[8][9] In 2022, he was appointed to the list of arbitrators under a post-Brexit free-trade treaty between the United Kingdom and the European Union - the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
[13] He later served as advisor on international legal matters to King Birendra of Nepal and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[18] Subedi was a co-founder and the founding chairperson of the Britain-Nepal Academic Council in 2000, serving in that capacity for ten years.
From 2015 to 2017, Subedi was a member of the Task Force on Investment Policy of the World Economic Forum in Davos and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development[25] in Geneva.
In 2025, Subedi spoke before the Oxford Union, where he argued that the spread of liberal democracy to the Global South has resulted in the widespread advancement and protection of fundamental human rights, notwithstanding the shortcomings in their implementation and enforcement.
Cases in which Subedi acted as a counsel include: In 2004, he was appointed by the WTO to the Roster of Panelists[44] of its Dispute Settlement System.
The Prime Minister had been irked by the reports of Subedi stating that the judiciary and electoral commission were not independent in the country.
[49] However, Subedi received support for his UN work from the international community, including the US President Barack Obama[50] and the European Parliament.
[53] During his six years of service for the UN, he produced a number of reports on judicial, parliamentary, electoral and land reform in Cambodia.
He later assisted the Prime Minister of Nepal and other political leaders in resolving a 10-year Maoist conflict and in writing a new democratic constitution.
[57][58] Subedi was appointed a Queen's Counsel (QC) (Hon) in 2017 in recognition of his contribution to the development of international law and to the advancement of human rights.
Traditionally, honorary Silk[59] has been awarded to legal academics and to some lawyers in public service for achievements beyond their normal responsibilities.
[62][better source needed] Speaking at the OBE investiture on 19 October 2004 in London, the British Foreign Secretary stated that Subedi had "made a highly distinguished contribution to our understanding of international law, and to its evolution" and his work in international law had "spanned almost every aspect of it – with a special focus on issues ... which make a real difference to people's lives".
[67] The President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari, awarded Subedi the honour of Prasidhha Prabal Janasewa Shree in 2022.
The 'Surya P. Subedi Prize' is to be awarded to a book or an article on Nepal in English published anywhere in the world in any one calendar year.
[73] In his youth, Subedi led the students' union at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, a pro-human rights and democracy activity which earned him a three-month prison stay.
[citation needed] He participated in a 100 kilometer walk to raise funds in the aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal.