Sonali Ahuja, Author at SCC Times

Overlap Between Arbitration and Corruption

Events & Collaborations International London International Disputes Week

Raising red flags, navigating parallel proceedings, underlying illegalities: 39 Essex Chambers & Fieldfisher discuss overlap between arbitration & corruption

The esteemed panel from 39 Essex Chambers and Field Fisher discussed intertwining criminal and commercial disputes, engagement of arbitral tribunals with corruption concerns, measures taken by solicitors, and much more at LIDW 2026.

Case Briefs High Courts

“Communal Harmony Forms the Bedrock of a Democratic Nation”: Allahabad HC Rejects Bail to Main Conspirator in Bareilly Violence Case

The High Court observed that permitting individuals like the accused to incite divisions on religious grounds for political gain threatens to unravel the social fabric of the country and poses a serious risk to national integrity.

Events & Collaborations ICA Conference

ICA 2026 | Reforming the Domestic and Attracting the Foreign: Experts Discuss Investor Confidence, Enforcement Challenges, and AI Regulation at the 4th ICA Conference

The fireside chat at the 4th ICA Conference on “Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes” examined the challenges of enforcement, arbitration efficiency, judicial intervention, institutional reforms, AI regulation, third-party funding, and investor confidence.

Events & Collaborations ICA Conference

ICA 2026 | ‘The Best Dispute is the One That Never Arises’: Legal Professionals Discuss Pendency, Commercial Pragmatism, Mediation, & Forensic Investigations at 4th ICA Conference

At a panel discussion at the 4th ICA Conference on “Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes”, the speakers agreed that while disputes may be inevitable in business, successful commercial ecosystems were defined not by the absence of disputes, but rather by avoiding them and if they arise, resolving them efficiently, fairly, and with minimal disruption to long-term relationships and commerce.

Events & Collaborations GCAI Conference International

Legal Leaders Chart the Roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047 Through Governance, Innovation, and ADR Reform at GCAI Conference on Indo-UK Partnership

At the 2026 GCAI Conference on India-UK Partnership, the esteemed panellists discussed achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal by making changes in legal institutions, providing access to justice with technology, using mediation in investor-state disputes, navigating AI in Law, and much more.

Cases Reported SCC Weekly

2026 SCC Vol. 4 Part 4: Key Supreme Court Cases on Arbitration, Constitution, Electricity, Legal Metrology & Port Trusts

Explore the latest Supreme Court Cases in 2026 SCC Vol. 4 Part 4 on reference to arbitration, appointment of district judges, electricity distribution, tariff revision, and more.

Indo-UK arbitration ADR architecture CJI Surya Kant

Events & Collaborations ICA Conference

From Comparison to Co-Creation: CJI Surya Kant Proposes Joint Indo-UK Arbitrator Training, Fast-Track Procedures and Arb-Med Framework at 4th ICA Conference

The Chief Justice of India delivered a thought-provoking keynote address at the 4th International Conference of the ICA on Arbitrating Indo-UK Disputes, urging the global arbitration community to return to the foundational purpose of arbitration and ensure that dispute resolution remains accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of modern commerce.

AI arbitrators replace human arbitrators

Events & Collaborations London International Disputes Week

LIDW 2026| ‘The Arbitrator Is Dead, Long Live the AiBitrator’: RPC and Stephenson Harwood Debate Whether AI Should Replace Human Arbitrators

At a formal LIDW 2026 debate hosted by RPC and Stephenson Harwood, counsel argued both sides of a motion to replace human arbitrators with AI while the Tribunal called the whole question a false binary. The debate on AI arbitrators was more candid surprising than most.

Events & Collaborations London International Disputes Week

‘The Last 25 Years Will Be Nothing Compared to the Next 25’: Experts Debate Tradition and Transformation in Dispute Resolution at LIDW 2026

Sir Geoffrey Vos, Former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, VK Rajah SC and Dr. Emilia Onyema examined whether digital justice systems, AI and accountability can deliver meaningful access to justice or whether the technology divide will deepen the inequalities they are meant to solve.

