Poovayya & Co. has established itself as a disputes‑focused firm with a strong national footprint and increasing cross‑border visibility, advising on complex commercial, technology‑driven and insolvency‑linked disputes across Indian courts and international arbitral forums. The firm’s dispute resolution practice is anchored in Bengaluru and New Delhi and brings together a combination of constitutional litigation, commercial arbitration, white‑collar defence and restructuring‑related contentious work, frequently involving novel questions of law and regulatory interpretation
The team is engaged across the full lifecycle of disputes, including high‑stakes civil and commercial litigation before High Courts and the Supreme Court of India, domestic and international arbitration, and proceedings before specialist and regulatory forums. A notable strength lies in matters at the intersection of technology, free speech, intermediary liability and public law, an area in which the firm has been repeatedly instructed by global technology platforms in precedent‑setting litigation. These instructions span constitutional challenges, writ proceedings and public interest litigation, often involving questions of statutory interpretation under the Information Technology Act and the permissible scope of government takedown and blocking powers.
In the arbitration space, Poovayya & Co. is active in both domestic and international commercial disputes, with mandates spanning infrastructure, construction, real estate, technology, biotechnology and energy. The firm has acted in several large‑value arbitrations arising out of long‑term commercial arrangements, joint ventures and franchise agreements. Recent matters include representing a multinational technology company in a high‑value arbitration concerning termination and restitution arising from a delayed commercial real estate development, as well as advising manufacturing and EPC entities in disputes connected with infrastructure and solar power projects involving claims and counterclaims running into tens of millions of dollars. These proceedings frequently involve complex factual matrices, questions of waiver and implied contractual terms, and parallel regulatory or insolvency considerations.
The firm’s cross‑border credentials are further underscored by its involvement in multi‑jurisdictional disputes and insolvency‑linked litigation. A recent highlight saw the firm act on claims arising out of the collapse of a major Middle Eastern healthcare group, involving proceedings before the Abu Dhabi Global Market courts and the High Court of England & Wales alongside parallel litigation in India and other jurisdictions. The team also featured in international arbitrations seated outside India, including SIAC proceedings tied to joint venture breakdowns in the biotechnology sector, reflecting its ability to coordinate seamlessly with foreign counsel and manage disputes involving multiple governing laws and forums.
White‑collar and regulatory disputes form another important pillar of the practice. The firm routinely advises corporates and individuals in proceedings involving serious fraud allegations, regulatory investigations and politically sensitive matters, including challenges to investigative actions under company and criminal law statutes. These mandates often require a coordinated approach across criminal courts, High Courts and regulatory bodies, and are handled alongside related commercial and insolvency disputes where applicable.
The disputes practice is led by a group of partners with complementary expertise. Manu Kulkarni plays a central role in constitutional, public law and technology‑related litigation, including challenges to government action affecting digital intermediaries and online platforms. Ankit Parhar, who leads the New Delhi disputes team, is particularly active in commercial litigation, arbitration and high‑profile technology and media disputes, including defamation and personality rights litigation, where the firm has successfully advanced arguments around jurisdiction, satire and intermediary liability. Dharmendra Chatur brings a strong focus on arbitration, insolvency‑related disputes and cross‑border litigation, and has been involved in complex international matters spanning multiple legal systems. They are supported by a growing bench of partners and senior lawyers across offices, allowing the firm to deploy lean but highly specialised teams on demanding matters.
Client feedback
“The firm offers good, sound and practical advice ensuring fast resolution.”
Ankit Agarwal
“He is prompt in responding with legal advice, his advice is legally sound, as well as practical with regards to business opportunities.”
