drafted subsidiary legislations for Asian Development Bank
Engaged in litigations before the courts on various matters
2020-2021 Bar Council of Bhutan, Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council
Member,
2016-2020 Consumer Board, Office of Consumer Protection Board, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Member
Advise and frame policies on consumer protection issues
2017 National Assembly of Bhutan
Trainer
Conducted training on Introduction to basic legal principles and interpretation of statutes” to Committee Secretaries
2017 National Environment Commission
Consultant
Reviewed policies and legislations relevant to climate change
2010-2016 Office of the Attorney General
Acting Deputy Attorney General(De facto Deputy Attorney General) (Civil Servant)
- Represented the Government before the courts
- Advised the Government on all legal matters when referred to the Office
- Drafted and reviewed the bills
- Assisted the Attorney General in administration of the Office
- Facilitated and planned activities and Annual Performance Target of the Office
- Restructured the Office
- Assisted the Government to draft legislative plans; organized trainings and meetings
- Advised the Government on formation of state enterprises
- Reviewed numerous contractual business agreements including agreements on hydro-power projects, foreign direct investments, financial agreement with World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, European Investment Bank
2003-2016 Office of the Attorney General
Employee
Drafted numerous Government Bills, subsidiary legislations, international legal instruments and contractual documents of the Government
Drafted among others:
- Rules of Procedure for Treaty Making 2016
- Office of the Attorney General Bill 2013
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Centers Act 2013
- Impeachment Bill 2012
- Administrative Tribunal Bill 2012
- Tourism Council Bill 2011
- Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2011
- Sales Tax and Customs Excise (Amendment) Bill 2011
- Former Prime Minister’s Privilege Bill 2011
- Public Finance (Amendment) Bill 2011
- Office of the Attorney General Act 2006
- Tenancy Bill 2004
Reviewed among others:
- Bhutan Information & Communication Media Authority Bill 2014
- Chemical Weapons Convention Bill 2014
- Bhutan Civil Service Rules & Regulations 2012
- Gift Rules 2012
- Domestic Violence Prevention Bill 2011
- Immigration Rules and Regulation 2011
- Tobacco Control Rules & Regulations 2011
- Disaster Management Bill 2011
- Education City Bill 2011
- Working Parent’s Incentive Bill 2010
- Election Bill 2008
- Public Fund Bill 2008
- National Referendum Bill 2008
- Limitation Bill 2010
- Emergency Bill 2010
- Consumer Protection Bill 2005
2016 National Coordinating Committee for Anti-Money Laundering, Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan
Member
Appointed as a member to review policy issues to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism
2015 Independent Review Body, Ministry of Finance
Member
Heard and adjudicated complaints on Government procurement matters
2015 Law Review Task Force, Royal Government of Bhutan
Member
Discussed and reviewed laws of Bhutan
2003-2014 Office of the Attorney General, Thimphu, Bhutan
Chief Attorney (a civil servant)
Prosecuted criminal cases and guided young lawyers on prosecution
Represented the Government on civil lawsuits; Drafted and reviewed laws (including Tenancy Act; Land Act; Election Act; Public Finance Act; National Referendum Act; Alternative Dispute Resolution Center Act); Scrutinized numerous contractual documents of the government; Advised the Government on many legal affairs; Revamped the prosecution techniques and processes in the Office of the Attorney General and prosecuted some of the landmark criminal cases on corruption (Like Army Welfare Project case; Mining scam in Samtse); Represented Government in a first constitutional case
2014 Royal Civil Service Medal
Recipient
Received Royal Civil Service Medal (Bronze) for serving the Government over ten years
2013 SAARC Arbitration Panel
Arbitrator
Appointed as a SAARC arbitrator in the Panel of SAARC arbitrators from Bhutan
2010-2012 Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Thimphu, Bhutan
Legal Advisor
Advised the Prime Minister and the Government on all daily legal affairs and assisted in preparation of legislative plans; Updated and apprised the Prime Minister on the parliamentary sessions and affairs; Represented Government in the first Constitutional case between the Opposition Party and the Government, before the High Court and Supreme Court of Bhutan
2012 Bhutan Electricity Authority, Thimphu, Bhutan
Commissioner
Issued licences to the new Hydropower Projects and supervised the electricity distribution and maintenance and revisited the policy issues concerning hydropower investments in the country
2008 Election Commission of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
Legal Advisor
Arbitrated election disputes among the political parties, candidates and workers during the First Parliamentary Elections in Bhutan; reviewed the electoral laws.
