Mr. Dheeraj Nair, Partner at JSA since 2009, is a seasoned dispute resolution expert with over 20 years of experience in complex arbitrations, litigations, and regulatory matters across diverse sectors. He has represented clients in high-stakes shareholder disputes, white-collar investigations, insolvency proceedings, and international arbitrations under SIAC, ICC, and LCIA rules. As an Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India since 2008, he has appeared before twenty High Courts nationwide. Known for his strategic and solution-oriented approach, Mr. Nair is highly regarded for his mediation and negotiation skills. His contributions have been recognised by top legal directories, including Asian Legal Business – India’s Top Disputes Lawyers (2023), Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2023–24), and Legal Era Leading Lawyer Ranking (2023). He also serves as a Specialist Mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Centre and is affiliated with key bar associations across India, like the Supreme Court Bar Association, the Delhi High Court Bar Association, and the National Company Law Tribunal Bar Association.

Mr. Ganesh Vishweshwar Bhat, who holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Food Technology, began his professional journey in 2014 in the food processing sector, gaining valuable industry-level experience before joining the regulatory domain. He is currently serving as a Technical Officer at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), New Delhi. Over the years, Mr. Bhat has contributed significantly across several key divisions of the Authority, including Science and Standards, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance. His core areas of expertise span the formulation and revision of food safety standards, approval process for non-specified foods and claims, notification and recognition of food testing laboratories, as well as the implementation and oversight of regulatory mechanisms related to licensing, registration and compliance.

Mr Ganesh Chandra Kandwal currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner in the Food and Drug Department, Government of Uttarakhand. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Science and postgraduate qualifications in Law (LL.B. and LL.M.), and is presently pursuing a Master of Science in Food Safety and Quality Management from IGNOU. With over 25 years of experience in food safety regulations, Mr Kandwal has made significant contributions to the sector. In recognition of his outstanding work, he was honoured by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand in 2016 and was a winner of the Ideathon competition in 2021. He has served at the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal in Uttarakhand and has been an empanelled faculty member with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) since 2014. He also serves as the State Nodal Officer for the Eat Right India Initiative. A prolific writer, Mr Kandwal has authored several articles on traditional Uttarakhand cuisine and Navratri foods. He has also translated the DART (Detecting Adulterants with Rapid Testing) manual into Hindi, titled Khadya Suraksha ki Kaisauti. Mr Kandwal brings a wealth of expertise and passion to the field of food safety and public health.

Mr. Gyan Praksh, Executive Founder Member of the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR), brings with him over 40 years of rich and diverse experience across the Indian industry landscape. With a strong academic foundation in Commerce and Management, he has been associated with some of the country’s most prominent industrial groups, including Birla, Tata, Mallya, and multinational corporation ICI India. Mr. Praksh has held senior leadership positions in India’s premier industry bodies—Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), where he served as Head for the State of Uttar Pradesh, and later as State Director for Rajasthan at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in driving industry development, policy advocacy, and economic growth initiatives. He also served as a key advisor to state-level regulatory bodies and steering committees, contributing to policy formulation and implementation. He has been instrumental in conceptualising and organising several landmark B2B, B2C, and B2G events in sectors such as tourism, textiles, minerals, handicrafts, and handlooms. His notable contributions include leading events like the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) for seven consecutive years, VASTRA—a major textile trade fair for three years, and Resurgent Rajasthan, a high-profile investment promotion summit for the Government of Rajasthan. His efforts have been widely recognised and appreciated for their strategic impact and successful execution.

Mr. Kumar Kislay has been practising law since 2013, with a strong focus on infrastructure law, corporate-commercial litigation, and white-collar crime. Over the years, he has represented clients at several esteemed forums, including the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, National Company Law Tribunals (NCLT), Debt Recovery Tribunals, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), District Courts, and other quasi-judicial bodies. His practice spans a wide range of legal issues, with particular expertise in writ jurisdiction and complex corporate disputes. Mr. Kislay has an impressive record in handling high-profile shareholder disputes, tribunal-approved mergers, civil suits, and matters involving white-collar crimes. He has also effectively managed insolvency and creditor dispute issues, providing strategic legal counsel in both domestic and international arbitration matters. Mr. Kislay is known for his ability to navigate complex regulatory investigations and has advised clients on a variety of issues, including fraud, mismanagement, and financial crimes. He regularly advises foreign clients and multinational corporations on high-stakes legal matters. Before joining JSA, Mr. Kislay practised independently before the Delhi High Court, where he gained extensive experience in litigation and advisory roles. His expertise includes representing foreign investors and multinational corporations in shareholder disputes, insolvency proceedings, and regulatory matters. He is highly regarded for his ability to resolve complex legal challenges efficiently and effectively. Mr. Kislay is a member of the Bar Council of Delhi. His notable experience includes acting for a leading foreign real estate company in resolving shareholder disputes involving allegations of oppression, mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duties, and fraud. He has also represented directors of public companies in matters initiated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and other governmental agencies, addressing allegations of fraud, money laundering, and cheating. Additionally, Mr. Kislay has advised foreign shareholders in criminal proceedings before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Crime Branch regarding actions against Indian promoter-directors. His practice further extends to advising foreign clients in NCLT proceedings and SIAC-governed arbitration and mediation. Mr. Kislay has also provided counsel to a large real estate company in proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Moreover, he has advised a multinational software technology company on its global restructuring, showcasing his expertise in handling cross-border legal challenges

