Legal experts at India ADR Week 2026 in Mumbai discussed how jurisdiction-specific ecosystems, geopolitical neutrality and evolving commercial realities define global competition among arbitral seats.
During a panel discussion on cross-border disputes in a fragmenting world, experts examined how geopolitical shifts and sanctions reshape choices for neutral seats.
The session was moderated by Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Partner Abhileen Chaturvedi. Panelists included Tata Projects General Counsel Rashna Mistry, M&CO Legal Managing Partner Dr Salman Al Tuweel, Bombay High Court Advocate Sharad Bansal and Worley Associate General Counsel Tarini Srivastava.
In-house leaders strongly backed domestic arbitration.
"Forget sanctions, everything! I prefer India-seated arbitration...India has an excellent set of arbitrators, we have good counsel, we have good institutions. My infra-projects are based in India, why do I go for a foreign-seated arbitration?" Mistry said.
Srivastava praised local expertise.
"Any dispute if you bring to an Indian arbitrator specifically, they would have seen it in some form at some scale. You cannot surprise these people. We have done it all, seen it all. It is much easier to plead your case to someone who understands the grass root level."
Bansal advocated for arbitral mechanisms over litigation for international contracts considering the enforcement angle.
Dr. Tuweel highlighted execution as crucial.
"I have the judgment in my hand, how to enforce that judgment, is the main question which we need to get in."
A second panel, moderated by ANB Legal Partner Shreni Shetty, focused on the global race among arbitration seats.
Panelists included Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Partner Philipp Hanusch, WongPartnership LLP Partner Smitha Menon, Adnan Sundra & Low Senior Dispute Resolution Partner Sudharsanan R Thillainathan and Morgan Lewis Partner Sara K Aranjo.
Shetty cited Queen Mary survey data placing London, Singapore and Hong Kong as top global seats. She emphasised that a seat is the home for your arbitration, not just a venue for conducting hearings.
Hanusch highlighted Hong Kong’s unique legal position and distinct framework.
"Hong Kong is a part of the People’s Republic of China. But at the same time, it operates a separate autonomous jurisdiction with an independent common law based legal system," he said.
He explained that Hong Kong offers direct access to mainland Chinese courts for interim asset freezing orders.
Thillainathan critiqued conventional seat selection habits.
"There is a lack of seat analysis. Too many people make decisions based on habit, based on perception, based on familiarity and that is not fair, that has to change."
Menon highlighted Singapore's corporate-style neutrality.
"I would invite you to look at Singapore as Singapore Inc. Because we are a large corporation, effectively, we are truly neutral," she said.
Aranjo emphasized that the regional Middle Eastern seats offered parties dual access to both common law and prevailing civil law systems. She also dispelled the myth that the region relies solely on glitz and glamour. She emphasised that it had substantive legal depth.