Dipen Sabharwal KC
Biography
Overview
Dipen Sabharwal is a partner in White & Case's top-ranked international arbitration practice and a member of the Firm's global Executive Committee.
Dipen advises clients on cross-border disputes and acts as an advocate in international arbitrations.
He was appointed King's Counsel in 2019, becoming one of the youngest solicitor-advocates to take silk. Financial News has named Dipen as one of "Fifty Most Influential Lawyers in Europe". In 2023, Global Arbitration Review included Dipen in the list of the 45 leading lawyers globally under the age of 45.
Based in London, Dipen is qualified to practice across three continents in England, New York and India. He has acted as an advocate in arbitrations seated in multiple jurisdictions including London, Paris, Geneva, New York, Singapore, Stockholm, Zurich, Riyadh and Tokyo.
Dipen is recognized as a leading practitioner by Chambers, Legal 500 and Who's Who Legal. He is identified as "a superb arbitration advocate" with "the knack to break complex legal problems into simple understandable propositions". Directories describe him as "top class", "extremely good" and "an excellent lawyer with a solution-oriented approach for which clients love him". Praising Dipen as "a strategic thinker with high intellectual ability" who is "incredibly bright", clients say "he sees things that other people don't see".
Dipen accepts arbitrator appointments and has acted as an arbitrator (sole and co-arbitrator) in ICC, LCIA and SIAC arbitrations.
Dipen heads White & Case's India country group and regularly advises international investors and Indian companies on India-related disputes. He has served in a number of leadership positions at White & Case including heading the Firm's London office and its EMEA Disputes practice.
Dipen serves on the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA) Board of Reporters as the India Rapporteur. He lectures at King's College London and teaches advocacy skills in courses conducted by the Foundation for International Arbitration Advocacy.
Dipen participates in the Firm's pro bono work and has successfully represented clients in political asylum applications. He is also active in White & Case's sponsorship of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Prior to moving to London, Dipen practiced in the Firm's New York office.
Experience
LCIA arbitrations relating to an Indian real estate project
Representing a global real estate investor in three arbitrations against an Indian real estate developer, in a dispute concerning a significant real estate project in Mumbai, India.
LCIA and ICC arbitrations relating to a Brazilian hydroelectric project
Representing Brazilian contractors and the project developer in multiple arbitrations against insurers, in a dispute concerning one of the largest hydroelectric power projects in the world.
ICC arbitration relating to an Indonesian oil block
Representing four Asian national oil companies against a European private oil company in a joint venture dispute concerning the operation of an Indonesian oil block.
Investment treaty claim relating to Indian telecom licenses
Advising a Russian investor against the Government of India on investment treaty claims arising from the cancellation of telecom licenses.
ICC arbitration relating to a Turkish rail project
Representing the lead member of a contractor consortium against a Turkish government entity, in a dispute concerning a significant Turkish rail project.
SIAC arbitrations relating to the acquisition of an Indian technology company
Representing a Scandinavian acquirer against an Indian seller in a dispute concerning the acquisition of an Indian technology company.
Ad hoc arbitration under Sharia law, relating to a Saudi gas project
Advising a major oil and gas company against an American contractor, in a dispute concerning a gas plant debottlenecking project .
ICC arbitration relating to the acquisition of a Lithuanian oil refinery
Representing a national oil company against a Russian oil group, in a dispute concerning the acquisition of a significant refinery in Lithuania.
UNCITRAL arbitration relating to Indian oil and gas fields
Representing an American investor against an Indian oil company in a dispute relating to oil and gas fields located off the coast of India.
LCIA arbitrations relating to Indian television channels
Representing an Indian television network against a European media conglomerate in a joint venture dispute concerning the management of Indian television channels.
Nuclear power
Advising on matters relating to the design and construction of nuclear power stations.
"The Art of Advocacy in International Arbitration", 2014: LCIA International Symposium on Arbitration, India
"Current and Preferred Practices in the Arbitral Process", 2013: International Arbitration Seminar on the Queen Mary Arbitration Survey, London
"The potential for small modular nuclear reactors", Energy Institute, May 2022 (with Daniel Garton, Richard Hill, Andrew McDougall KC, Kirsten Odynski and Vit Stehlik)
"Mandatory time limit for rendering awards under Indian law: how good intentions can lead to bad outcomes", the Indian Journal of Arbitration Law (IJAL), vol. 5, issue 2, pp.188-195, January 2017, (co-author with Andrew McDougall and Manu Thadikkaran)
Vive la difference? Convergence and Conformity in the Rules Reforms of Arbitral Institutions: The Case of the LCIA Rules 2014, Journal of International Arbitration, 2014
A Comment on U&M Mining Zambia v. Konkola Copper Mines Plc, XVI(3), International Arbitration Law Review, 2013
From Bhatia to Balco: Where do we go from here?, VII(6), Global Arbitration Review, 2012
LCIA India: A New Dawn For Indian Arbitration?, International Disputes Quarterly, 2010
Dispute Resolution Choices in the Post-Crunch World, LegalWeek, 2010
Arbitration Clauses for Contracts with Indian Parties, Global Arbitration Review, 2008
Another Setback for Arbitration (and Investors), Business Standard, 2008
Competence-Competence – An Indian Trilogy, Mealey's International Arbitration Report, 2007
Indian Arbitration at a Crossroads, Global Arbitration Review, 2006
What Next for Indian Arbitration, The Economic Times, 2006
"Thought Leader: Arbitration" 2021 Who's Who Legal
Leading Individual: International Arbitration, Legal 500 UK 2021
