Gautam Bhatikar

Phoenix Legal is a full service Indian law firm offering transactional, regulatory, advisory, dispute resolution and tax services. The firm advises a diverse clientele including domestic and international companies, banks and financial institutions, funds, promoter groups and public sector undertakings. Phoenix Legal was formed in 2008 and now has 13 Partners and 65 lawyers in its two offices (New Delhi and Mumbai) making it one of the leading law firms of the country.

The firm has successfully been able to establish its identity outside its origins, dealing with significant depth in complex domestic and international matters. The key reason behind setting up Phoenix Legal was its founding partners’ desire to bring client service into sharper focus and to provide commercially viable legal advice in all sectors of the economy.

What distinguishes the firm from its peers is the approach which is:

• High Degree of Partner Involvement and Availability – We assure to our clients, partner involvement in all deals and transactions, at all times.
• High Quality Legal Advice – We deliver services of the highest quality, which are capable of meeting the most exacting standards.
• Availability and Responsiveness – We are proactive in our approach and are available to our clients at all times.
• Legal Research and Analysis Based Advisory – While we do keep abreast of market practices applicable to legal interpretation, they are adopted and recommended only if they are supported by prevailing legal and regulatory framework.

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Gautam is dual-qualified in India and England, and is a veteran with nearly two decades of wide-ranging experience in offshore maritime & shipping, insurance, environment, international trade, oil & gas, energy, commercial litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Gautam has acted for various large banks, shipowners, PSUs, oil companies and insurers in high-stakes and complex cross-border litigation and arbitration. He has been advising and representing domestic and international clients from a variety of jurisdictions including the UK, US, Europe, Middle East and South East Asia.

Gautam has represented one of the world's largest shipping companies in its joint venture dispute before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and has been regularly representing clients at the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA), and Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA).

Over the years, Gautam has been regularly featured in the 'Recommended Lawyers' list of leading publications such as Chambers & Partners and Legal500, and ranked as a 'Distinguished Practitioner' by Asialaw Profiles.

Awards and Citations

Gautam has been regularly featured in the ’Recommended Lawyers’ list of leading publications such as Chambers & Partners and Legal500.
Gautam has been ranked as a ’Distinguished Practitioner’ by Asialaw Profiles for the Dispute Resolution practice.
Featured as leading lawyer in Maritime and Shipping practice by Expert Guides and Leaders in Law.
Awarded Admiralty and Maritime Law - Lawyer of the Year – India by Finance Monthly Legal Awards 2019.
Recognised for excellence in Maritime and Shipping practice by India Business Law Journal (IBLJ) – Rising Stars Report 2019.

Publications and Presentations

Authored an article on ’India’s changing litigation landscape’ published by International Bar Association (IBA) in 2020.
Speaker–International Shipping conference on PPP projects in India.
Speaker – South East Asia Logistics Shipping and Ports Conference on 2012 and 2014.
Speaker – International Port Finance Conference held in 2011.
Gautam has contributed to India Chapter covering Investment for Ports in India at the World Bank –Doing Business In India.
Authored article on Ports and Terminals in India at Lexology.

Memberships

Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa.
The Law Society of England & Wales.
Life Member – Indo American Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Board Member – Indo African Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Member – Indo Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Member – Indo China Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
International Bar Association.
Dubai International Arbitration Centre.

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