Introduction   Arbitration has long been the preferred dispute resolution mechanism for Indian businesses, promising speed, confidentiality, and commercial pragmatism. Yet, the Supreme Court’s 2026 decision in Bhadra International v. Airports Authority of India marks a decisive shift: how an arbitrator is appointed is no longer a procedural footnote it is a governance issue with existential consequences for arbitral awards.   In an era where CXOs are increasingly accountable

Introduction   Would you stake decades of resources and your company's reputation on an assumption about technology buried deep within your value chain? A legal battle spanning two decades recently concluded, centring on the complex question of whether the mere replication of a disc constitutes the use of a patented "system." The suit was initiated in 2004 by Koninklijke Philips N.V., which asserted that its 1990 patent for a "Digital Transmission System" was fundamental to t

Introduction The Supreme Court in the case SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corporation vs GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited, addressed the scope and limits of judicial interference under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The Court reaffirmed the foundational principle of commercial arbitration that arbitral awards must strictly remain within the parameters of the agreement between parties. The judgment is a significant contribution to the evolving jurisprudence under t

The enforceability of term sheets in Indian commercial transactions has emerged as a nuanced legal question with far-reaching industry ramifications. The recent judicial pronouncement in Oravel Stays Private Limited (OYO) v. Zostel Hospitality Private Limited by the Delhi High Court has provided renewed clarity concerning the boundaries of contractual intent at the pre-agreement stage. So, when does a “non-binding” term sheet metamorphose into a binding contract? More importa

It started with a WhatsApp ping. A few emails later, a ship was en route carrying coal worth millions. But when the buyer backed out and...

In today’s fast-moving digital economy, retaining top talent and safeguarding proprietary value is both a strategic priority and a legal...

Sometimes, as legal practitioners, our work extends far beyond the technicalities of claims, compensation and allegations. It compels us...