Domestic Arbitration and Mediation

Who we represent

Aarna has represented a wide range of clients on arbitrations and mediation including private and public companies, small businesses, large public sector undertakings and individuals across several sectors of trade and economy.

What we do

We provide high-quality legal and commercial advice tailored to each of our clients’ needs, while maintaining the strictest standards of probity and confidentiality. We represent clients in domestic arbitrations, which are both ad hoc and institutionally administered.

In addition to drafting pleadings and appearing before the tribunal, we also liase with experts (both legal and damages) where their services are required. Our team routinely appears before the Courts in India in proceedings for the appointment of arbitrators, concerning interim relief and enforcement or setting aside of arbitral awards.

We also assist clients on mediation or settlement negotiations by advising on the selection of neutral (where required), preparing mediation briefs and strategy notes.

Our experience

Arbitration:

1. Advising the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons of the Government of India on strategy in an energy arbitration.
2. Representing government-owned companies and PSUs in large scale construction arbitrations.
3. Representing private companies and joint ventures on arbitrations dealing with construction disputes including for the appointment of arbitrators before the Supreme Court.
4. Advising international parties in multiple connected India-seated arbitrations arising out of road construction projects across India
5. Acting for a well-known Indian construction company based in Delhi, known to have constructed several of the most prestigious buildings in the country, in a construction arbitration pertaining to disputes regarding a sought-after residential apartment complex in Bangalore.
6. Advising on enforcement of foreign arbitral awards including several awards and decrees in the aviation and technology sectors

Mediation:

1. Successfully representing the subsidiary of a Japanese architectural and civil engineering company in a construction dispute arising out of a supply and installation contract in an institutional mediation before the Centre for Advanced Mediation Practices, seated in Bengaluru.
2. Advising an Indian party in a pre-litigation mediation concerning a domestic real-estate dispute against an Indian start-up.
3. Acting for the Indian subsidiary of a leading American provider of co-working spaces in its dispute with an Indian software company arising from non-payment of membership dues under the contract. The parties were able to successfully mediate and resolve the dispute amicably.
4. Representing an Indian artist on the negotiation of a settlement involving monetary compensation and a public apology against a director of a reputed Art Society in India in the context of a copyright infringement.

Our Strengths

As recognised by Chambers, we are one of the leading firms in mediation and arbitration — our preferred methods of dispute resolution. With our long-standing expertise, we handle arbitrations of all sizes and across sectors such as finance, construction, infrastructure, technology, and telecommunications. Our experience in international dispute resolution has enabled us to bring best practices to ADR in India.