Dr. Lalit Bhasin is a veteran of the Indian legal profession with over 60 years of distinguished service. He is the President of the Society of Indian Law Firms and the immediate past President of the Bar Association of India. He currently chairs the Indian branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and also leads the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Task Force on Legal Services. Internationally recognised, Dr. Bhasin is the only Indian to be honoured as an Honorary Life Member of the International Bar Association. Throughout his illustrious career, he has received numerous accolades, including the Plaque of Honour from the Prime Minister of India (2002), the National Law Day Award from the President of India (2007), and honorary doctorates from Amity University and GD Goenka University. The UK India Legal Partnership also awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award at the House of Lords (2022), the Glorious 61 Years in the Profession Award by Legal Era (2023), the Outstanding Arbitration Expert Award by APCAM (2023), and the Lifetime Achievement Award by ASSOCHAM (2023). An alumnus of Hindu College, Dr. Bhasin continues to be a guiding force in the legal field, known for his leadership, commitment to justice, and substantial contributions to legal reform and arbitration.

Mr Pradeep Shetty is the Director of Maharaja Hotels and a seasoned entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio of business interests spanning hotels, restaurants, and outdoor catering services. He has also held the prestigious positions of President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) and the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), contributing over a decade of leadership and industry insight to these roles. Mr Shetty holds a degree in Petrochemical Engineering and is also a qualified lawyer, having completed his LLB. His business ventures include renowned establishments such as Maharaja Restaurants in Mumbai, Maharaja – The Business Hotel in Dahisar, Maharaja Foods – The ODC and Events, as well as several affiliated food and beverage operations in Mumbai. Additionally, he is associated with Maharaja Infra Inc., based in Mangalore, Karnataka. With his extensive experience and multi-disciplinary expertise, Mr Shetty continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the hospitality landscape in India.

Mr. R. N. Jindal is a distinguished environmental engineer and legal expert with over 40 years of experience in environmental policy, governance, and implementation. A Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) and the IPHE, he is also an active member of professional bodies such as IWWA, IAAPC, and IAEE. Throughout his career, Mr. Jindal has held key positions in prominent institutions, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board, Central Water Commission, Delhi Government, and Delhi College of Engineering (now DTU), contributing significantly to India’s environmental framework. His areas of expertise span air and noise pollution control, hazardous waste management, chemical safety, environmental standards, and conservation of lakes, wetlands, and rivers. Mr. Jindal played a pivotal role in nationally significant projects such as the Source Apportionment Study for Particulate Matter and the formulation of the National Air Quality Index. He has represented India at major international environmental conventions, including the Stockholm, Rotterdam, and Minamata Conventions. Most recently, he served as a Senior Consultant for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban 2.0), focusing on solid waste and water management initiatives.

An Advocate on Record of the Supreme Court of India, Sameer has done his masters in law from University of Pennsylvania and is admitted to practice in India and New York, USA. He has substantial experience in construction laws, copyright laws, corporate laws as also in dispute resolution including international commercial arbitrations. Sameer is widely acclaimed as the top dispute resolution expert in the country. He is also involved in a large number of very complex arbitrations and is well recognized for understanding engineering issues and identifying and building the claims of the clients. Sameer has appeared in many celebrated judgments relating to constitutional law, copyright laws, arbitration and construction law. Sameer has also been appointed an Arbitrator in an SIAC Arbitration.

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Shirish Deshpande, chairman of India's largest consumer voluntary body, Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP), is a leading consumer rights lawyer. A graduate in economics and law, Mr Deshpande has many landmark cases on consumer protection and public interest to his credit. He has lobbied hard to ensure effective implementation of the UN guidelines for Consumer Protection and had been appointed as a consultant to draft the Consumer Protection Act for Fiji under the EU project undertaken by the Consumer Council of Fiji. Apart from writing regular columns on consumer protection in the print media, Mr Deshpande has also authored books on the Indian Consumer Protection Act, medical negligence, etc. He has received several awards for his outstanding contribution in the field of consumer protection.

