Karan is a senior associate in the International Arbitration practice.

His practice encompasses general commercial disputes and complex infrastructure, engineering and energy disputes. He has represented employers and contractors under the auspices of a variety of arbitration rules, including the LCIA, ICC and SIAC rules. He also has experience of litigation before the UK High Court, particularly in relation to UK-based healthcare, recycling and transport PFI/PPP projects, and both statutory and contractual adjudication and Dispute Boards.

Karan acts regularly for clients in the road and rail transport, aviation, healthcare and petrochemical refining sectors, which are his sectors of interest. He has a keen interest in India-related disputes and the India-UK legal market.

Before joining Shearman & Sterling, Karan practiced in the London office of a top UK firm, and also spent six months on secondment at their Singapore office.

• Two Middle Eastern companies in an UNCITRAL arbitration seated in London against two Chinese companies, relating to a dispute arising out of an oil drilling rig fabrication contract and related settlement agreement.
• A large energy multinational in a complex construction dispute worth over US$ 1 billion with a contractor in connection with a megaproject for an oil and gas facility in Central Asia. The dispute includes issues of delay and defects. English law applies.
• A heavy equipment supplier and contractor in relation to a highly complex construction arbitration, related local litigation and a number of delay, disruption, defects and other disputes arising out of two fossil fuel construction megaprojects in Africa with claims and counterclaims of over US$ 2 billion. The law of the country of the projects applies.
• A South Asian employer of a US$5 billion refinery and petrochemical project in an arbitration with its consortium of contractors, in relation to costs arising out of disruption to the design works phase and delays to mechanical completion. English law applies.*
• A North African employer of a 4.7 million ton capacity oil refinery plant in an arbitration with its SMP and Civil Works contractor, in relation to claims for compensation for ineffective labour, delays, construction defects and missing and damaged materials. English law applies. Over £250 million was at stake.*
• The Japanese consortium member of a rail consortium relating to disputes over a terminated railways project in an Asian jurisdiction, in the tax, interest and costs phase of the arbitration. The law of the country of the project applies.*
• A South Asian sports governing body in a payment dispute relating to an alleged breach of a tax-indemnity under a sports event host agreement. English law applies.*
• A UK employer claimant in an arbitration with the contractor relating to rectification of an error in the payment schedule of a telecommunication works and services contract. English law applies.*
• A Spanish contractor in an arbitration relating to the upgrade of three airports in an Asian jurisdiction, involving claims and counterclaims of wrongful termination and loss of profit. The law of the country of the projects applies. Over US$150 million was at stake.*

* Denotes prior firm experience

Professional Affiliations

• Member, YSIAC (Young Singapore International Arbitration Centre)
• Member, ICC Young Arbitrators’ Forum
• Member, LCIA Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG)