Inaugural Session
Good morning, esteemed dignitaries, distinguished scholars, esteemed faculty members, and
respected participants. It is with great honor and profound privilege that we welcome you to the
1st SLJ Justice S.L. Kochar Symposium on Dispute Resolution—an academic forum dedicated
to advancing critical discourse on the evolving landscape of dispute resolution.
Organized in collaboration with Luthra and Luthra Law Offices, this symposium reflects a
shared commitment to scholarly excellence and the development of robust legal frameworks. In
an era of increasing global integration and legal complexity, the imperative to refine dispute
resolution mechanisms has never been more urgent. Through this symposium, we aspire to
foster an exchange of knowledge that will contribute meaningfully to both academic inquiry
and legal practice."
It is both an honour and a privilege to have with us on board Adv. Sankalp Kochar, Mr. Rajeev
Rambhatla, Dr. Ashit Srivastava, Dr. Praveen Tripathi and our participants who have joined us
both in-person and virtually. We welcome you all.
As globalization reshapes economic and legal landscapes, the imperative for efficient,
adaptable, and equitable dispute resolution frameworks have never been greater. This
symposium will interrogate key developments, including cross-border arbitration, investor-state
dispute settlement, the role of mediation in employment law, corporate governance conflicts,
and dispute resolution in public-private partnerships. Through a rigorous exploration of these
themes, we seek to critically assess emerging paradigms and refine existing methodologies to
meet the demands of an increasingly complex global order.
Bringing together leading academics, practitioners, and policymakers, this forum aspires to
contribute meaningfully to the discourse on arbitration, mediation, and alternative dispute
resolution (ADR). By fostering intellectual exchange and policy-oriented debate, we aim to
shape the trajectory of dispute resolution scholarship and practice.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants and look forward to an intellectually enriching
dialogue that will inform and influence the future of dispute resolution. Thank you, and
welcome.
It is time we segue into knowing our guests of the day whose astute expertise continues to enrich
the fabric of our socio-legal regime with every passing day.
INTRODUCTION of Adv. Sankalp Kochar- Sankalp Kochar is a distinguished advocate
based in Central India, with offices in Jabalpur, Bilaspur, and Indore. He serves as standing
counsel for several media houses, banks, PSUs, financial institutions, and multinational
corporations. A graduate of NLIU Bhopal (Class of 2007), he was awarded the prestigious
Gregory Kulkes Scholarship to pursue the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at the University of
Oxford, where he also received the Oxbridge Scholarship in 2008. His early achievements
include being the runner-up and Best Speaker at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot
Court Competition (Indian National Rounds, Chennai, 2006) and receiving the Diplomacy
Award at the Harvard Model United Nations, Edinburgh (2005). After completing his BCL, he
established his independent practice in 2009 and has since built a formidable reputation in
constitutional law, civil law, criminal law, taxation, and arbitration. With a strong belief in a
well-rounded and holistic approach to litigation, he continues to represent high-profile clients
and shape the legal landscape across multiple jurisdictions.
INTRODUCTION of Mr Rajeev Rambhatla- Rajeev is a Partner at Luthra & Luthra and a
seasoned legal professional specializing in commercial litigation, consumer litigation,
arbitration, company law, and regulatory matters. With extensive experience in handling
complex litigation, he is a recommended counsel for numerous multinational corporations
operating in India and internationally. He advises a broad spectrum of clients, including
institutions, private equity funds, PSUs, banks, and multinational companies, as well as several
high-profile Indian corporations engaged in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Over
the years, he has represented major industry leaders such as CCL Product India (Continental
Coffee), SpiceJet, Standard Chartered Bank, IDBI, HPCL, Ashok Leyland, Aditya Birla Group,
ITC Limited, Tata Motors, Jubilant Foodworks, and Toyota Kirloskar Motor, among others. His
notable experience includes representing a German infrastructure giant before the Telangana
High Court in an injunction matter involving Bank Guarantees, acting for a public sector oil and
gas company in arbitration before the Karnataka Arbitration Center, and advising a UK-based
client in acquiring a 100% stake in an Indian company. He has also provided counsel to global
technology and optical product majors on regulatory compliance and corporate affairs in India.
With a strong track record in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, Rajeev continues to
be a trusted advisor for corporations navigating complex legal landscapes.
INTRODUCTION of Mr. Ashit Srivastava- Dr. Ashit Kumar Srivastava is an Assistant
Professor of Law at Dharmashastra National Law University-Jabalpur. Previously, he had
worked at National Law University-Odisha, wherein he had offered courses on Constitutional
Law, Administrative Law and Data Protection Law. Prior to that, he had served at Amity Law
School, Lucknow. Dr. Srivastava’s area of specialization are Constitutional Law, Data
Protection Law, and Digital Constitutionalism in South-Asia. On and off, he has been engaged
in the practical aspects of data protection compliance. Dr. Srivastava has several publications to
his name: including national & international, and he frequently contributes opinion-pieces at
The Leaflet, India Legal Live, The Statesman and many more. With over 70+ publications in
the reputed journals/newspaper pieces, his work holds repute Additionally, Dr. Srivastava is
engaged frequently for delivering lectures at national & international seminars. He is also a
Panel Member of World Cyber Security Forum.
Lighting of the lamp-
It is truly a moment of honour as we come together to inaugurate this esteemed SLJ Symposium
by lighting the ceremonial lamp—a timeless tradition symbolizing wisdom, knowledge, and the
triumph of light over darkness. The flame of this lamp represents enlightenment, illuminating
our path toward meaningful discourse, learning, and progress. With this, I invite our esteemed
dignitaries to join in lighting the lamp and marking the beginning of what promises to be an
enlightening and impactful event. I now request our guests to
Presentation of Bouquets and Shawls
It is now time to honour the esteemed presence of our distinguished guests by presenting
bouquets and shawls to our guests and extend our heartfelt appreciation with bouquets to our
panellists.
Welcome Speech by Dr. Ashit Kumar Srivastava (5 mins.)
Today, we have gathered here to engage in meaningful discussions and gain valuable insights
from some of the finest minds in the field. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming
Dr. Ashit Kumar Srivastava, to deliver the welcome address with a round of applause.
Inaugural Speech by Adv Sankalp Kochar
It is truly a moment of great pride and excitement as we come together to commence this
significant event, bringing together legal luminaries, industry experts, and professionals from
across the field. To officially inaugurate the proceedings, we have the distinct honor of
welcoming Mr. Sankalp Kochar. We are truly honoured to have him with us today, and we
eagerly look forward to his words of wisdom and insights. Ladies and gentlemen, please join
me in welcoming Mr. Sankalp Kochar with a big round of applause for the inaugural address.
Keynote Address by Mr. Rajeev Rambhatla (20 mins.)
Keynote Speaker - It is an absolute honour to welcome Rajeev Sir who has made significant
contributions in the field of law. It is truly a privilege to have him with us today, and we look
forward to listening to your words of wisdom. Now, we request Mr. Rajeev to share with us his
invaluable words. Let’s welcome him with a big round of applause!
Format for the session and instructions to the participants
