| Associate Member
Vyapak specialises in international commercial arbitration, investment treaty disputes and complex cross-border litigation.
He represents clients before the Supreme Court of India, High Courts and a wide range of Indian tribunals (including SAT, the NCLT and FEMA forums), and as counsel in arbitrations under the major international rules — LCIA, SIAC, ICC, ICDR-AAA, MCIA and UNCITRAL among others. Vyapak also sits as arbitrator and is a trained mediator.
Vyapak’s sectoral experience is broad. He is regularly instructed in disputes involving technology and IT services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, media and entertainment, franchising, oil and gas, telecommunications, insurance and financial services.
Earlier in his career he led the Capital Markets practice as part of the Corporate Transactions (M&A / Private Equity) practice at Nishith Desai Associates, which informs his work on shareholder, joint-venture and acquisition disputes.
Vyapak is regularly instructed as counsel in international commercial arbitrations under all of the major institutional rules (SIAC, LCIA, ICC, ICDR-AAA, HKIAC, MCIA, UNCITRAL and the Arbitration Institute of the Finland Chambers of Commerce), with seats across Asia and Europe. Many of his arbitrations involve complex multi-contract, multi-jurisdictional structures and substantial sums in dispute.
Acting for one of India’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges in a shareholder dispute administered under SIAC Rules and governed by Singapore law against an international cryptocurrency exchange. The arbitration concerns three separate agreements forming a single composite transaction, each with its own governing law and arbitration clause, and raises novel questions on the joinder of non-signatories under the alter ego doctrine.
Acting for India’s second-largest healthcare provider in a multi-million dollar arbitration and related Indian court proceedings concerning the failed acquisition of a 100% interest in an entity owning and operating over twelve speciality hospitals nationwide. Representation extended to the appellate stages of the Indian court proceedings before the matter was amicably discontinued.
Acting for a Sri Lankan investor in an SIAC arbitration (English law) against Maldivian counterparties in an investment-exit dispute arising out of a resort development project. Secured interim relief; matter concluded by consent award following favourable settlement.
Acting for an Indian cable manufacturer in a multi-million euro LCIA arbitration against its Italian joint-venture partner concerning operations in India. The arbitration involved several days of intense cross-examination in London. The award was subsequently the subject of enforcement and challenge proceedings up to the Supreme Court of India, producing a landmark judgment on the enforcement of foreign awards in India.
Acting for a major Finnish investment fund in an arbitration administered under the rules of the Arbitration Institute of the Finland Chambers of Commerce, and in parallel asset-protection proceedings before the Indian courts (in which a court receiver was appointed over the borrower’s Indian assets, and disclosure and injunctive relief obtained over all disclosed assets).
Acting for a large Japanese chemicals company (award-holder) in enforcement proceedings before the Bombay High Court in respect of an ICC arbitral award seated in Singapore — an important enforcement decision under the New York Convention in India.
Acting for a large Indian mine-owner in a multi-million dollar arbitration against a leading steel company; matter currently at the document-production stage, with significant contested issues as to the stamping of the underlying agreements.
Vyapak acts for both investors and (in an advisory capacity) governments in investment treaty disputes, with particular experience of disputes involving the interaction between treaty protection, sector-specific regulation and parallel criminal or regulatory investigations.
Acting for a large Malaysian telecommunications operator in a multi-billion dollar bilateral investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of India. The case raises intricate issues at the intersection of telecommunications regulation and criminal investigations, and is anticipated to have a material influence on foreign investment in India and on India’s diplomatic relationships with South East Asian States. Final hearing has concluded.
Vyapak has extensive experience of internal and regulatory investigations and contentious white-collar work before Indian forums, including SEBI, the Enforcement Directorate, the NCLT, and civil and criminal courts.
Satyam Computers Limited: representing the Whole Time Director of Satyam Computers Limited in the defence of proceedings arising out of one of the largest corporate frauds in India (2008), involving alleged collusion with auditors and lapses in corporate governance. The defence has involved proceedings before SEBI, the Enforcement Directorate, the NCLT and multiple civil and criminal courts, including a decade-long battle before the NCLT targeting the promoters and board which resulted in a freeze on directors’ assets. Vyapak secured a favourable outcome for the client amidst those prolonged proceedings; further proceedings remain pending.
Acting for three large institutional investor groups in a whistleblower-led investigation into a leading Indian housing finance company, concerning the company’s loan portfolio, accounting discrepancies, alleged misutilisation of investor funds, personal use of company funds by the promoter, and vendor-management systems.
Acting for a leading India-based multinational IT-services public listed company in a cybersecurity and data-breach matter, advising on time-sensitive regulatory reporting obligations and on the conduct of internal investigations and remedial measures. The breach involved offshore elements and highly sensitive data; threatened litigation was averted.
Acting for the Indian subsidiary of a leading Singapore-based textile and non-textile colorants business in a Ministry of Corporate Affairs investigation raising novel issues as to the role of foreign directors, the appointment and function of alternate directors, and filings on significant beneficial ownership.
Vyapak has been recognised as a ‘Global Elite Thought Leader’ (APAC) by Who’s Who Legal — the only Indian lawyer in this category, consecutively since 2021 — and received a special mention for his disputes practice in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Survey. He has been nominated for ‘India Lawyer of the Year 2025’ by APAC Benchmark Litigation, and recognised among Business Today’s Top 10 Influential Arbitration Lawyers in India.
He is also highly recommended for dispute resolution by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.
Client comments include:
‘One of the best commercial minds I have come across in India: his uncanny ability to blend sensible commerce with the law makes him an exceptional thinker for finding out-of-the-box solutions’
‘Extremely thorough professional with great listening skills and a deep understanding of technical and commercial aspects of various industries’
4 Pump Court is delighted to announce that Vyapak Desai has joined Chambers as an…
