The Legal 500

A key instruction for Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co’s two-partner strong dispute resolution practice was defending Satyam Computer Services against allegations of defrauding Company Law Board of INR70bn. Pallavi Schroff leads the practice.

Bhasin & Co’s recent highlights include acting on an ICC arbitration relating to joint venture disputes between leading cellular operators, and a landmark judgement for Caterpillar India when it challenged the purchase preference policy of the Central Government.

J Sagar Associates’ dispute resolution 
practice is chaired by Amar Gupta. A significant instruction was advising a coal trader in an international arbitration conducted by the ICC International Court of Arbitration against an Indian public sector body for claims of $160m. The team successfully acted for Credit Suisse in the Delhi High Court relating to documentary credit.

A highlight for Kachwaha & Partners was successfully defending Haldor Topsoe against a pricing action brought by Sud-Chemie. The practice was also instructed by Ramunia Fabricators in a dispute against ONGC regarding a tender for a $600m offshore field development project.

Karanjawala and Company continued to act on behalf of a range of celebrities and corporate companies. A well-publicised highlight was acting on behalf of Feroze Varun Gandhi in a dispute over an alleged hate speech, successfully gaining his release in April 2009. The practice is also defending Sanjeev Nanda against charges in a BMW accident dispute, before the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge in New Delhi. The practice’s ‘well-knit team’ is ‘excellent in all aspects’ according to clients. Nandini Gore and Ruby Ahuja are ‘very efficient’.

One of the most significant disputes handled by the eight-partner practice at Luthra & Luthra was acting for Moser Baer India in relation to a multi-jurisdictional $900m damages claim relating to a patent license agreement made between Philips and 3M, which became one of the parenting companies of joint venture MBI, called Imation. The practice also acted for Multi Screen Media to seek injunctive relief for the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s decision to stop the media rights license agreement endowing MSM with the right to broadcast the Indian Premier League for ten years.

P H Parekh & Co are renowned for their track record in the Supreme Court. It is recomended for its high profile arbitration work, as well as its labour law practice and expertise in construction-related claims.

The most significant case AZB & Partners’ dispute resolution practice worked on in 2009 was acting for Lehman Brothers in a dispute in relation to its assets brought by Brics Securities before the Bombay High Court, amounting to a claim of INR1.23bn. A significant success for the team was the representation of the Star Group in the Bombay Court against an injunction sought by Balaji to prevent it from terminating a television show.

The principal case Dua Associates’ dispute resolution team was involved in during 2008 was defending Dow Chemicals in a large environmental claim. The practice also acted for Chatterjee Petrochem with regards to a dispute over the control of Haldia Petrochem. A significant client was the organising committee for the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, which the practice acted for in a dispute brought by an environmentalist opposing the construction of facilities for the games.

FoxMandal Little’s arbitration and dispute resolution practice is a central pillar of the firm. Past work includes advising a UK-based international development company in an arbitration against an Indian State Government.

A significant instruction for Jafa & Javali was advising Norwegian Engineering and Consulting in disputes connected with a services agreement against an engineering recruitment company. The practice also acted for All India Crop Biotechnology Association and ABN AMRO in disputes in 2009.

Kamal Nijhawan is recommended at K. R. Chawla & Co. Its expertise includes work relating to the aviation sector or IP infringements. It is noted for acting on various cargo and ticketing claims for Singapore Airlines, Gulf Airways and Thai Airways.

Khaitan & Co. acted for a member of Bar council concerning a petition filed in order to declare sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as beyond the bounds of the constitution.

Kochhar & Co’s dispute resolution practice provides a ‘good’ level of service. A recent significant instruction was ITOCHU India Private regarding a dispute with Momento Nepal regarding a manufacturing contract. Another highlight was acting for Forbes magazine in a suit for damages filed by the owner of Times of India. Syed Naqvi joined the New Delhi office as partner in the litigation department.

Link Legal is renowned for its aviation law expertise and recently represented Hyderabad International Airport in various class action litigations. Other notable work includes acting as defendant’s counsel to Philips Konikokje in anti-suit injunctions against Moser Baer. Atul Sharma is recommended.

O.P. Khaitan & Co. Solicitors and Advocates is highly regarded for its international arbitration and ADR expertise. It is also recomended for its experience in commercial, civil and criminal litigations at all levels of Indian courts in relation to oil and gas, commodities, construction, international trade and engineering. Past clients include McDermott International, Bharat Explosives and Cosmo Films.

P & A Law Offices is recommended for its ‘valuable advice’ with regards to corporate disputes. Anand S Pathak and Nitin Wadhwa are ‘reliable’.

