Practice Area/ Industry Focus:
International and Domestic Commercial Arbitration & Mediation, Aviation and Maritime Laws, Trademark Laws/ Intellectual Property Laws, Foreign Direct Investment/ Commercial or Corporate Laws, Oil and Gas, Infrastructure and Construction
Highlights of Professional Journey
Mr. Krrishan Singhania is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Firm and is a seasoned professional having a comprehensive experience of more than 30 years. He specialises in the field of International and Domestic Commercial Arbitration & Mediation, Aviation and Maritime Laws Intellectual Property Laws, and Commercial and Corporate Laws. He is considered a veteran in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution and has consistently been ranked amongst the top 100 lawyers and legal icons of the country in the annual A-List feature of India Business Law Journal in the years 2019 and 2020. Owing to his experience of working as a foreign lawyer in New York and London, he brings international best practices to the Firm.
Under his leadership, the Firm has been awarded by India Business Law Journal as the Indian Law Firm of 2020 & 2019 in the area of Maritime and Shipping. The Firm has also been ranked as Tier 4 Law Firm in the field of Commercial and Transactions, Tier 5 Law Firm in the field of Construction and a Notable Firm in the field of International Arbitration, by Benchmark Litigation in the year 2020. Resolution Team of the Year.
Mr. Krrishan Singhania started his legal career under the guidance and mentorship of his father, Mr. D. C. Singhania, who was a legal pioneer and one of the firsts to have established an international law firm in India in the year 1969 with offices both in U.K. and U.S.A. In order to further his father’s legacy Mr. Krrishan Singhania founded his own boutique law firm in Mumbai in the year 1993.
Mr. Krrishan Singhania has robust experience in advising and representing both domestic and foreign clients before various courts and tribunals including Supreme Court of India Bombay High Court, and National Company Law Tribunal. He is known for having a specialisation in disputes relating to the fields of Maritime, Construction, Oil and Gas, and Aviation. Under his leadership, the Firm and its lawyers have been instrumental in establishing some important legal principles. One of his landmark cases includes defending a foreign airline against Airport Authority of India before the Bombay High Court. The Airport Authority had filed a case against his client for unpaid landing and parking charges that were agreed upon in a lease contract. He, along with the Firm, was successful in defending his client and getting back the leased aircrafts of his client.
With his vast experience and expertise, Mr. Krrishan Singhania has proven his strengths in offering world-class services in the field of arbitration. He has been successful in representing his Clients in international and domestic arbitrations under ICC Rules, CENTA Rules, and the London Metal Exchange Arbitration Rules; and in enforcement of arbitration awards in favour of his client. In the field of Insolvency and Bankruptcy laws, Mr. Krrishan Singhania has been successful in filing claims of both domestic and foreign creditors and has assisted them in seeking an amicable settlement with the opposite party. As an able guide he handles new challenges with ease and utilizes his competencies to achieve client objectives.
When India opened up the aviation sector for private participation, Mr. Singhania worked for foreign aircraft leasing companies to lease their aircrafts to newly setup private airlines in India. He has been actively involved in assisting international companies to set up business in India. He has assisted them right from securing permission from the Reserve Bank of India/ Foreign Investment Facilitation Portal to effectively drafted critical documents such as Joint Venture Agreements and Shareholders Agreements. He also advised and assisted foreign companies in registering and enforcing their intellectual property rights such as Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights.
Apart from being a lawyer, he regularly contributes to legal policy by making representations on behalf of Chambers of Commerce, and recently submited a white paper suggesting amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. He was also an active participant in shaping the arbitration law in India and assisted his father, who was an active member of the drafting committee of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996 (‘Arbitration Act’). He was also involved in the landmark case of NTPC v. Singer, AIR 1993 SC 998, where the Supreme Court of India for the first time opined on the governing law of the arbitration agreement, when the arbitration agreement was silent.
As an expert in this field he regularly presents lectures on Indian law and regulation in international conferences and forums. His ideas and views can be found in popular legal newsletters and international journals.
Education
- B.Com. (Hon.), LL.B. from Delhi University (graduated in 1988)
- Course in Maritime Law from Lloyds of London
- Courses on Intellectual Property Law and Patents on Bio-technology Law from University of Cambridge U.K
- Mediator course from IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Arbitration & Conciliation courses from time to time from IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Current Professional Positions:
- Currently a member of the International Business Committee of the IMC Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Life Associate member of Indian Council of Arbitration
- Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPAB) Certificate of Appreciation and Dedication for India Jurisdiction Council Member 2005-2007
- Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International Foundation.
