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Dharshini Prasad is Partner in the firm's International Arbitration practice group. She is triple qualified to practice in Singapore, England and Wales, and New York and regularly draws on her multi-jurisdictional experience to advise in complex civil and common law disputes with a cross-border element. Dharshini’s clients include States, State entities and corporations whom she has represented in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations globally, including in the United States, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. She has particular experience with energy, mining, private equity, technology and pharmaceutical disputes and has acted for clients in several billion-dollar arbitrations in these sectors.

Apart from her work as counsel, Dharshini has an active practice as arbitrator, is a member of the LCIA Court and sits on the Board of Editors for the AAA Dispute Resolution Journal. She teaches seminars on energy and investment arbitration in Queen Mary University (London) and has previously taught at New York University (Paris), and the London School of Economics, SIAC and Austrian arbitration academies. Prior to her appointment to the LCIA Court, Dharshini was also closely involved with the work of SIAC for several years, including to help draft the 2016 Arbitration Rules and the 2017 Investment Arbitration Rules. 

Leading industry publications recognize Dharshini for her achievements in international arbitration, including Chambers & Partners, Legal500, Lexology (previously Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration) and Expert Guides. Clients and peers describe Dharshini as:

  • “an amazing lawyer”; “very good at presenting an argument, strategically thinks things through, and is incredibly talented”; "bring[ing] a wealth of knowledge and sophistication to international arbitration matters. She knows the process and the people and is able to deliver strategy based on that deep understanding”; having “excellent command of the facts” (Chambers UK 2025, 2024)
  • “a very intelligent, driven and relentless professional”; having “deep knowledge about the international arbitration forum and strong analytical skills” (Legal500 UK 2024)
  • “a brilliant and talented advocate” with a “tremendous eye for detail”; “personal, smart and practical”; “one of the best emerging stars”; “undoubtedly a rising star in arbitration” (Who’s Who Legal; Arbitration 2021, 2022, 2023)
 

Experience

Prior to joining Willkie, Dharshini practiced with the International Arbitration practice 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.

  • Up and Coming: International Arbitration – UK-Wide,” Chambers UK (2025)
  • "Most Highly Regarded – Future Leaders," Who's Who Legal: International Arbitration (2021), (2024)
  • Leading Individual – Future Leaders,” Who's Who Legal: International Arbitration (2023)
  • "Future Leader," Who's Who Legal: International Arbitration (2019 – 2025)
  • "Rising Star: Commercial Arbitration," Expert Guides (2020 – 2022)
     
  • Dharshini is a member of the LCIA Court and the Board of Editors for the American Arbitration Association’s Dispute Resolution Journal. She previously led the EMEA chapter of the YSIAC Global Council and served for several years as an Assistant Editor for the Journal of International Arbitration. She was also 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 seminars on energy arbitration and investor-State arbitration at Queen Mary University and has previously taught as part of the faculty at the CIArb Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration in Oxford, New York University (Paris) and the London School of Economics, SIAC and Austrian arbitration academies.  
     

Selected Publications 

  • The Principle of Equal Treatment in International Arbitration,” Cambridge Compendium of International Commercial and Investment Arbitration (2023)
  • 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 (2017)
  • Sources of Procedural Law in International Dispute Settlement,” Research Handbook on International Procedural Law (2024)

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • “ITA Workshop: Counsel Driven Innovations,” ITA Annual Workshop, Houston (2025)
  • “Hot Topics in Investment Treaty Arbitration,” IBA Arb40-MCIA, London (2025)
  • Anti-suit and Other Anti-Process Injunctions in Arbitration,” ICC-YAF, London (2024)
  • Preparing for a Nuclear Future,” Mute-Off Thursdays (Webinar) (2023)
  • For Attorney’s Eyes Only Orders: Balancing Competing Interests,” ARBinBRIEF (Webinar) (2023)
  • YMCIA Debate: Confidentiality is the Biggest Roadblock to the Legitimacy of the Arbitral Process,” India ADR Week, Mumbai (2023)
  • International Arbitration in Times of Crisis: Energy Arbitration,” Cambridge Arbitration Day, Cambridge (2023)
  • 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 large hard copy peripherals manufacturer in a multi-billion dollar ICC arbitration against a joint venture party arising out of a long-term technology sharing relationship.
  • Represented a Middle Eastern State entity in a US$ 35 billion LCIA arbitration arising out of a gas supply agreement.
  • Represented a State and State-owned entity in a US$ 18 billion UNCITRAL arbitration over the cross-border supply of pipeline gas.
  • Represented a solar power producer in a US$1.4 billion ICC arbitration over the wrongful termination of a power purchase agreement by a State-owned entity.
  • Represented a leading German automobile manufacturer in a US$ 3.8 billion ICC arbitration arising out of a joint venture agreement with a Japanese automobile manufacturer.
  • Represented a broadcasting channel in a US$1.4 billion LCIA arbitration arising out of a sports broadcasting agreement in South Asia.
  • 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 South-East Asian coal producer in a US$3 billion SIAC administered UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of a share purchase agreement.
  • Represented a leading European pharmaceutical company in a US$ 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 some of these matters prior to joining Willkie.

 

Credentials

Education


New York University, LL.M. National University of Singapore, LL.B. (Hons)

Bar Admissions


Singapore England & Wales New York