Pooja Chakrabarti: Successful Commercial Litigator

Pooja Chakrabarti | Partner | Dispute Resolution | Argus Partners (Solicitors & Advocates)
Pooja Chakrabarti | Partner | Dispute Resolution | Argus Partners (Solicitors & Advocates)

Expeditious enforcement of contracts is the lifeline of any investor-friendly market. For this purpose, it is imperative that commercial disputes are disposed of speedily. Thus, we have recently witnessed a spate of government initiatives to boost investor confidence in the Indian market.

From amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, to the consolidation of the insolvency and bankruptcy laws to the introduction of the Commercial Courts, all efforts are directed towards alleviating the impediments in the path of conducting business.

Pooja Chakrabarti, Partner, Dispute Resolution, Argus Partners (Solicitors & Advocates), demonstrates remarkable promise in her field.

Pooja shares, “At Argus, our disputes practice is primarily focused on commercial, contractual and regulatory disputes. While advising our clients, we take into account their business objectives and proceed to assess the commercial viability and reputational risks of litigation.”

An Expert in Dispute Resolution

Pooja has varied experience and expertise in the areas of commercial litigation, public interest litigation, arbitration, banking, constitutional law, real estate and intellectual property matters.

Pooja conveys, “Our disputes practice contributes effectively not only in dealing with disputes but also in preventing potential disputes from affecting the business of our clients. Our lawyers aim to provide commercially viable and practical solutions.”

She regularly appears before the High Courts at Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, the Supreme Court of India, National Company Law Tribunals, Debt Recovery Tribunals and other quasi-judicial authorities and, in arbitration proceedings.

At Argus, we advise clients on strategies in ongoing litigation, potential disputes, recovery and enforcement proceedings, arbitration, conciliation and mediation and a host of regulatory matters. We handle matters before courts, quasi-judicial authorities as well as tribunals, including the Supreme Court of India, High Courts of various States, District Courts, National Company Law Tribunal, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, Debts Recovery Tribunal, Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, National Green Tribunal, the Competition Commission of India, the Appellate Tribunal for Foreign Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Securities Appellate Tribunal, Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, Appellate Tribunal under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals and Consumer Forums,reveals Pooja.

Global Legal Advisor

Pooja has acted for and advised several multi-national companies, public sector undertakings, banks and financial institutions.

Pooja adds, “We are also actively engaged in various domestic arbitrations, both ad-hoc and institutional, as well as international commercial arbitration proceedings under the auspices of Singapore International Arbitration Centre and International Chamber of Commerce. Our expertise in arbitration encompasses shareholder disputes and commercial contracts in the power, automation and engineering sectors.

Pooja graduated from Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and completed her Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Her education at the best institutions has given her the much necessary perspective to excel at her field.

As a woman in the profession

Pooja feels that though litigation has been historically dominated by men, over the years, more women are now motivated to take up litigation as a career. Now there are far more role models and mentors than were available a few years back.

‘At Argus Partners, we promote an atmosphere free of gender bias of all forms, where growth is determined strictly by meritocracy and hard work.’ Pooja adds.

Exceptional Professional Expertise

In the last few years, Pooja has,

  • Represented Tata Steel Limited, in its bid to acquire Rohit Ferro-Tech Limited through its wholly owned subsidiary, Tata Steel Mining Limited, under the aegis of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
  • Advised the committee of creditors in the insolvency process in one of the earliest and largest resolutions under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code of 2016.
  • Advised the Resolution Professional and the liquidator in one of the first large accounts unsuccessful under the resolution process and directed to be liquidated.
  • Representing a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Steel of the Government of India.
  • Representing and advising one of the largest mining conglomerates in Eastern India in serious disputes that entail issues pertaining to control of the partnership and management of the mines.
  • Representing India’s prominent engineering companies in arbitration proceedings involving disputes relating to engineering contracts.
  • Acting for one of India’s leading mall management companies in an arbitration concerning the development and management of a mall and retail outlets in West Bengal.
  • Represented corporations and individuals in writ petitions for enforcement of legal and fundamental rights before High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.
  • Represented mining companies in disputes with state and central government, emanating from grant of prospecting licenses and mining leases.
  • Represented one of the leading steel manufacturing companies of India and its subsidiaries before the National Company Law Tribunal.

Awards and Recognition

India Business Law Journal recognised Pooja’s successful handling of the case of the high-profile insolvency of Binani Cement as ‘Deals of the Year 2019,’