Professional notice
A new Mumbai boutique set up by a former partner at Economic Laws Practice
NEW ENTRY Lex Arbitri was created by Madhur Baya in 2013 to focus solely on international arbitration and complex commercial litigation, drawing on his experience of LCIA, ICC, GAFTA, LMAA, SIAC, KCAB and LCIA India disputes, as well as in litigation in the United States, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
Originally an accountant, Baya transferred to law and is qualified in England and Wales as well as India. He started his career managing tax compliance and litigation for Bharat Heavy Electricals, but joined Economic Laws Practice in Mumbai in 2003. He was there a decade, graduating from tax law to international arbitration (he co-founded the specialist group in 2005 and made partner the year after).
While at ELP, Baya worked alongside Allen & Overy in advising British Gas and Reliance Industries in a claim against India over exploration rights in the Bay of Bengal. Baya brought the case over to his new firm, and assisted a team from PH Parekh & Co in Delhi and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in subsequent Supreme Court proceedings.
The boutique continues to work as co-counsel with Magic Circle and large US firms on major disputes, especially relating to natural resources, engineering, insurance and shipping, which currently include a US$75 million dispute in the engineering projects industry. Alongside resources and engineering, the firm is popular among India’s large insurance and shipping houses. It estimates its current caseload to be worth more than US$5 billion.
In late 2014, Baya was appointed as a member of the YSIAC (formerly Young SIAC) leadership committee, which focuses on initiatives to help practitioners under 40 gain experience and exchange ideas.
LexArbitri was founded in September 2013, as a boutique commercial dispute resolution firm. It is one of the handful firms globally that practices only arbitration and complex commercial litigation. The team, though small by global standards, is at par on delivery and workflow management. The firm has adopted global best practices into its operations and is a thought-leader on arbitration in India.
LexArbitri is recognized for its expertise in upstream oil & gas, metals and commodities, shipping, insurance, engineering & construction disputes. A major part of its case load comprises of disputes seated outside India, and includes commercial cases in Courts in various jurisdictions. The sums in dispute in LexArbitri’s current caseload exceed US$ 5 billion.
LexArbitri frequently works as Indian-law Co-Counsel with, or is instructed by, various Magic Circle firms as well as some of the largest US law firms.
KEY INSTRUCTIONS: LexArbitri is acting as Indian Co-Counsel to a Magic Circle firm in a US$ 4.2 billion upstream oil & gas E&P dispute against the Government of India. LexArbitri is also instructed to act as Indian Co-Counsel in a multi-jurisdictional US$ 75 million dispute in the engineering projects industry. LexArbitri is instructed by one of Asia’s largest funds in an engineering projects dispute in the environment technology industry. LexArbitri is regularly instructed by India’s leading insurance brokerages and shipping consultants for disputes in several jurisdictions.