South Asian arbitration network launches in London

The Asian Lawyers’ Arbitration Network (ALAN) was launched last month [May] in London for the growing community of arbitration lawyers of South Asian origin in the city. “The idea behind ALAN is to bring together this community so that we can interact on a regular basis to share experiences and learn from each other,” Kushal Gandhi, a senior associate at CMS, told India Business Law Journal.

“The other motivation for ALAN is to help find ways to promote London as a hub for South Asia-related arbitrations,” said Gandhi, and to rebuild a lost emotional connection between London and South Asia. ALAN was conceived by Gandhi, Leïla Choukroune, professor of international economic law at the University of Portsmouth and editor of the Transnational Dispute Management special issue on India, and Rahul Donde, a counsel at Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler.

ALAN also serves as a platform for knowledge-sharing in light of two important macroeconomic changes affecting the UK and South Asia-related arbitrations, said Sherina Petit, a partner and head of the India practice at Norton Rose Fulbright. Firstly, “a perceived shift in the seat of South Asia-related arbitrations – particularly India-related arbitrations – from London”, and secondly, “the need of the hour is to continue to promote London’s expertise and attractiveness as a hub for international arbitration in the wake of Brexit.”