Alumni profile - Dr Otgonbayar Lkhamsuren
Wed 4 November 2026
Dr Otgonbayar Lkhamsuren, LLM in Competition Law and Innovation, 2013
Tell us a little bit about your life/background before Edinburgh Law School
I am from Mongolia, with an academic background in law and political science. Before coming to Edinburgh, I worked as in-house counsel for a major telecommunications service provider in my country. Moving to Edinburgh meant studying in an English-speaking environment for the first time—a significant personal and academic challenge, and an opportunity to broaden my horizons.
What did you study at Edinburgh Law School, and why did you choose the programme?
I studied the LLM in Competition Law and Innovation, graduating in 2013. In my work as in-house counsel, I dealt with matters involving competition regulation. That experience sparked my interest in the field and motivated me to choose a programme that would deepen my understanding of the legal and economic principles behind the issues I encountered in practice. Looking back, it was an excellent choice—one that shaped my professional life and laid the foundations for my subsequent doctoral research.
What do you think is unique to the Edinburgh Law School experience, and what are some of your favourite memories?
For me, it was the combination of a demanding intellectual environment, lasting friendships and an extraordinary city.
Dr Arianna Andreangeli, my programme director and dissertation supervisor, was the most influential person in my master’s journey. While I was still adapting to studying in English, her challenging seminars and searching questions encouraged me to prepare thoroughly, think independently and develop confidence in my reasoning. I remain deeply grateful for her guidance and the high standards she set.
Edinburgh also gave me lifelong friends, and it was there that I began writing poetry for myself. The Meadows, the Main Library, Old College, Pollock Halls, the Royal Mile and West Nicolson Street all hold precious memories. Returning to those familiar places always brings back the people, conversations and everyday moments that made my time there so special.
What have you been up to since graduating and how have your degree studies with us helped you in this?
Since Edinburgh, my career has taken me through legal practice, service as a counsellor at Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a diplomatic posting in London, and the role of Deputy Permanent Representative to a United Nations specialised agency. I now serve as Dean of the School of Law at the University of Finance and Economics in Mongolia.
My LLM also began a lasting intellectual commitment. I have never stopped reading and researching in competition law, and I recently completed my PhD in the field. Edinburgh helped strengthen the analytical discipline and intellectual curiosity that I continue to draw on as a lawyer, researcher and educator.
What advice would you give current Edinburgh Law School students?
Read widely, engage seriously with the questions your teachers ask, and give yourself time to develop your own ideas. If you are studying in a second language, do not let the difficulty of expressing yourself discourage you from contributing. Confidence grows through preparation and participation.
Make time for friendship and for the city itself. Walk, explore, and discover something beyond your studies—perhaps even write a little poetry. Years later, the ordinary moments may become some of your most treasured memories.
The University, the Law School and the people I met there will always hold a special place in my heart. My time in Edinburgh remains one of the proudest and most cherished chapters of my life.