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From the opacity of Bar Council rules on foreign lawyers to enforcement gaps and AI’s irreducibly human element, six practitioners discussed what it will take for the India-UK dispute resolution corridor to fulfil its potential.
A technical session at the ICA Conference on “Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes” highlighted that while hybrid ADR frameworks are gaining traction, corporate users remain cautious about mediation’s role in high-value disputes, and arbitration, despite concerns of cost and complexity, continues to be the preferred mechanism for certainty and enforceability in Indo-UK commerce.
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.
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.
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.
India’s mediation tradition predates its legislation by millennia. England’s mediation culture was built by judicial pressure and adverse costs. At LIDW 2026, practitioners from both jurisdictions found more agreement than disagreement and a shared frustration with what arbitration has become.
“This is a long drawn legal battle between brother and sisters. Although in the past the parties did try to reach to an amicable settlement, yet we are informed that the settlement failed.”
Arjun Ram Meghwal updates Parliament on the progress of Pre-Institution Mediation in commercial disputes under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015.
The 13th Edition of Avtar Singh’s Law of Arbitration and Conciliation is set to release soon, incorporating recent legislative developments, landmark judicial pronouncements, and evolving arbitral practice in India.
“The disputes between the neighbours relating to the easementary rights are clearly mentioned as being suitable for mediation.”
Mr. Raja Singham’s plenary session was a compelling mix of personal story, educational philosophy, and visionary thinking. His call to mainstream ADR into legal and business education resonated strongly with the audience, challenging them to rethink how we prepare the next generation of professionals, not just as litigators, but as negotiators, collaborators, and changemakers.
An illuminating oxford-style debate was conducted by the IIAC and DIAC at the Delhi High Court on the motion that Institutional Arbitration is the complete solution to restore the faith of PSUs in arbitration as the preferred mode of dispute resolution.
by Dr G.B. Reddy* and Dr S.B. Md. Irfan Ali Abbas**
“The special pan India mediation campaign is being organised with the objectives to settle suitable matters pending in the Courts, from the Taluka Courts to the High Courts, and taking mediation to every nook and corner of the country as people’s friendly mode of dispute resolution.”
The National Lok Adalat was introduced to encourage mutual settlement and offer an efficient, economical, and participatory mode of resolving disputes without prolonged litigation. Since, the awards passed by Lok Adalats are legally binding and enforceable, the process ensures finality and reduces the burden on regular courts.
By the Moot Court Committee, Department of Law, University of Calcutta [May 17 – 18 & June 4; Hybrid; Cash Prizes Upto Rs. 1.13L]: Register by May 9!
Interviewed by Ashutosh Verma
by Raghav Mittal*
IILM University, established in 1993 under the Ram Krishan & Sons Charitable Trust
This report contains the keynote address by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar as Chief Guest at the Colloquium organised by India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.