39 Essex Chambers

Called to the bar: 2006 (India), 2011 (England & Wales), 2020 (DIFC)

Karishma has a strong commercial disputes and civil fraud practice representing companies and individuals in high value cases before the commercial court and in arbitration usually ranging from about $10 million to $2 billion in dispute. She specialises in banking, private equity, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), breach of commercial contracts and civil fraud disputes. Her sector expertise includes defence, metals and commodities, mining, technology, crypto, pharmaceuticals, distribution and diamonds. She has a strong track record of instructions from banks and borrowers, private equity funds and family offices in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes. Karishma is instructed on jurisdiction challenges, applications for service out, anti-suit and summary judgment applications, Norwich Pharmacal claims and freezing injunctions through to trial. She appears on a led basis and equally leads teams in heavy trials and interim proceedings, depending on the nature of the case. Karishma’s significant international arbitration expertise includes being appointed as an arbitrator and as counsel in arbitrations seated in London, Singapore, Dubai and India. She has worked on cases governed by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), London Metal Exchange (LME), Refined Sugar Association (RSA), London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) and Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA). Karishma also serves on the board of the LME and ICA. Karishma frequently works with lawyers from foreign jurisdictions. She has the rare expertise of being triple qualified in England, India and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and has reported judgments in all three jurisdictions. Karishma is an alumna of the London School of Economics where she taught commercial law.

In addition to English, Karishma speaks three Indian languages fluently, namely Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi.

The Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR);  The Chancery Bar Association;  African Arbitration Association (AfAA); International Advisory Committee, Indian Council of Arbitration, NewDelhi; London Metal Exchange (LME) Arbitration Panel; Bombay Bar Association, Mumbai; The London School of Economics Lawyers Alumni Association; Pledge India Steering Committee.

2003: London School of Economics and Political Science, BSc (Hons); 2006: Government Law College, Mumbai, LLB (first)