Kachwaha & Partners

The firm: Founded in 2002, Kachwaha & Partners is a multi-discipline, full service law firm with its main office in Delhi and the capability of handling work pan India. The firm’s New Delhi office is conveniently located next to the diplomatic mission area and is easily accessible from all parts of Delhi, as well as its suburbs.

The partners and members of the firm are senior professionals with years of experience behind them. They bring the highest level of professional service to clients along with the traditions of the profession, integrity and sound ethical practices.

Members of the firm are in tune with the work culture of international law firms and cross border work as well as the expectations of large corporate clients. The firm, has amongst its clients, multinationals and leading Indian corporations.

Over the years the firm has dealt with clients from most major jurisdictions and worked with leading international law firms including Morrison & Foerster, USA; Slaughter and May, UK; Kim & Chang, Korea; Shook Lin & Bok, Malaysia; Herbert Smith, UK; Kelley Drye, USA; Hogan Lovells, UK.

Sumeet Kachwaha represented the defendant in the Union Carbide (Bhopal Gas Leak) Case in the then largest damages cases in the world and the worst industrial disaster of all time (working under team leader, Mr Fali Nariman).

Sumeet Kachwaha has stood as an expert in the courts of England and Singapore. He has also served as amicus curiae in two matters before the Delhi High Court including in the US$2bn India – Vodafone BIT dispute (it being the first case before Indian courts on Bilateral Investment Treaties).

Mr Rautray argued before the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court in Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd. v Kaiser Aluminium Technical Services Inc. [arbitration law]. He was the only law firm partner to make oral submissions before the Constitution Bench.

Key awards / recognition

• Kachwaha and Partners figures in Global Arbitration Review (GAR) 100 list of leading commercial arbitration Firms worldwide and in Band 1 (Dispute Resolution Section of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific .
• Firm was declared a ‘Winner’ in the Indian Law Firm Awards by Indian Business Law Journal (Hong Kong) in the category of ADR and Arbitration (2021). The Firm has been consistently winning this award since its launch.
• Kachwaha figures in Band 1 Chambers and Asia- Pacific in the Arbitration Section since 2009. He also figures in Who’s Who International in five sections, viz, Commercial Arbitration, Construction, Government Contracts, Procurement and Asset Recovery. He also ranks in IBLJ’s “A List” of “India Top 35 Lawyers” and figures as a “Leading Individual” in the Dispute Resolution Section of the The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
• Rautray figures as a “Leading Individual” in the Dispute Resolution Section of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
• Kachwaha and Partners continues to involve itself with the growth of arbitration jurisprudence. Initiatives include:
• The firm continues to be the regional organizer and sponsor of the FDI International Arbitration Moot South Asia Rounds in association with the Centre for International Legal Studies (Salzburg)
• Since 2012, the firm has been organizing an all India essay writing competition on arbitrations for Indian law students.

Testimonials

• ‘One of the most capable litigation law firms in India’, Kachwaha & Partners’ dispute resolution practice is a clear leader’ The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2013)
• Declared a ‘Winner’ in the Indian Law Firm Awards by Indian Business Law Journal (Hong Kong) in the category of Dispute Resolution (2020)
• “Sumeet Kachwaha is a pre-eminent arbitrator who is called an ‘established litigator and strong advocate’ by interviewees. His counsel is regularly sought by major multinational corporates on contentious mandates, ranging from construction disputes to insolvency litigation.” (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019)
• ‘Sumeet Kachwaha, head of the litigation and dispute resolution department, is a notable name in arbitration and litigation, and overseas lawyers recommend him “for any India-specific matter, particularly in cases where it’s almost an unsolvable issue”…’ Benchmark Asia – Pacific (2013)
• “Senior partner Sumeet Kachwaha is a standout name in both litigation and arbitration, and one interviewee reveals that ‘he is my first port of call for Indian legal issues’…” (Chambers Asia 2012) – dispute resolution section)
•  ‘Kachwaha & Partners provides ’outstanding service and great value for money’. Sumeet Kachwaha and Dharmendra Rautray have ‘vast experience and commercial acumen’ and ’highly qualified litigator’…’ The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2016)
•  ‘Sumeet Kachwaha stands out for his expertise in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes…” The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2020).
• “Of all the firms I’ve used, their advice is the easiest to understand. Outstanding expertise – they know what they are talking about’…” (Chambers Asia 2011)
• “International counsel are impressed with the lawyers who ‘know their way around a courtroom, and give good input on strategy.’ The ’proactive and imaginative’ Sumeet Kachwaha is highly rated for both litigation and arbitration.’ He is unflappable, no matter how stressful it gets,’ says interviewees, adding that ‘he is totally straightforward’…” (Chambers Asia 2009)
• “Sumeet Kachwaha is recommended for his ‘command of the law and utmost integrity.’ Sources add, ’he is entirely incorruptible – one can trust him with anything.’….” (Chambers Global 2008 – Dispute Resolution Section)
• Partner, Dharmendra Rautray – “He has a vast knowledge of Indian law, studies the documentation in detail and is well placed to give sound advice. His strategy in approaching a dispute is one of his strengths.” – (Chambers Asia 2018)
• ‘In relation to Kachwaha & Partners disputes team, one client reports ’I was very impressed with the standard of their work’ and their ‘very clear and succinct opinion’ that were ’well supported by authorities and reports.’ The turnaround time was ‘extremely good considering the response required from then was often on an urgent basis…’ The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2008)

Practice areas

• Anti-corruption
• Anti-dumping
• Arbitration
• Banking
• Competition
• Construction
• Contracts
• Corporate
• Employment
• Entertainment
• Franchising
• Environment
• Intellectual property
• Infrastructure
• Joint ventures
• Transfer of technology
• Litigation
• Media
• Mining
• Procurement
• Project financing
• Securitisation
• Shipping
• Structuring
• Tax
• Trusts

Memberships
Sumeet Kachwaha

• Supreme Court Bar Association
• International Bar Association
• Inter Pacific Bar Association
• LCIA
• International Arbitration Club (U.K)
• Swiss Arbitration Association
• International Academy of Construction Lawyers (Founding Fellow)
• Fellow, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators

Dharmendra Rautray

• Lincoln’s Inn
• Supreme Court Bar Association
• LCIA
• International Bar Association
• Swiss Arbitration Association