Sonal is an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court of India and has extensive experience in handling complex and high value commercial litigation, IPR, arbitration and insolvency matters. She holds a master’s degree from University College London with a specialization in International Law. With over 10 years of experience, Sonal has acted for a range of clients including financial institutions, mining companies, hotels, PSUs, construction companies, religious institutions. She represents clients before the Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court, various District Courts and Tribunals, arbitration (both international and domestic).

Mr Somnath De is a practising Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts across the country, handling a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters. He appears regularly before courts and tribunals throughout India, bringing with him extensive expertise in Intellectual Property Rights, technology law, and corporate and commercial law. Mr De has considerable experience in matters relating to trade marks, patents, copyrights, designs, cyber and technology-related issues, media law, and domain name disputes. He has argued several landmark cases involving Intellectual Property, online disputes, and domain name conflicts before various courts, tribunals, registry forums, and appellate boards. In addition to his legal practice, Mr De actively contributes to the legal community by participating in and chairing numerous national and international conferences. He is also frequently invited to serve as a judge for both national and international moot court competitions.

Mr. Sujjain Talwar is a Co-Founding Partner at Economic Laws Practice (ELP) and brings over 30 years of legal experience across India and international jurisdictions. He is a qualified Solicitor in both India and England & Wales. Mr. Talwar has advised extensively on private sector participation in infrastructure projects across sectors such as water, roads, ports, and airports. His international portfolio includes assignments in countries like Yemen, Fujairah, Djibouti, and the Maldives, where he has played a key role in structuring and executing complex infrastructure initiatives. Mr. Talwar has also been instrumental in establishing ELP’s hospitality law practice. He regularly represents hotel owners in transactions involving nearly all major international hotel operators active in India. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Talwar serves as an Independent Director on the boards of several prominent Indian companies, bringing valuable insight and governance expertise to the table. Widely respected in the legal fraternity, Mr. Talwar has received numerous accolades for his professional excellence. He is ranked Band 1 for Projects, Infrastructure & Energy by Chambers Asia-Pacific and is recognised as a Leading Lawyer by IFLR1000 in the categories of Energy & Infrastructure and Financial & Corporate. He has been inducted into Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for Projects and Energy and named a Global Elite Thought Leader for Project Finance by Lexology. Mr. Talwar has also been acknowledged for his expertise in Construction and Hospitality by Asialaw Leading Lawyers and featured in India Business Law Journal’s A List of Top 100 Lawyers. Additionally, he has been recognised by Forbes India’s Legal Powerlist and listed among LawWiser’s Super 30 Most Influential Law Firm Professionals.

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Ms. Sweta Rajan is an advocate and holds a BSL.LLB degree from ILS Law College, Pune. At present, she is a Partner at Economic Laws Practice (ELP) and has been a key member of the firm’s Indirect Tax, Customs and Regulatory practice since 2010. With extensive experience across GST, customs, foreign trade policy, central and state excise, service tax, VAT, entry tax, and entertainment tax, she brings in-depth expertise to both advisory and litigation matters in the indirect tax and trade law domain. She regularly represents clients before various judicial and quasi-judicial authorities and has led numerous tax and compliance reviews for multinational corporations. Ms. Rajan is also well-regarded for her strategic inputs and industry-focused guidance on regulatory matters, having made several representations to Government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, DGFT, FSSAI, MOEF, and BIS. She has successfully worked with clients across sectors such as consumer goods and FMCG, hospitality, automotive, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electronics, banking and financial services, and media & entertainment. In addition to her core practice areas, Ms. Rajan played a key role in establishing ELP’s Food Law practice and frequently advises on regulatory compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA).

Mr. Varun Parmar, a qualified Chartered Accountant and also holds a law degree (LL.B), is an Associate Partner in the Tax practice at Economic Laws Practice (ELP), specialising in indirect taxes. With over nine years of experience, he has advised clients on a wide range of indirect tax matters, including GST advisory and compliance, tax structuring and optimisation, health check reviews, litigation support, and tax due diligence. Mr. Parmar has a strong focus on the travel & tourism, information technology, and financial services sectors, providing sector-specific insights and strategies to manage tax implications effectively.

Multiple doctorates in biological sciences. National Resource Person fssai, Expert committee member fssai. National advisor FHRAI, National Advisor Indian Chef Association IFCA. Author of food safety handbook for hospitality. Distinguished trainer with 26 years of special experience in food safety, sustainability and global food systems. Leading consultant to major hotels and food business operators. Recipient of National awards for individual contribution to food safety from FSSAI. Founder Parikshan labs and charitable trust. He is an active social worker. His pet project is Vigyan Rath a van carrying experiments moving from village to village has covered more than 15 lakh children.