2006 National Arbitration Committee, Thimphu, Bhutan
Member (Arbitrator)
Adjudicated disputes mainly between construction industries and employer (Government) and facilitated speedy resolution
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Dec. 2014 DisputeResolution Systems: Policies, Structures and Strategies, hosted by Singapore Co-operation Programme in Singapore
Participant
Attended training course on alternative dispute resolution, particularly on the art of mediation
Oct. 2014 Financial Investigations and Asset Recovery, hosted by International Centre for Asset Recovery and Anti-Corruption Commission of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
Participant
Attended training on financial investigation and asset recovery, dealing with investigation and prosecution of money laundering
May 2014 Institutional visits, Germany and Denmark
Visitor
Visited wind farms, Biogas and solar farms in Germany and Denmark as a Commissioner of Bhutan Electricity Authority
May 2013 American Management Association, Washington DC
Seminar on Effective Executive Speaking
Attended seminar to improve public speaking with clarity, brevity and good articulation
May 2013 International Law Institute, Washington DC
Professional Affiliation
Affiliated with the Institute to gain working experience in the United States
May 2013 Workshop on Legislative Drafting, International Law Institute, Washington DC
Participant
Attended workshop on Legislative Drafting on American laws
March 2013 American Society of International Law, Washington DC
Participant
Attended conference on International Law on Multipolar World
Feb. 2013 Workshop on Strategic Negotiation Skills, hosted by Institute of International Education, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Participant
Attended seminar to improve skills and strategies of negotiations
May 2012 Institutional visit to Queensland, Australia
Visitor
Visited Crown Law, Legal Services Commission, Energy and Water Ombudsman
Sept. 2011 Mediation Skills Training, Organized by the Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology in Thimphu
Participant
Participated in the mediation skills programme
July 2011 Program Management Imperatives for E-Governance, organized by the National Institute of Indian Technology in Thimphu
Participant
Participated in the training program on e-governance and management
Oct. 2010 United Nations General Assembly, United Nations, New York, NY
Delegate
Represented Bhutan in the 6th Committee on legal affairs of the United Nations General Assembly
May 2010 Seminar on International Humanitarian Law, Bangalore, India
Participant
Attended lectures on international humanitarian law, human rights and refugee law
June 2009 Institutional Visit to Denmark and United Kingdom
Visitor
Visited Danish Bar and Law Society, Danish Prosecution Service International Bar Association, U.K.
May 2009 Attorney General’s Chamber, Singapore
Professional Affiliation
Affiliated with Drafting and Prosecution Divisions of the Attorney General’s Chamber of Singapore to upgrade the art of drafting of laws and prosecution systems
Dec. 2008 Institutional visit to Delhi, India
Visitor
Visited Ministry of Law, Indian Law Institute, Supreme Court of India, and Supreme Court Bar Association
June 2008 Seminar on Effective Management of National and Local Elections, Manila, Philippines
Participant
Learnt about the elections system of Philippines for both the national level and local government elections
August 2006 Training for National Gender Focal Person Points in Gender Mainstreaming and Analysis, hosted by the National Commission for Women and Children, Bhutan
Trainee
Participated in the training mainstream the gender issues
August 2005 IMF-STI, Singapore
Participant
Participated in a seminar on Creditor’s Rights in Emerging Economies, conducted by the Singapore Regional Training Institute in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund on remedies available to the creditors and investors
March 2004 National Workshop on Preventive Drug Education, hosted by Colombo Plan Advisory Programme and the Department of Youth, Culture & Sports, Bhutan
Participant
Participated the workshop on prevention of drugs
Feb. 2004 Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training on Legislative Drafting, Parliamentary Secretariat, New Delhi, India
Trainee
Availed training on drafting of laws including the skills of drafting and examination of the legality of the Bills and procedures of enactment
Oct. 2003 Institutional Visit to England, U.S.A. and Netherlands
Visitor
Visited Crown Prosecution Service and Central Criminal Court in England; Visited Department of State and Federal Bureau of Investigation (Fraud Division) in the United States;
Visited the Department of Prosecution, Ombudsman and International Court of Justice in the Netherlands
INIDIVUAL ACHIEVEMENTS INCLDUING ACADEMIC
2003-2013 Developed format of the charges for prosecution in the Office of the Attorney General;
Represented Govt. before the court of law on landmark cases including the Constitutional case n Bhutan
2013 Received Civil Service Award (Bronze) from His Majesty the King
2012-2013 Humphrey Fellow, Washington College of Law, American University, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
2011 Got meritorious promotion in civil service from P3 to P2
2007 Awarded Master of Laws in International Trade Law with Distinction from the University of East Anglia
1995 Topped the whole Bhutan in Indian School Certificate Examinations (Class XII Arts, Sherubtse College)
1988 Passed Class VI Common Examination with Distinction from Gomdar Primary School [4th Position in whole Bhutan]
LANGUAGES
Sharchop (Native); Dzongkha (Official and fluent); English (fluent); Nepali (Intermediate in speaking skills); Hindi (Basic speaking)
For professional references, following persons may be contacted:
- Sonam Tashi, Acting Deputy Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General at 17111114 or at stashi@oag.gov.bt