Events & Collaborations London International Disputes Week

‘A Journey Rather Than a Plan’: At LIDW 2026, Clare Wardle Reflects on What It Really Takes to Be a General Counsel in a World of Geopolitical Risk and AI Disruption

In a wide-ranging interview at LIDW 2026, the former Coca-Cola Europacific Partners General Counsel reflects on cross-border disputes, AI’s impact on legal practice, access to justice, and why she would choose the same career again. In an interesting segment of LIDW 2026, Mr. Hilton Mervis, Litigation Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte, held an engaging conversation with Ms. Clare Wardle, Former General Counsel and Company Secretary, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, on her insights as a general counsel.

Events & Collaborations London International Disputes Week

Deepfakes, Disclosure and the Privilege Gap: Experts Discuss AI, Authenticity, and the Future of Evidence at LIDW 2026

A LIDW 2026 panel of arbitrators, judges and in-house counsel delved into the impact of AI on the legal industry, including manufactured evidence, the need for new rules on privilege and disclosure, and the reduced cost of generating legal documents for claims.

Events & Collaborations London International Disputes Week

Climate Obligations, Supply Chain Uncertainty, & Shifting Regulatory Frameworks: Experts Discuss Energy Arbitrations in a Changing World at LIDW 2026

At LIDW 2026, as part of International Arbitration Day discussions, an expert panel gathered to discuss energy disruptions, rising climate obligations, emerging arbitrations, shifting state priorities, and much more.

Case Briefs High Courts

“Father can’t discriminate between educational expenses of son and daughter”: MP HC enhances maintenance granted to government servant’s wife and daughter

The Court stated that if the husband was bearing substantial expenses for the technical education of the major son, the same could not be a ground to restrict reasonable maintenance and educational support to the minor daughter.

Events & Collaborations London International Disputes Week

Professional Ethics in the Era of Self-Promotion on Social Media: Toby Landau KC Delivers Keynote Address on International Arbitration Day at LIDW 2026

At LIDW 2026, Mr. Toby Landau KC delivered an insightful address, shedding light on the modern-day reputational mechanism in which self-promotion on social media has become increasingly normalised and rewarded, raising serious concerns regarding the profession itself.

ICA Conference Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes 2026

Events & Collaborations

ADR as a Catalyst for the India—UK Economic Partnership: ICA Brings Its 4th Indo-UK Arbitration Conference to London

The Indian Council of Arbitration is holding its 4th International Conference on Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes on 5 June 2026 at Church House, Westminster, London. The Conference will be inaugurated by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with keynote addresses by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos.

Cases Reported SCC Weekly

2026 SCC Vol. 4 Part 3: Key Supreme Court Cases on Arbitration, CGST, Family Law, & Income Tax

Explore the latest Supreme Court Cases in 2026 SCC Vol. 4 Part 3 on arbitral awards, GST proceedings, coparcener, non-compete fee, and more.

Advocate prosecuted for professional act

Case Briefs High Courts

If Filing an Appeal Makes an Advocate a Conspirator, It Would Be the End of the Bar: Allahabad HC Quashes FIR Against Advocate in ₹ 10 Cr GST Evasion Case

The Allahabad High Court quashed the FIR holding that an advocate who files a statutory GST appeal for a client — even if the legal position taken on pre-deposit is wrong cannot be held a co-conspirator in the client’s alleged tax evasion.

Case Briefs High Courts

Explained | Why Allahabad High Court granted relief to Azim Premji in Wipro Labour Law Case

The Court reiterated that criminal liability cannot be fastened mechanically merely based on designation unless the statute specifically provides for vicarious liability or there exist specific allegations demonstrating an active role and responsibility of the accused in the commission of the alleged offence.

Case Briefs High Courts

Twisha Sharma Case: Six Ante-Mortem Injuries, Forced Abortion Allegations, Non-Cooperation — Why MP HC Quashed Mother-in-Law’s Anticipatory Bail

The Court noted that as per the post-mortem report, the death was due to ante-mortem hanging by ligature, but 6 other ante-mortem injuries were found on the body of the deceased, which were not caused by taking the body out of the ligature or carrying it out to the hospital.

Case Briefs High Courts

Child Marriages Rising in U.P.: Allahabad HC Flags Systemic Gap, Directs DGP to Issue Guidelines

The Court remarked that child marriage is a social evil that is required to be eradicated from this country. Eradication of child marriage is not merely a statutory goal; it is a constitutional imperative.