Ganesh Chandru has joined Kochhar & Co as a Senior Partner in Chennai, moving from Dua Associates where he was a Partner. The appointment is aimed at strengthening Kochhar & Co‘s pan-Indian arbitration and litigation capabilities, with a particular focus on international arbitration.
Chandru brings over three decades of experience as a distinguished arbitration and litigation practitioner. He is admitted to practise in India, England & Wales, and Singapore, giving Kochhar & Co a notably cross-border dimension in its dispute resolution offering.
Education Background and Career Progression
Education
Ganesh Chandru is an alumnus of Madras Law College and the National University of Singapore. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, and serves as a Director of the India Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London.
Career Journey
Prior to relocating to India in 2015, Chandru spent over 16 years in Singapore, where he worked with leading international and Singapore law firms. Between 2002 and 2007, he served as Counsel and Assistant Registrar at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), where he supervised the administration of approximately 500 arbitrations and played a pioneering role in strengthening SIAC’s engagement with India.
Following his return to India in 2015, Chandru joined Dua Associates as a Partner, before his move to Kochhar & Co. Across his career, his practice has spanned international commercial arbitrations conducted under the rules of SIAC, ICC, LCIA, SCMA, and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, as well as ad hoc and India-seated arbitrations under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. He also regularly appears before courts and statutory tribunals across the country.
His sector expertise covers disputes in infrastructure, construction, oil and gas, power and energy, telecommunications, information technology, banking and finance, joint ventures, and shareholder agreements.
What the Firm Said
Rohit Kochhar, Founding and Managing Partner of Kochhar & Co, commented:
“Kochhar & Co was among the first national law firms to establish an office in Chennai over two decades ago, reflecting our long-standing commitment to the region and our vision of building a truly pan-India practice. Ganesh’s joining builds on that foundation and further strengthens our capabilities in the areas of international arbitration and litigation. His extensive experience in international arbitration, institutional expertise and cross-border perspective complement our existing strengths and enhance our ability to advise clients on complex domestic and international disputes. We are delighted to welcome Ganesh to the Firm.”
Chandru added:
“I look forward to further strengthening and building on Kochhar & Co’s noteworthy arbitration and litigation practice, while continuing to provide clients with quality legal services and practical, commercially focused solutions.”
Strategic Significance
Ganesh Chandru‘s appointment consolidates Kochhar & Co‘s position in Chennai, a market the firm entered over two decades ago. His rare tri-jurisdictional admission, deep institutional knowledge of SIAC, and broad sector expertise in infrastructure and energy disputes make him a high-value addition as Indian corporates increasingly navigate complex cross-border arbitrations.
For more partner moves and lateral updates, see Inside the Partnership.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the details provided.
