ICC has appointed Shashank Garg, an independent counsel and arbitrator, as new Chair of the ICC India Arbitration Group (IAG). Under a strategic transformation, the group will be reconstituted with a focus on strengthening the arbitration community in India, further advancing India’s interest in promoting Indian cities as seats of arbitration and promoting ICC Dispute Resolution Services in India.
On 1 January, Mr Garg took the reins from Ciccu Mukhopadhaya, who will continue to lead the selection committee for the proposal of arbitrators at ICC India, ensuring continuity and expertise in this critical area in accordance with the ICC Note to ICC National Committees and Groups on the Proposal of Arbitrators, 2022. Indian parties continue to rank amongst the top 10 in ICC arbitrations with the numbers expected to remain steady in 2023 as well.
The announcement was made during the 9th annual ICC India Arbitration Group Meeting held on 1 December 2023 in the presence of ICC Court President Claudia Salomon, ICC Court Secretary General Alexander Fessas and ICC Regional Director for South Asia Tejus Chauhan.
Ms Salomon said:
“We are indebted to Ciccu and his colleagues on the IAG for their contributions to make the IAG an important platform to actively promote ICC Dispute Resolution Services. I am confident that Shashank will continue the excellent leadership to guide the IAG and build on the trust that Indian companies and public sector undertakings have in ICC Arbitration”.
Based in Delhi, Mr Garg, brings a wealth of experience to the role. With a career spanning over 15 years, he has represented clients in numerous domestic and international arbitrations across diverse sectors and was formerly a partner at a leading law firm in India. A former ICC Young Arbitration and ADR representative, Mr Garg is also a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR.
Speaking on his appointment, Mr Garg said:
“It is a great privilege to be a part of the 100 year old ICC story. My role as chair of the IAG will be challenging yet gratifying as we will embark on a journey of bringing the best minds in the arbitration space together and assist further in taking India to its goal of becoming a modern seat of arbitration”.
Tejus Chauhan, ICC Regional Director for South Asia, said:
“I look forward to working with Shashank in this new role. I am confident about our vision to promote India as a seat and Indian nationals as arbitrators. A foremost objective will be to have greater representation and involvement from practitioners and work with the in-house community and state-owned entities in India. I urge practitioners who are keen to be involved to reach out as we chart the course of our next 100 years”.
