Dharshini Prasad

Prior to joining Willkie, Dharshini practiced with the International Arbitration group of WilmerHale in London and the Dispute Resolution group of Drew & Napier in Singapore. Dharshini also worked with UN International Law Commission in Geneva on issues of public international law, including the immunity of State officials and the formation and evidence of customary international law.

• "Most Highly Regarded – Future Leaders," Who's Who Legal: International Arbitration (2021)
• “Leading Individual – Future Leaders,” Who's Who Legal: International Arbitration (2023)
• "Future Leader," Who's Who Legal: International Arbitration (2019 – 2023)
• "Rising Star: Commercial Arbitration," Expert Guides (2020 – 2022)
  
   

Apart from her work as counsel, Dharshini is an Assistant Editor for the Journal of International Arbitration and sits on the Committee of YSIAC. She was involved in drafting the 2016 SIAC Rules and the 2017 SIAC Investment Arbitration Rules.

Dharshini was appointed as Executive Secretary on the Commonwealth Secretariat’s wide-ranging study on international arbitration across the 53 Commonwealth Member States. In 2019, she represented the Government of Somalia at the third consultation on the ICSID Rule Amendments process in Washington D.C.

Dharshini teaches international arbitration at Queen Mary University and has previously taught at New York University (Paris) and the London School of Economics, SIAC and Austrian arbitration academies. 

Selected Publications

• “Regional Integration and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement: From Parallelism to Harmonisation,” IBA Newsletter (2021)
• “The Group of Companies Doctrine – Assessing the Indian Approach,” Indian Journal of Arbitration Law (2021)
• “Introduction – International Arbitration,” Chambers & Partners International Arbitration Guide (2019-2021)
• “Joinder and Consolidation,” Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution International Arbitration Review (2018)
• “The ‘Close Connection’ Test and State Counterclaims in Investment Arbitration – When is ‘Close’ Close Enough?”, Magna Charta Magazine
• “Sources of Procedural Law in International Dispute Settlement,” Research Handbook on International Procedural Law (forthcoming)
• “The Principle of Equal Treatment in International Arbitration,” Cambridge Compendium of International Commercial and Investment Arbitration (forthcoming)

Selected Speaking Engagements

• “Interim Measure Practices in Commercial Arbitration Around the World,” 34th Annual ITA Workshop and Annual Meeting, Austin (2022)
• “Disputes Involving Long-Term Agreements and Investments: Key Considerations and Quantum Issues,” India ADR Week (Webinar) (2022)
• “Mining and Minerals,” Secretariat Australia-India Arbitration – Virtual Conference (2022)
• “GAR Live: Energy – Debate,” GAR (2021)
• “Regional Webinar on International Arbitration and Contract Enforcement: Central Asia,” OECD-EU Two-Day Webinar (2021)
• “Joinder of Parties,” SCAI-Vis Moot Webinar (2021)
• “International Investment Arbitration: Setting the Stage,” MCIA Conference, New Delhi (2020)
• “Commonwealth International Arbitration Study: Overview,” Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, Colombo (2019)
• “Small States, International Law and the Realisation of Rights,” WilmerHale-BIICL-Institute of Small and Micro States Conference, London (2019)
• “2nd Annual Who’s Who Legal Future Leaders: Arbitration Conference,” London (2019)
• “XV Rio de Janeiro Conference on International Arbitration,” Rio de Janeiro (2019)
• “China’s Belt and Road Initiative – Opportunities and Challenges for International Dispute Resolution and Contracting,” CEAC Conference, Hamburg (2018)
• “The Global South in an Era of Shifting Geopolitics,” WilmerHale, London (2018)

Dharshini has advised on the following selected significant matters*:

• Represented a Middle Eastern State entity in a US$ 35 billion LCIA arbitration arising out of a gas supply agreement.
• Represented a leading German automobile manufacturer in a US$ 3.8 billion ICC arbitration arising out of a joint venture agreement with a Japanese automobile manufacturer.
• Represented an Asian State and State-owned entity in related UNCITRAL (US$1.3 billion) and ICC (US$ 1.5 billion) arbitrations arising out of two production sharing agreements with multiple international oil companies. Advised the State in relation to potential investment law claims arising out of the same factual matrix.
• Represented a leading European pharmaceutical company in a US$ 1.5 billion ICC arbitration arising out of royalty payment disputes in a licensing agreement with a Japanese pharmaceutical company.
• Represented the subsidiary of an Indian construction company in a US$ 100 million LCIA arbitration against a South Asian State-owned entity arising out of a suite of agreements for a real estate project.
• Represented a Brazilian bioethanol producer in a US$ 300 million ICC arbitration arising out of a suite of technology licensing, engineering and equipment supply agreements with an Italian entity.
• Represented a large Brazilian mining company in two related US$1.3 billion ICC arbitrations against a Middle Eastern steel producer arising out of contracts for the supply of iron ore.
• Represented a large Chinese insurance company in a nearly US$ 1 billion ICC arbitration against a Korean private equity firm arising out of a share purchase agreement (M&A transaction).
• Represented ammonia producers in two related US$ 250 million ad hoc arbitrations against a State-owned entity in connection with multiple gas supply agreements.
• Represented a leading American private equity firm in two related US$ 500 million ICC arbitrations arising out of a share purchase agreement (M&A transaction) for an acquisition in Brazil.

*Dharshini advised on these matters prior to joining Willkie.