Rajinder Narain & Co’s vast litigation practice acts on domestic litigations, as well as international arbitration in a variety of sectors such as property, commercial and tax disputes as well as consumer litigation.

S&R Associates’ disputes work often derives from its clients in the TMT sector, and it is experienced in shareholder disputes. Notable past clients include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Vodafone and Lucent Technologies.

Seth Dua & Associates’ ‘world class team’ offers ‘fantastic legal advice’ with regards to disputes, with ‘the pace of activity and level of reliability that is found in New York’. Atul Dua and Asheeh Bhandari are ‘excellent strategists’, whilst Sunil Seth is also ‘very good’.

Vikas Goel is the key contact at Singhania & Partners. Recent highlights include advising NAFED in relation to an international commercial arbitration in Hong Kong, in a dispute relating to iron ore trading. Other clients include Securities Printing and Minting and RailTel.

Titus & Co was successful acting for Real Networks in a case to restrain Bharti Telesoft from providing services without its involvement. Another highlight was acting for Samsung before the Ministry of Finance against anti-dumping investigations. The team, which includes three partners, is led by Suhail Dutt.

Anand Prasad leads the dispute resolution practice at Trilegal. One of the most interesting instructions for the dispute team is acting for Petronet LNG in relation to petitions filed by Gujarat state corporations that challenge the government’s revision of LNG prices under fixed term contracts. Another highlight was representing Yatra Online Private in an injunction suit against an employee relating to confidentiality of an employment agreement.

Anand and Anand works principally on disputes relating to patents. Significant clients of the firm include Philips in an anti-suit injunction dispute with Moserbaer, Mattel, Roche and Pfizer and Brystol Myers Squibb.

Chitale & Chitale Partners act primarily in patent and employment litigation. Garware Wall Ropes instructed the practice in a patent litigation case in the Supreme Court. The 
practice also acted for Air Liquide in a dispute over a share purchase agreement filed by 
Goyal MG Gases.

Partner Balbir Singh leads DSK Legal’s three-partner New Delhi litigation practice. Key clients of the practice include Blue Dart Express who the practice has acted for in several disputes in the State High Courts. Acting for Maneesh Pharmaceuticals in disputes with Corporation Bank concerning derivative contracts was another highlight.

Hemant Sahai Associates - Advocates focuses on corporate and commercial disputes. Acting for a leading Chinese coal producer on a $30m claim in an international commercial arbitration was a highlight for the practice. The practice also acted for Gujarat Fluorochemicals relating to a claim of $50m. Uttar Pradesh Power is also a key client.

Jitendra Sharma heads the dispute resolution team at JM Sharma & Co. Clients represented in the New Delhi courts include Bajaj Hindustan and Radico Khaitan. The practice also acted in the supreme courts for Uttar Pradesh Power and Abdul Wahid.

LexCounsel acted for Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board in the Tata Power versus Union of India dispute, which challenged the allocation of coal to Reliance Power. The practice also acted for PGA Trading & Shipping concerning the misuse of shipping documents and insurance claims.

Archer & Angel comes ‘highly recommended’ by clients, providing ‘excellent’ response times 
and advice. Akash Bhardwaj is particularly ‘attentive’ and provides an ‘excellent level of service’.

Pragyan Sharma heads the New Delhi dispute resolution practice at Brus Chambers, Advocates & Solicitors. Key clients of the team include Radiocity, Sony BMG, Goel Foods, NDTV Imagine and India Pacific Infrastructure.

Working with Economic Laws Practice’s lawyers is a ‘wonderful experience’ say clients. Tushar Chawla and Tarun Gulati are described as ‘great’ by clients.

Singhania & Co acted for NAFED in a trading dispute in Hong Kong. The practice significantly acted for Security Printing and Minting in three international disputes against Moscow Mint, Arets Graphics and Jindal Steels respectively, concerning damages, defective goods and bid parameters. Another major client of the firm is RailTel.

A highlight for Suman Khaitan & Co’s dispute practice was acting in an international arbitration on behalf of Oriental Carbon Chemicals involving a claim and counter claim of over INR1bn. The practice appeared before the Arbitral Tribunal on behalf of Dalmia Cement, Hindustan Vidyut, Hyderabad Industries, Indcap Finance, Jaya Shree, Jindal Poly Films, KPL and India Lurgi India.

Tuli & Co primarily represent insurers and reinsurers in arbitration claims, including acting for an Indian insurer in a $700m dispute. Another highlight was acting for an insurer regarding the scope of a machinery breakdown cover claim of $13m. Neeraj Tuli heads the ‘excellent, highly professional and systematic’ two partner-strong practice. Mrinal Ojha is ‘exemplary’ and ‘focused’.