02Disputes
Commercial Litigation
Strategic representation in high-value commercial and business disputes.
Commercial disputes call for both legal precision and commercial judgment. We advise and represent businesses, promoters and institutions in disputes arising from contracts, partnerships and commercial arrangements, with an emphasis on protecting the client’s underlying commercial position.
Services and matters handled
- Contractual and shareholder disputes
- Partnership and joint-venture disputes
- Recovery of commercial dues
- Commercial court proceedings
- Injunctions in business disputes
How a matter of this kind proceeds
Commercial and legal review
1–3 weeksWe read the contract alongside the commercial history, identify the strongest cause of action, and advise on what a dispute is likely to cost and achieve relative to a negotiated outcome.
Pre-institution mediation
Statutory period, ordinarily 3–4 monthsCommercial suits that do not seek urgent interim relief require pre-institution mediation before filing. We prepare and represent you through it.
Filing and case management
Case management hearing within statutory timelinesThe suit is filed in the Commercial Court, which operates a case management regime with fixed timelines for pleadings, disclosure and evidence.
Trial and enforcement
Governed by court listingEvidence and final arguments follow, then decree and execution or appeal.
Timelines are indicative only. Listing and hearing dates are set by the court or tribunal concerned and are outside the firm’s control.
Who you would work with
Common questions
What makes a dispute a “commercial dispute”?
The Commercial Courts Act defines the categories — disputes over ordinary transactions of merchants, construction and infrastructure contracts, joint ventures, shareholder agreements and others — and sets a minimum value for the claim. Whether your matter qualifies affects the forum, the procedure and the timelines that apply.
Is pre-institution mediation compulsory?
It is required for commercial suits that do not contemplate urgent interim relief. Where genuinely urgent relief is sought, the suit can be instituted without it. This is a point worth deciding carefully at the outset, as it affects when you can be before a judge.
Should we litigate or settle?
That is a commercial question as much as a legal one, and we answer it as such — weighing the merits, the recoverable amount, the likely duration, the cost, and the effect of a public dispute on the underlying relationship. We will tell you when settlement is the better outcome.
Related practice areas
All practice areasCriminal Litigation
Defence and complainant-side representation across criminal proceedings.
Including: Bail and anticipatory bail applications; Trial representation
04Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
Representation in arbitral proceedings and in the court applications that support, challenge and enforce an award.
Including: Domestic and institutional arbitral proceedings
05International Arbitration & Foreign Awards
Indian counsel for cross-border arbitration, and for the enforcement of foreign awards before the Indian courts.
Including: Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards under Part II of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act
A commercial litigation matter of your own?
Write to us with a short description of it, and we will tell you what it turns on and what the options are. Nothing sent through this site is a retainer.
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM