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and Advocate Aditya Manubarwala Granted Full Audience Rights at SICC
In a significant development for the Indian legal profession, and have been admitted as before the with . The admission, granted under the and the , authorises both lawyers to appear as counsel in before the SICC and in relevant appeals arising from such proceedings. This milestone not only underscores the growing global recognition of Indian legal expertise but also strengthens the legal and commercial ties between India and Singapore.
A Milestone for Indian Legal Practice
Vijay Kumar Arora and Aditya Bharat Manubarwala primarily practise before the , the , and various High Courts across the country. Their firms have offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Shimla and Hyderabad, reflecting a robust national presence. Their areas of expertise span commercial litigation, arbitration, insolvency, corporate law, constitutional law, and regulatory disputes. Both advocates also handle domestic and , regularly advising and representing clients in complex commercial matters. holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law from the University of Cambridge, where he specialised in, among other subjects, International Commercial Litigation and International Investment Law.
The admission of such experienced Indian practitioners to a premier international commercial forum marks a recognition of India’s deepening engagement with global dispute resolution mechanisms. It also signals the increasing willingness of Singapore – a leading hub for international arbitration and commercial litigation – to integrate foreign legal talent into its judicial system.
The SICC: A Global Commercial Forum
The Singapore International Commercial Court is a division of the . It was established to hear complex international and transnational commercial disputes, offering a neutral, efficient, and commercially savvy forum. The SICC allows for the admission of foreign lawyers as in , provided they satisfy prescribed statutory requirements – including expertise in international commercial law and at least five years of relevant experience. This facility has made the SICC an attractive venue for , particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
enable foreign counsel to appear before the SICC without local Singaporean counsel, although they must adhere to the court’s rules and ethical standards. The admission of Indian lawyers to this select group highlights the growing convergence of legal systems and the demand for seamless representation in .
Quotes from the Lawyers
expressed his pride in the achievement, stating: “It is a privilege to be admitted before the Singapore International Commercial Court with . Singapore has built an institution of international standing, and the willingness of its courts to admit foreign counsel reflects a confidence in the legal profession that is worth reciprocating. I look forward to contributing to the resolution of complex cross-border commercial disputes while continuing my practice in India.”
added: “This is a deeply satisfying professional milestone. Having studied International Commercial Litigation at the University of Cambridge, it is particularly gratifying to now be admitted before one of the leading international commercial courts. I remain fully committed to my practice before the , the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and various High Courts across the country. For Indian businesses, disputes rarely stop at national borders—a contract governed by one law is often enforced under another, while insolvency and arbitration proceedings increasingly run in parallel across jurisdictions. Being able to represent clients before the Singapore International Commercial Court alongside my practice in India enables me to advise and represent clients seamlessly across the lifecycle of . I hope this admission will further strengthen legal collaboration between India and Singapore.”
These statements reflect a pragmatic understanding of the realities of modern commercial litigation, where multijurisdictional disputes require lawyers who can navigate multiple legal regimes.
Implications for Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
The admission of Senior Advocate Arora and Advocate Manubarwala comes at a time when cross-border commercial disputes are becoming increasingly complex. Indian companies are expanding globally, entering into joint ventures, supply agreements, and investment contracts governed by foreign law. Disputes often involve – arbitration in one seat, litigation in another, and insolvency actions in a third. The ability to retain counsel who can appear in both Indian courts and the SICC provides continuity and cost efficiency for clients.
Moreover, the SICC offers a unique procedural framework that blends common law traditions with the flexibility of . Its judges include eminent Singaporean jurists as well as international judges from other common law jurisdictions. For Indian litigants, the SICC may become an attractive alternative to other international forums, especially for disputes that arise from contracts with a Singapore nexus or governed by English or Singapore law.
This development may also encourage other Indian senior advocates and lawyers with substantial international expertise to seek admission before the SICC, thereby expanding the pool of counsel available for cross-border matters. It also sets a benchmark for reciprocity – Indian courts have historically been cautious about allowing foreign lawyers to appear, but recent reforms (such as the ’s rules on foreign law firms) hint at a gradual opening. Such cross-fertilisation of legal talent can enhance the quality of legal services in both jurisdictions.
Strengthening India-Singapore Legal Ties
India and Singapore share deep economic and cultural ties. Singapore is a major investor in India, and many Indian companies use Singapore as a base for their regional operations. Legal cooperation between the two countries has been growing, with memoranda of understanding between bar associations and judicial academies. The admission of Indian lawyers to the SICC is a tangible outcome of this bilateral engagement.
The SICC itself has been proactive in engaging with the Indian legal community. For example, it has participated in conferences and exchanges with Indian judicial officers and practitioners. The admission of Arora and Manubarwala is likely to further enhance these ties, potentially leading to more Indian lawyers being registered, and possibly even to the recognition of SICC judgments in India under the existing .
Conclusion
The admission of and as with full audience rights before the Singapore International Commercial Court is a testament to the internationalisation of the Indian legal profession. It reflects the growing confidence in Indian legal expertise on the global stage and provides a model for how lawyers can bridge jurisdictions to serve clients in an interconnected world. As cross-border commercial disputes become more common, such milestones will only become more frequent, benefiting the legal ecosystems of both India and Singapore.
Note: One factual point in the source material – that Vijay Kumar Arora is “only the third Indian Senior Advocate” to receive before the SICC – should be independently verified before publication, as it was not confirmed in the official notification.
