Rishabh Gandhi

Dr. Rishabh Gandhi is an Advocate, Arbitrator, Mediator and Former Trial Court Judge practising in India. He is enrolled with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and is the Founder of Rishabh Gandhi and Advocates, a dispute resolution and commercial law practice with a presence in Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

His practice focuses on arbitration, commercial litigation, construction arbitration, infrastructure disputes, real estate disputes, regulatory matters, commercial contracts and high-value civil and contractual disputes. He is particularly known for his work in cross-examination, interim relief proceedings and final arguments in arbitration, commercial litigation and civil disputes.

Dr. Gandhi has practised law since 2009. His work combines courtroom advocacy, arbitration strategy, adjudicatory experience and mediation training. He has served in the Maharashtra Judicial Service as a Judicial Magistrate First Class and Civil Judge. He currently acts as an arbitrator in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations and also appears as counsel in arbitration-related court proceedings, including matters under Sections 9, 11, 17, 34 and 36 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

His arbitration and dispute resolution practice covers commercial arbitration, construction arbitration, infrastructure disputes, engineering disputes, real estate disputes and contractual disputes. He advises and appears in matters involving delay, disruption, extension of time, certification disputes, valuation issues, contractual entitlement, evidence strategy, cross-examination, interim measures, award analysis, challenge to arbitral awards and enforcement of arbitral awards. His experience includes high-value commercial and infrastructure disputes involving companies, promoters, contractors, developers, investors and project stakeholders.

His practice also includes advisory and representation in commercial disputes, civil disputes, arbitration proceedings, mediation and negotiated settlements. He regularly advises businesses, founders, promoters, contractors, developers, professionals and individuals across sectors such as infrastructure, construction, real estate, engineering, technology, education, healthcare, retail and commercial services. His work includes pre-dispute advisory, drafting and settling arbitration clauses, dispute strategy, pleadings, evidence strategy, cross-examination preparation, interim relief proceedings, final arguments, mediation strategy, negotiated settlements and post-award remedies.

Dr. Gandhi trained in the chambers of Hon’ble Dr. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, then Judge of the Bombay High Court, and with Fox Mandal Little & Co., Mumbai. He also worked with Karnik & Karnik Advocates and J.S. Wad & Co. before establishing his independent practice. This background enables him to assess disputes from multiple perspectives: as counsel, as a former judge, as an arbitrator and as a mediator.

He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is empanelled with or associated with several dispute resolution institutions, including the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation, Asia Pacific Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, ADR ODR International and IIDRC. He is also a trained mediator under the Supreme Court Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee and is empanelled as a mediator with the District Legal Services Authority, Pune.

Dr. Gandhi and his firm have been recognised by Benchmark Litigation, India Business Law Journal, Asian Legal Business, Global Law Experts, Law.asia and Lokmat for their work in dispute resolution, commercial litigation, arbitration, real estate and legal thought leadership. His firm has also received recognitions including India Business Law Journal Law Firm Awards for Litigation and Real Estate, and finalist recognition at the Asian Legal Business India Law Awards for Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year.

Dr. Gandhi has spoken at national and international conferences and professional forums in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Nepal and India. His speaking engagements have covered arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution, construction disputes, constitutional law, religious freedom, end-of-life jurisprudence and the evolving role of law in society.

His thought leadership covers arbitration law in India, commercial litigation, construction disputes, infrastructure arbitration, award enforcement, mediation, artificial intelligence in dispute resolution, arbitrator neutrality, constitutional law, religious freedom and end-of-life jurisprudence. His articles and commentary combine statutory analysis, case-law developments, procedural strategy and practical insight for businesses, lawyers, arbitrators and policy observers.

His writings have appeared in leading legal, business and public policy platforms including Bar & Bench, LiveLaw, SCC Online, India Business Law Journal / Law.asia, NDTV Profit, ThePrint and The Bar Bulletin. His work and views have been quoted or featured in Economic Times, India Today, Mint, Business Standard, NDTV Profit, Moneycontrol, Outlook Money, ET LegalWorld and Exchange4Media.

He holds a Ph.D. in Law for doctoral research on the Ethico-Legal Dimensions of Religious Death Practices in Jainism Apart from LL.M., LL.B. and B.S.L. from the University of Pune, he also holds diplomas in Intellectual Property Rights and Cyber Laws, an executive qualification in Construction Law, Contracts and Arbitration, and a Diploma in Digital Dispute Resolution.

Alongside his dispute resolution practice, Dr. Gandhi has remained engaged with legal education, scholarship and professional training. He has been visiting faculty at ILS Law College, DES’ Navalmal Firodia Law College and MMM’s Shankarrao Chavan Law College. He has taught and lectured on evidence law, constitutional law, intellectual property law, land laws, judicial process, judgment writing, arbitration and dispute resolution. He is associated with MCCIA, SMJV, BORI and several other institutions.